JHM Launches Enterprisewide Language Services Updates

Dear Colleagues,

We are writing to provide an update on our enterprisewide efforts regarding language interpretation services for our patients who have limited English proficiency, who are deaf or hard of hearing, and who have limited vision.

Last year, we started to align language services across The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center and Johns Hopkins Community Physicians. Now, we are expanding that alignment throughout the enterprise, and coordinating those services and resources throughout Johns Hopkins Medicine with one enterprisewide policy.

To achieve this, we have established a Language Services Advisory Council comprised of leaders from across the health system who represent ambulatory and home care divisions, and academic and community hospitals. Pamela Paulk, president of Johns Hopkins Medicine International (JHI); Deborah Baker, Johns Hopkins Health System senior vice president for nursing; and Peter Hill, JHHS senior vice president for medical affairs, lead this advisory council.

An operations committee led by Tina Tolson, director of operations for JHI's Patient Services, has been formed to provide support and oversight for successful implementation of language services. This Language Services Operations Committee includes representatives from each affiliate and other key stakeholders, such as Legal, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Regulatory Affairs and the Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality.

We believe that centralizing this service line addresses potential risks, especially in light of new legislation and regulations specifically addressing each entity's obligation to provide effective communication to limited English proficient, deaf or hard of hearing, and limited vision patients. The updated policy and operational standards are necessary to meet these regulatory and policy requirements–and to ensure that each patient receives consistently excellent services, regardless of their communication needs. Additionally, staff will be required to take annual training–training will begin in late summer or early fall.

We ask that you please communicate this update to your staff members and look for more information about training and expectations. We appreciate your important work and support as we embark on this exciting opportunity to ensure clear communication between our patients, their family members and their medical providers.

Sincerely,

Paul B. Rothman, M.D.
Dean of the Medical Faculty
CEO, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Kevin W. Sowers, M.S.N., R.N., F.A.A.N.
President, Johns Hopkins Health System
EVP, Johns Hopkins Medicine