1. Update On Texas Advisory Committee On Qualifications For Health Care Translators And Interpreters September 2012 Mary Esther Diaz Advisory Committee Chair

2. HB 233 Timeline

3. HB 233 (2009) Rep. Eddie Rodriguez Creation of an advisory committee to establish qualifications for certain health care translators and interpreters Status: Passed. Effective 9/1/09

4. HB 233 (continued) The Executive Commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall establish the Advisory Committee on Qualifications for Health Care Translators and Interpreters.

5. HB 233 (continued) Committee responsibilities Establish and recommend qualifications for healthcare interpreters and translators, that include:  Ability to fluently interpret another language into and out of English  Practical experience as a translator or interpreter

6. Committee Responsibilities The committee shall advise the commission on the following for health care interpreters and translators:  Language proficiency required for certification  Training requirements  Standards of practice  Requirements, content, and administration of certification examinations  Procedure for testing, qualifying, and certifying  Reciprocity agreements with other states

7. Advisory Committee Members  Health care interpreter working with people who have limited English proficiency  Esther Diaz  Health care interpreter working with people who are deaf or hard of hearing  Zee Broussard  Health care practitioner  Irma Rubioplus…

8. Advisory Committee (continued) Representatives of:  Professional translators and interpreters association  Leonard Sepeda, Dell Children’s Medical Center  Mental health services provider  Nancy Miller, Shoal Creek Hospital  Hospital  Jacqueline Burandt, University Health System  Insurance industry  Gel Detrick, Scott & White Health Plan

9. Advisory Committee (continued)  Business entity that provides translators and interpreters to health care providers  Ryan Foley, MasterWord Services  Organization that provides services to immigrants and refugees  Fabio Torres, Catholic Charities of Fort Worth  Institution of higher education  Gabriel Martin, Lamar University  Health care consumers with limited English proficiency  Miguel Fuentes, Scott & White Memorial Hospital  Health care consumers who are deaf or hard of hearing  Detra Stewart, Community Axess Ability Group

10. Non-Voting Committee Members  Health and Human Services Commission  Laura Jourdan  Department of Aging and Disability Services  Jonathan Cole  Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services  Randi Turner  Department of Family and Protective Services  Michael Roberts  Department of State Health Services  Patricia Hosey Coordinator, Health and Human Services Commission  Paula Traffas

12. Summary Recommendations to HHSC 1. Stop requiring patients to bring their own interpreter. 2. Use qualified interpreters instead of friends and family members as interpreters. (Except for emergency situations when no qualified interpreter is available in person, by phone, or video.) 3. Require anyone who interprets on a regular basis in a healthcare setting to receive training on the code of ethics and standards of practice for healthcare interpreters. 4. Establish a statewide registry of healthcare interpreters through a governmental or nonprofit organization.

13. Obtaining Stakeholder Feedback Recommendations distributed to stakeholders, in advance, with copies of:  Language Access and the Law – The Joint Commission  Office Guide to Communicating with LEP Patients – American Medical Association  Approved: New and Revised Hospital Elements of Performance to Improve Patient-Provider Communication – The Joint Commission

14. Stakeholders  American Medical Association  Refugee Services of Texas  Society of Health Care Risk Managers  Teaching Hospitals of Texas  Texas Association of Health Plans  Texas Association of the Deaf  Texas Council of Community MHMR Centers  Texas Hospital Association  Texas Latino Council of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing  Texas Medical Association  Texas Society of Interpreters for the Deaf

15. Stakeholder Feedback  Most stakeholders expressed concern about funding for interpreter services.  All stakeholders supported recommendation #1  Several stakeholders supported #2, but opposed strict prohibition of friend/family interpreters  Several stakeholders supported #3, but expressed concern about paying for and tracking training of interpreters.  Most stakeholders supported concept of a registry of health care interpreters per recommendation #4  Some TSID members support “specialty” but not additional certification

16. Revised Recommendations  Two sets of recommendations submitted: one for foreign language interpreters, the other for sign language interpreters.  Recommendations for sign language interpreters take into account existing certification programs.  Recommendations for foreign language interpreters do not, given the recency with which these have become available.

17. Recommendation #2  Recommend an amendment to the applicable statutes, including the Texas Health and Safety Code, to limit the use of uncertified [and] or unqualified individuals including but not limited to friends, family members, associates, and others to assist with communication to medical emergency situations—both physical and mental health emergencies— in which an interpreter not associated with the patient is not available by any other means, including but not limited to in-house, contracted, and remote interpreters.

