Video Medical Interpretation Aids in Health Care Communication

MILWAUKEE — Froedtert Hospital is now using a new technology to assist patients who are limited English proficient (LEP) or are deaf or hard of hearing to create a more effective and communicative health care environment. Patients now have access to state-of-the-art video medical interpretation (VMI) technology to assist them in successfully communicating with health care providers — a factor that is key in obtaining the best medical results, according to the hospital. A new partnership with Language Access Network (LAN) allows patients and caregivers to use its My Accessible Real-Time Trusted Interpreter (MARTTI) devices. Within seconds, the VMI technology connects via live video to LAN’s highly trained medical interpreters in more than 210 languages.

The lightweight MARTTI devices resemble a flat-screen television and can be moved freely to a patient’s bedside for an immediate interpretation. Health care providers and patients can connect with medical interpreters in dedicated LAN call centers throughout the nation. Interpreters are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

MARTTI units allow patients and providers to see and communicate directly with LAN interpreters using its dedicated HIPAA-compliant high-speed broadband network.

“The availability of Martti in medical settings is fundamentally changing the way LEP and deaf and hard-of-hearing patients access health care. They no longer must endure long waits for an appropriate interpreter to be contacted and arrive on site,” said Andrew Panos, LAN’s COO, in a statement. “This means Froedtert Hospital patients do not have to make decisions based on possibly inaccurate or incomplete information, therefore improving satisfaction and outcomes.”

Language Access Network VMI services to hospitals and other medical venues nationwide. Physician-owned and solely focused on health care, LAN has unique insight into how to drive better outcomes, improve patient satisfaction and be a true partner to its client hospitals, according to the company.