Hospitals in pursuit of excellence

Improving Patient Safety for Patients with Limited English Proficiency

Approximately 24 million people--8.5 percent of the U.S. population--are defined as having Limited English Proficiency. Research suggests that among those who experience medical errors, LEP patients are more likely to be harmed, the harm is more likely to be serious, and the cause of harm is more frequently due to communication errors. With support from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, teams from the Disparities Solutions Center at Massachusetts General Hospital and Abt Associates conducted research and developed a Hospital Guide and TeamSTEPPS--LEP Training Module for interprofessional care teams so that hospitals can better identify and prevent medical errors in LEP patients.