Oakland, CA - Statewide medical leaders met recently for a third time to continue their ground-breaking work aimed at funding and providing language access services in health care settings in California.

The Medical Leadership Council on Language Access, which is examining ways to advance policy changes, financing, and delivery of language services in health care, includes presidents and executive directors of 24 medical specialty societies and representatives from health plans, hospitals, and consumer advocacy organizations.

"The provision of linguistically appropriate health care services is essential to improving the health of the stateís more than 6 million Limited English Proficient residents," said Robert K. Ross, MD, The California Endowment's president and CEO. "The Endowment is committed to working with stakeholders to create solutions to improve the cultural competence of the state's health care systems so that all Californians have equal access to care."

The Endowment convened two Council meetings in 2002, one on March 11, 2003, and will host one more in September to provide the first-ever forum for health care provider organizations from across the state to discuss barriers to and potential solutions for achieving language access for Limited English Proficient (LEP) patients.

At the March meeting, participants learned first hand about innovative new technologies that can make language access easier and more effective. One new method is simultaneous interpretation with the physician, patient and interpreter wearing wireless headsets - similar to those used at the United Nations ñ that allow the physician to speak and hear in one language, and the patient in another. Another new method is video conferencing, linking a patient and physician at one location to an interpreter at another location through the use of computers with video cameras and microphones.

A demonstration project funded by The California Endowment and the Office of Minority Health is currently under way at Alameda County Medical Center to evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of videoconference medical interpretation.

Federal, state and local laws mandate the provision of interpreter and translation services to patients with limited English proficiency. At present, various physicians, hospitals, clinics and health plans seek individual solutions to the problems of funding and providing these critical services. The Endowment and members of the Council, however, are joining together to seek large-scale solutions.

"In a recent survey, 49% of our member respondents said they encounter five or more languages among their patients," said Leonard Fromer, MD, of the California Academy of Family Physicians (CAFP). CAFP serves as the convening organization for the Council. Physicians understand deeply the need for interpretation and other language-access services. "What we don't know yet is how best to provide and pay for them."

Representatives of the 24 member organizations that make up the Leadership Council will hold their last meeting on September 18 to reach agreement on specific policy, payment, and service provision proposals.

Leadership Council Members

• American Academy of Pediatrics, District IX
• California Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, District IX
• American College of Emergency Physicians, California Chapter
• Asian Pacific Islander American Health Forum
• American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, CA Chapter
• Association of American Indian Physicians
• California Academy of Family Physicians
• California Association of Health Plans
• California Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians
• California Healthcare Association
• California Latino Medical Association
• California Medical Association
• California Primary Care Association
• Fresno-Madera Medical Society
• Golden State Medical Association
• Los Angeles County Medical Association
• San Diego County Medical Society
• San Francisco Medical Society
• Sierra-Sacramento Valley Medical Association
• Santa Clara County Medical Association
• Wellpoint Health System
• Catholic Healthcare West
• St. Joseph Health System
• Sutter Health

In addition, Scripps Health and Kaiser Permanente ñ both California Endowment grantees in the Language Access initiative - are invited guests at each meeting.