COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 20, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Health care organizations across the country are continually challenged to accommodate increasingly diverse patient populations. Ensuring effective communication for Limited English Proficient and Deaf and Hard of Hearing patients is a critical aspect of providing the highest quality care for all.
Johnston Health recognizes the importance of breaking language barriers early in a patient's hospital encounter and that time spent waiting for an interpreter can adversely affect outcomes. Through the use of Language Access Network's (LAN) state-of-the art technology, Martti ™ (My Accessible Real-Time Trusted Interpreter), Johnston Health is able to connect patients and providers instantly to live medical interpreters via two-way video 24/7, 365 days a year. With a simple touch of the portable flat screen device, LAN medical interpreters - located in its HIPAA-compliant dedicated language centers across the country - connect through LAN's dedicated, secured broadband network.
"Martti is so easy to use. Our staff and patients enjoy being able to see the interpreter during their conversations. It's been particularly helpful with our Spanish-speaking patients during those times when our on-site interpreters can't be with us," said Cherie Paonessa, manager of patient registration for Johnston Health. "It's made the patient's experience extremely positive."
Interpretation services are certainly not new to hospitals; in fact law requires them. But LAN's Martti units provide nearly instant access to over 210 languages, including American Sign Language, something that just is not possible to accomplish with on-site staffing alone.
"One of the most important factors in ensuring patient satisfaction is quality communication with their healthcare providers," explains LAN's CEO, James Edwards. "When patients are understood from the very beginning, a proper diagnosis will be made more quickly and treatment can begin. This leads to better outcomes for patients and a more efficient system of delivery for the provider."
About Language Access Network, LLC
Language Access Network, LLC (LAN) is the leader in trusted healthcare communications providing Video Medical Interpretation (VMI) services to more than 350 hospitals and other medical venues nationwide. Targeted towards Limited English Proficient (LEP) and Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing patients, LAN provides its rapidly growing client base with 24/7/365 access to the highest quality, medically trained interpreters in more than 210 languages, available via its centralized video language centers. www.lan.us
About Johnston Health
Johnston Health is the health care system serving Johnston County in North Carolina. Established in 1951, the flagship hospital in Smithfield has 129 acute care and 20 behavioral health beds. Johnston Health Clayton, which opened in 2009 as an outpatient center, expanded into a full-service hospital with 50 acute care beds in January 2015. Johnston Health has specialty practices in Smithfield and Clayton as well as primary care practices in Clayton and Kenly. Since March 2014, Johnston Health has been a joint partner with UNC Health Care. www.johnstonhealth.org