Southwest Washington Medical Center Improves Deaf Patient Experience

With Video Interpreting Service by Language Line Services

MONTEREY, CA – (January 21, 2008) – Southwest Washington Medical Center has implemented a language access program designed to improve the patient experience for those using American Sign Language (ASL).

Following the success of a pilot video interpreting program at the hospital’s Memorial Urgent Care Center, Southwest Washington has permanently implemented the Language Line® Video Interpreting Service by Language Line Services, providing quick connection to a live, certified ASL interpreter through a portable video monitor. 

With the Language Line® Video Interpreting Service, patients have access to video-based ASL interpreters 24 hours a day, every day. An interpreter appears on the monitor directly in front of the patient and, because the Language Line Video Interpreting Service “Rover” is mobile, registration and other vital patient information can be handled in the privacy of the patient’s room.

Prior to its use, patients needing ASL interpreter services often had to wait, sometimes hours, for a qualified ASL medical interpreter to be brought into the clinic, or an ASL interpreter had to be on-site at all times, which proves not to be cost-effective.

“The pilot program at the Urgent Care Center reduced our overall on-site interpreting costs and improved the patient care experience,” said Ken Cole, Southwest Washington Medical Center spokesperson.  “Through Language Line Video Interpreting Service we are now able to provide a service we once struggled with and improve the care we give to ASL patients, ensuring them equal access to privacy and care.”

Language Line Services developed the first video interpreting service in 2004. Since then, hospitals and clinics in more than 20 states are using the system.

In addition to ASL, medically certified interpreters are also available via video in Spanish.

“Healthcare professionals are dealing with situations where seconds count,” said Louis Provenzano, President and Chief Operating Officer, Language Line Services.  “Language Line Video Interpreting Service now helps healthcare facilities communicate face-to-face quickly and effectively with patients that are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as Spanish-speaking patients, regardless of location.”


Language Line Services provides a suite of solutions for healthcare organizations including the Language Line® Phone, a dual handset phone that also comes in a cordless model, and Language Line® HealthPortSM, a software-based medical interpreting solution.

Language Line Services interpreters are specially trained and medically certified to understand medical situations and terminology.


About Southwest Washington Medical Center

Southwest is a community-owned, not-for-profit, 360-bed, medical institution located in Vancouver, Washington. Repeatedly recognized nationally as a 100 Top Hospital, Southwest provides a full range of outpatient and inpatient diagnostic, medical, and surgical services to Clark County residents. The region’s health care leader and steward for nearly 150 years, Southwest is also one of Clark County’s largest employers. Southwest’s 3,280 employees and 545 active medical staff members help support dozens of medical specialty services and programs, focused on cancer, heart, emergency, trauma, neuro-musculoskeletal, family birth, and primary care.  Visit http://www.swmedicalcenter.com/.   


About Language Line Services

Language Line Services, the world’s leading provider of language-based services, is a trusted partner to thousands of organizations throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom whose focus is to effectively serve the rapidly expanding market of limited English speakers. The company delivers a dynamic suite of solutions spanning phone and video interpreting, document translation, interactive software-based translation, and interpreter training and certification programs, enabling clients to communicate with customers in their preferred languages. Through its leading-edge technology infrastructure, Language Line Services delivers support for over 175 unique languages to its industry-leading portfolio of clients across markets including healthcare, financial services, government, telecom, packaged goods, insurance services, travel, and more. For information on how Language Line Services is helping clients achieve their strategic multi-cultural marketing and regulatory compliance objectives, please call 1-800-752-6096 or visit http://www.LanguageLine.com .