The University of Arizona Medical Center Partners With Language Services Associates and Expands Language Access Program to Include Video Remote Interpreting Support

New Service Will Eliminate Language Barriers While Improving Patient Care and Satisfaction

HORSHAM, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The University of Arizona Medical Center (UAMC) has expanded its language access program to better meet the needs of patients with limited English or who are deaf or hard of hearing. Through a new partnership with Language Services Associates (LSA), one of the largest and fastest-growing language services providers in the world, UAMC will have 24 / 7 access to qualified and experienced American Sign Language and foreign language interpreters on a computer screen within moments.

“The implementation of a new, improved and instantaneous language interpretation program will help us further drive quality and safety throughout the organization for our patients, while meeting compliance with regulatory requirements for medical care providers, and ensuring completely accurate and effective communication always occurs between the clinician and our patients”

“The implementation of a new, improved and instantaneous language interpretation program will help us further drive quality and safety throughout the organization for our patients, while meeting compliance with regulatory requirements for medical care providers, and ensuring completely accurate and effective communication always occurs between the clinician and our patients,” said Brett Behan, director of quality outcomes, The University of Arizona Medical Center – South Campus.

Via LSA’s Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) service, UAMC clinicians will be able to access video remote American Sign Language and foreign language interpreters on a laptop computer via the Internet in just minutes. VRI will be used to help facilitate communication across a wide variety of patient care settings, including labor and delivery, surgery, post-operative care and the emergency department. Through the secure VRI platform, patient and clinician will be able to see and hear the remote interpreter as if he or she were right there in the room, ensuring timely and completely accurate communication for both parties.

UAMC’s new and improved language access program also includes on demand telephonic interpretation support in more than 200 languages. Clinicians will be able to access a medically qualified telephonic interpreter in less than 30 seconds, instantly eliminating the language barrier and improving the quality of care the patient is receiving. LSA’s dual handset telephones, which are used to connect to a live telephonic interpreter, will be available throughout University Campus, South Campus and Diamond Children’s.

About Language Services Associates

Founded in 1991 by Laura K.T. Schriver, who still holds the title of President and CEO, Language Services Associates (LSA) is proud to offer a full range of premier language-based services, including Translation and Localization, Video Remote Interpreting, INTERPRETALK^® Interpreting by Telephone, Face-to-Face Interpreting, American Sign Language and Intercultural Consulting. For more information on LSA, please call 800.305.9673 or visit www.lsaweb.com.

About The University of Arizona Medical Center

The University of Arizona Medical Centers at University Campus and at South Campus in Tucson are part of Arizona’s premier academic medical system, The University of Arizona Health Network, whose mission is Advancing Health and Wellness through Education, Research and Patient Care.