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Language Access, Auxiliary Aids, and Effective Communication

Sets the Agency’s written language access, effective communication, and reasonable modification procedures (45 CFR §92.8(d)-(f)): how staff identify a patient or companion with limited English proficiency or a communication disability; how they get a qualified interpreter, qualified translator, or auxiliary aid at no cost; who may not interpret; machine translation; translated materials; and how information is given in plain language and accessible formats (42 CFR §484.50(f)).

Preview: full text with a package
About this policy
Policy number
CA-HH-PR-04
Version
1.0
Main rule
45 CFR §92.201
Library
California home health · 58 policies
Category
Client rights
Sections
21

In short

  • Ask every patient which language they prefer and whether they need help to see, hear, or communicate.
  • Interpreters and other aids are free. Book them before the visit and use the Agency’s interpreter service.
  • Do not use family, friends, or children to interpret, except in an emergency or when the patient asks in private and it is safe.
  • Never give a patient a machine translation of care instructions or forms unless a qualified translator has checked it.
  • Write down the interpreter’s name or ID and the language in your visit note.

What's inside

21 sections. The full text comes with the One-time Policy Pack.

Full text with a package
  • Terms of Reference
  • 1. Purpose
  • 2. Scope
  • 3. Definitions
  • 4. Policy Statement (45 CFR §92.201)
  • 5. Section 1557 Coordinator and Contacts
  • 6. Identifying Language and Communication Needs
  • 7. Getting a Qualified Interpreter
  • 8. Who May Not Interpret
  • 9. Written Translations and Machine Translation
  • 10. Auxiliary Aids and Services for People with Disabilities
  • 11. Plain Language and Teaching
  • 12. Reasonable Modifications
  • 13. Emergencies
  • 14. Responsibilities
  • 15. Records and Compliance Monitoring
  • 16. Staff Training
  • 17. References
  • 18. Related Policies and Forms
  • 19. Approval
  • 20. Revision History

An inspector may ask

  • How do your staff find out whether a patient needs an interpreter, and where is that recorded?
  • Show me how a nurse gets a qualified interpreter for a home visit today.

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