Sigal Ilana, Dayal Parul, Hoch Jeffrey S, Mouzoon Jamie L, Morrow Elena, Marcin James P
Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, USA.
Division of Health Policy and Management, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, USA.
Telemed J E Health. 2020 Oct;26(10):1234-1239. doi: 10.1089/tmj.2019.0220. Epub 2020 Feb 11.
Background:Patients with limited English proficiency experience disparities in health care access, quality, costs, and outcomes. Providing qualified medical interpreting services (MIS) in the health care setting can reduce these disparities. Unfortunately, health organizations face logistical and financial difficulties in meeting the need for qualified medical interpreters.
Introduction:This descriptive review evaluated travel, time, and cost savings associated with video interpreting services compared to traditional in-person services.
Materials and Methods:We conducted a retrospective review of all inpatient and outpatient medical interpreting encounters at a large academic hospital delivered through video and in person between 2006 and 2017. Outcome measures included interpreter travel distance, time, and cost for in-person encounters and savings associated with avoided travel for services provided through video.
Results:We reviewed 281,701 interpreting encounters, including 249,357 in person and 32,344 by video. Video encounters occurred both for on-site and off-site visits. For on-site encounters, the use of video resulted in an average round trip walking distance saved of 0.75 miles (SD = 0.33) and an average round trip walking time saved of 14.75 min (SD = 6.30) per encounter. For off-site encounters, the use of video resulted in an average round trip driving distance saved of 8.63 miles (SD = 9.13), an average round trip driving time saved of 23.78 min (SD = 9.50), and an average round trip driving cost savings of $4.66 per encounter.
Conclusions:This single institution review of the travel, time, and cost savings associated with providing MIS through video demonstrates the opportunity for more efficient use of time and resources.
英语水平有限的患者在医疗服务的可及性、质量、成本和治疗结果方面存在差异。在医疗环境中提供合格的医学口译服务（MIS）可以减少这些差异。不幸的是，卫生组织在满足对合格医学口译员的需求方面面临后勤和财务困难。
本描述性综述评估了与传统面对面服务相比，视频口译服务在出行、时间和成本节约方面的情况。
我们对一家大型学术医院在2006年至2017年间通过视频和面对面方式提供的所有住院和门诊医学口译服务进行了回顾性研究。结果指标包括面对面服务时口译员的出行距离、时间和成本，以及通过视频提供服务避免出行所节省的费用。
我们回顾了281,701次口译服务，其中包括249,357次面对面服务和32,344次视频服务。视频服务包括现场和非现场访问。对于现场访问，使用视频服务每次平均节省往返步行距离0.75英里（标准差=0.33），平均节省往返步行时间14.75分钟（标准差=6.30）。对于非现场访问，使用视频服务每次平均节省往返驾车距离8.63英里（标准差=9.13），平均节省往返驾车时间23.78分钟（标准差=9.50），每次平均节省往返驾车成本4.66美元。
这项关于通过视频提供医学口译服务在出行、时间和成本节约方面的单机构研究表明，有机会更有效地利用时间和资源。
