Southampton, NY—While Southampton Hospital is a relatively small community hospital about 2 hours east of New York City, it becomes a melting pot of people from all over the world each summer when seasonal residents and visitors increase the population to almost four times the year-round number. The Hospital staff has had access to a number of interpreting services in the past, but is taking an important step forward through video language interpreters called Stratus Video.
The equipment looks like the average iPad attached to a stand on wheels. With just the push of a button, the patient is able to see and hear a medically qualified interpreter in their language within 30 seconds. Interpreters are available around the clock, and the technology is easy to use. The interpreter can see the clinician and the patient at the same time, but if the patient prefers not to be seen by the interpreter that option is easily switched off.
At Southampton, 40 languages are available on video with over 200 available on audio interpretation. Video remote interpretation (VRI) combines the benefits of face-to-face interpretation with the on-demand nature of over-the-phone interpretation (OPI). VRI is instant, mobile, and cost effective.
Effective communication is a top priority as it is vital to the patient-physician relationship as well as patient outcome. “We want every patient to experience the same level of high quality and compassionate care. We are taking this important step by introducing Stratus Video Interpretation as a way to enhance care delivery for patients in Southampton Hospital and, most importantly, it could save a life,” says Robert S. Chaloner, President & CEO.
The use of qualified medical interpreters is associated with higher quality of care, improved patient satisfaction, reduced communication errors, and lower readmission rates for LEP and Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing patients. As language diversity throughout the United States continues to expand along with compliance regulations at the Federal level, health systems are striving to provide access to simple and effective communication tools for interpretation and translation services.
Photo (l. to r.) Alex Molina, Patient Access Associate, posing as a new mom; Alexander Branch, Regional Account Manager, STRATUS VIDEO; and Eylin Loria, Coordinator of Interpreting, Translating and Cultural Diversity Services.
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