18. Recommendation #2 (continued)  In routine situations a provider will use a certified [and] or qualified interpreter not associated with the patient at no cost to the patient. The health care facility staff will inform the patient—in the patient’s preferred language—that a qualified interpreter will be provided at no cost to the patient. However, the patient may bring another person to assist with communication.

19. Recommendations (August 2010) 4. Recommend that a registry of healthcare interpreters be established through a nonprofit organization in which interpreters who have successfully completed an HHS agency approved training may register. 4. Recommend that a registry of healthcare interpreters be established through a nonprofit or government organization in which interpreters who have successfully completed an HHS agency approved training may register.

20.  DateActivity January 2011Rep. Eddie Rodriguez introduced HB 1719 relating to proposed recommendations. January 2011Review of healthcare interpreter qualifications. Discussion of two national certification programs. February 2011Discussion about translation. Discussion of interpreter screening criteria used in healthcare institutions. Committee members’ reports on language services definitions. March 2011Report on members presentations to or communication with stakeholders on the committee’s recommendations. April 2011Report data on hospital customer satisfaction surveys Discussion of Bureau of Labor Statistics information on Interpreter job descriptions May 2011HB 1719 died in committee. May 2011Continue discussion of language services definitions. Discussion of resources to post on Advisory Committee web site. June 2011Review of definitions for Advisory Committee web site. August 2011Stakeholder feedback on proposed qualifications and training.

21. Date Activity September 2011 Discussion of stakeholder input and TAHIT survey Ideas for resource website Definitions October 2011 Established new subcommittees for Translation, Certification Mental Health December 2011 Discussion of national certification programs: CCHI, NBCMI Ideas for resource website January 2012 Decision to recognize certification by CCHI and NBCMI Discussion of mental health qualifications March 2012 Discussion of resource website Discussion of translation quality May 2012 Discussion of interpreter training Discussion of translation quality July 2012 Discussion of possible recommendations for HHSC Ideas for resource website Definitions September 2012 Discussion of translation outsourcing Definitions Finalize recommendations for HHSC

22. Next Steps  Recommend qualifications  Recommend training for Foreign Language and Sign Language Interpreters  Recommend qualifications  Recommend training For InterpretersFor Translators

23. Qualifications Under Consideration  Certification by CCHI or NBCMI or  Age 18  High School Education  Fluency in English and a Language Other Than English  Experience as a Translator or Interpreter in a healthcare setting  Plus training  BEI or RID Certification at level _____  Experience as an Interpreter in a healthcare setting Foreign Language InterpretersSign Language Interpreters

24. Training Under Consideration  General Medical Knowledge  Anatomical terms for major body systems  Medical Tests and Diagnostics  Common Specialties and Medications (including physical and mental health)  Acronyms and Abbreviations  Medical Equipment  Infection Control  Onsite Mentoring

25. Training Under Consideration (continued)  Mental/Behavioral Health  Common disorders of adults, children/adolescents  Common Medications  Psychiatric Tests & Diagnostics  Treatment Plans  Acronyms & Abbreviations  Legal Status (Voluntary, POEC, OPC)

26. Training Under Consideration (continued)  Interpreting Skills  At least consecutive Interpreting (for foreign language)  At least simultaneous interpreting (for ASL)  Sight Translation  Protocols (managing the session, multiple participants, family members)  Code of Ethics for Healthcare Interpreters  Standards of Practice for Healthcare Interpreters  Roles of the Healthcare Interpreter (i.e., cultural mediator, advocate, etc.)  Cultural Awareness  Legislation and Regulations (ADA, Section 504 of Rehabilitation Act, Title VI of Civil Rights Act, HIPAA, HITECH, CLAS)

27. Certification  Recommend that national interpreter certification for foreign languages be recognized in Texas  Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters www.healthcareinterpretercertification.org  National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters www.certifiedmedicalinterpreters.org  Shall Texas develop certification for sign language interpreters in healthcare?

28. Participate in the discussion For a schedule of future Advisory Committee meetings and minutes of past meetings, see: www.hhsc.state.tx.us/about_hhsc/AdvisoryCommittees/HCT/default.shtml Meetings are free, and open to the public. Contact: Paula Traffas, Civil Rights Office, HHSC paula.traffas@hhsc.state.tx.us Also see Resources for Interpreters and Translators in Healthcare http://rith.info