COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 20, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hospitals across the country are preparing for the possibility of encountering patients presenting symptoms of the deadly Ebola virus. As evident in the initial US case, full disclosure and clear communication from the very beginning are essential in screening, as well as in obtaining accurate diagnoses and treatment.
Frequently in infectious disease scenarios, the patients are from another country and primarily speak a language other than English. Attending to these patients in a timely fashion with proper language services support can make a critical difference in not only these patients' outcomes, but also in containing a potential outbreak.
Language Access Network's (LAN) Martti ™ (My Accessible Real-Time Trusted Interpreter) is the partner of choice for hundreds of hospitals and health systems nationwide. The system provides Limited English Proficient (LEP) and Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing patients immediate access at the touch of a button to the highest quality, medically trained interpreters in more than 210 languages, including American Sign Language. LAN interpreters are located in dedicated Language Centers throughout the country and connect to patients and providers via live remote video on a private, HIPAA-compliant network. Healthcare providers simply touch the flat screen device and a LAN operator connects to an interpreter.
Barton Health, a comprehensive group of healthcare facilities in South Lake Tahoe, CA and Carson Valley, NV, is preparing to put Martti front and center for LEP and Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing patients placed in isolation care. "If a suspected Ebola patient should arrive and need interpretive services, Martti is extremely valuable," explains Tracy Young, Barton Health's Language Access Services Coordinator. "The device requires one less person in the room, which reduces exposure and the risk of spreading infection, and still aids in providing high quality care for that patient."
The Martti units are lightweight and portable. Either carried or wheeled alongside a patient throughout the entire hospital encounter, they provide mission critical communications support that helps providers make fully informed decisions regarding their patient's care. "As a physician-led company, we understand the challenges that language barriers can create in obtaining the best outcomes. In a situation which might possibly involve a virus such as Ebola, our highly trained medical interpreters assure that valuable and accurate two-way communication occurs, while mitigating the risk of further contamination due to the remote location of the interpreter," says LAN Chief Medical Officer, Bruce Hensel, M.D.
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 physician owned company solely focused on healthcare, LAN has unique insight into how to drive better outcomes, improve patient satisfaction and be a true partner to hospitals. Targeted toward 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