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This report provides unique insight into the challenges, activities and perspectives of 60 hospitals across the nation and a snapshot of their current situation. These findings cannot be generalized to all hospitals, but they provide detailed information about many ways that culture and language issues are being addressed in hospitals.
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Access a free copy of the Report of Findings.
Download a 1-page summary of the Report of Findings.
Key Findings
- Hospitals are challenged to meet the cultural and language needs of their patient populations, and efforts to address language are more concrete than those to address culture.
- There are a wide range of practices for meeting the cultural and language needs of patients. There also exists varied interpretation of “good” versus “poor” practice.
- There is a gap between current practice and desired practice, particularly related to the provision of language services. While this may be attributable to missing resources, in some cases the resources are available, but are not being used or processes are not being followed.
- Collection of patient demographic data is inconsistent across and within hospitals, and few hospitals use these data to improve services for diverse patients.
Key Features
- 32 recommendations for hospitals, policy makers, and researchers to improve care for culturally and linguistically diverse populations - Executive Summary and throughout report.
- Detailed HLC study methodology - Chapter 2. (See also HLC study design)
- Complete pre-visit questionnaire - Appendix B.
- Site visit protocol and interview questions - Appendix C.
Suggested Citation
Wilson-Stronks A, Galvez, E. Exploring Cultural and Linguistic Services in the Nation’s Hospitals: A Report of Findings. Oakbrook Terrace: The Joint Commission; 2007.
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For more information on the Hospitals, Language, and Culture study or to sign up for the HLC list serve, contact us at hlc-info@jointcommission.org. |