Patient length of stay, patient readmission rates and the provision of professional interpreting services in healthcare in Australia
Abstract
Linguistic and ethnic diversity is a feature of patient profiles at almost all public healthcare facilities in urban areas in Australia. Patients with limited proficiency in the socially dominant language - in this case Limited English proficiency (LEP) patients - commonly form a significant patient group in public healthcare settings. Communication barriers that exist between patients and healthcare professionals necessitate the provision of translation and interpreting (T&I) services. This study presents longitudinal data from Melbourne, Australia, on the provision of (T&I) services together with patient length of stay (LOS) and patient readmission rates over a 10-year period at a large, public healthcare provider. Patient LOS and patient readmission rates are key metrics for effective diagnosis and treatment of patients and commonly used to measure the performance of various aspects of healthcare provision. The augmentation of T&I services within a general policy of patient-centred care is shown to accompany decreased LOS and lower readmission rates for LEP patients.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a cohort study, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Impaired humoral immunity in X-linked lymphoproliferative disease is associated with defective IL-10 production by CD4+ T cells
- Micropatterned TiO2 nanotubes: fabrication, characterization and in vitro protein/cell responses
- Standardized ileal digestibility of amino acids in four egg products and casein fed to weanling pigs
- The ontogeny of additional saccules in the orifice of the cheek pouches in hamsters (Phodopus campbelli Thomas, 1905 and Phodopus sungorus Pallas, 1773): a morphometric analysis
- Characterizing the Ovarian Cytogenetic Dynamics of Sichuan Bream (Sinibrama taeniatus) During Vitellogenesis at a Single-Cell Resolution
- Electrospun Piezoelectric Scaffold with External Mechanical Stimulation for Promoting Regeneration of Peripheral Nerve Injury
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.