COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 13, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bringing home a newborn baby for the first time can be very intimidating – endless instructions, feedings around the clock and very little sleep. Now imagine your newborn in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and released to you by caregivers who do not speak your language. Complicated instructions you cannot understand are suddenly impossible to follow. This is merely one example of how language barriers in healthcare can be life threatening.
Methodist Health System has partnered with Language Access Network (LAN) and its state-of-the-art platform, Martti™ (My Accessible Real-Time Trusted Interpreter), to ensure that all of its Limited English Proficient (LEP) and Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing patients have equal access to clear, concise communication with those there to care for them. "Language access is a matter of national importance. Effective communication is a critical aspect of safe, quality patient care," explains James Edwards, LAN's CEO. "Not only does it improve patient satisfaction, but reduces risk and drives more efficient delivery of services for hospitals."
Through Martti, patients and providers instantly connect via live video with LAN interpreters in more than 210 languages, including American Sign Language, at the touch of a button. The lightweight Martti devices resemble a flat screen television and can be carried by healthcare professionals or rolled on a stand alongside the patient throughout the facility. LAN interpreters are highly trained, solely focused on healthcare and are available 24/7 in dedicated LAN call centers throughout the country.
Cindy Mirfield, service leader for the Methodist Women's Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), says the device is invaluable for their families dealing with a newborn in their care. "Martti was a tremendous asset recently for a family in our NICU," Mirfield said. "During the family's stay, our communication was mostly through sign language. We used Martti during the discharge process and both the mother and father were so very grateful. Mom had tears in her eyes because she was able to understand exactly all the information she needed for taking her baby home. For some of these families Martti assures them that we are listening and understanding their needs. For the moms in this unit, that is especially important."
About Language Access Network, LLC
Language Access Network, LLC ("LAN") is the leader in trusted healthcare communications. LAN provides Video Medical Interpretation (VMI) services to hospitals and other medical venues nationwide. As a result of being physician owned and solely focused on healthcare, LAN has unique insight into how to drive better outcomes, improve patient satisfaction and be a true partner to its client hospitals. Targeted towards Limited English Proficient and Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing patient populations, LAN provides its rapidly growing client base (currently over 350 medical facilities nationwide) with 24/7/365 access to the highest quality & trained interpreters available via its centralized video language centers.
www.lan.us.
About Methodist Health System
Methodist Health System (Omaha, Neb.), founded in 1982 as the first health care system in the region, is a leading regional integrated health care delivery system that brings together major health care organizations from across the region to provide quality health care and preventive services to residents throughout the Midwest.
The health system strives to ensure that its programs and services, and those of its affiliate corporations, are of superior value and readily available to all residents of the regions it serves. It provides services to each affiliate in the areas of accounting, finance, billing, collections, management engineering, planning, marketing, human resources, information technology and network development.
Methodist Health System is made up of Nebraska Methodist Hospital Foundation, Nebraska Methodist Hospital, Methodist Women's Hospital, Jennie Edmundson Hospital, Methodist Physicians Clinic, Nebraska Methodist College-The Josie Harper Campus and Shared Service Systems.