Critical Measures Releases New E-Learning Program

New e-Learning Program Trains Physicians and Nurses On The Law of Language Access

Critical Measures has just released the first e-learning program in the U.S. to address legal issues associated with providers’ legal duty to provide language access services to limited English Proficient patients (LEP). The interactive e-learning course is designed to increase medical professionals understanding of the business, medical (quality/safety) and legal reasons for providing language access services and how to do so effectively.

Language Access and the Law: Caring for the LEP Patient was developed by Critical Measures President David Hunt, a civil rights attorney with substantial expertise in federal and state language access laws and Patricia F. Walker, M.D., the Medical Director of the Center for International Health at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota and Associate Medical Director, International Track, University of Minnesota Department of Internal Medicine. The program is being offered for 2.25 hours of category 1 CME credits through the University of Minnesota’s Continuing Medical Education Program.

Nationally, nearly 20% of Americans speak a language other than English. In some states and communities that percentage is over 40% of the population. Over two-thirds of internists report seeing LEP patients regularly. Despite these dramatic demographic shifts however, a substantial body of national research establishes that few physicians are familiar with the language access laws that govern the use of interpreters, bilingual staff and translated written materials. As a result, high quality patient care and safety are frequently compromised.

Language Access and the Law is designed to remedy these problems. The instructional format is designed to quickly and effectively teach clinicians how to:

• Grow your practice in response to increased demand from culturally and linguistically diverse patients.
• Effectively discharge your legal obligations to provide language access services under federal and state law, the CLAS standards and new Joint Commission requirements.
• Avoid common problems in the provision of language access services.
• Identify and integrate cross-cultural medical issues into your practice.
• Work effectively with interpreters.
• Provide high quality language access services that increase patient safety.
• Avoid unwanted litigation through proactive, proven risk management techniques.

The program also includes web links to clinical guidelines, national best practices, practical business, medical and legal advice and valuable medical references to additional resources.

Language Access and the Law provides a practical, hands-on approach to acquiring knowledge and valuable skills. Specifically it:

• Provides Pre and Post Tests designed to assess learner mastery of medical and legal concepts presented in the course. A 70% proficiency level is required to “pass”.

• Requires clinicians to solve multiple, complex medical and legal issues in a comprehensive patient case study featuring a Hmong patient. Follow Mr. Vang, a 68 year-old Hmong man as he deals with common language access problems in a health plan, clinic, emergency room, outpatient/pharmacy and hospital/inpatient setting. Debrief the case with national experts.

• Uses aspects from real cases prosecuted by the Office of Civil Rights to highlight the most common mistakes made by physicians in providing language access services.

Click here to view screen shots of the e-learning program >>

Language Access and the Law is more than just a compliance product. Rather the patient case study at the heart of the program serves as a medical morality tale that illustrates why today’s physicians must increasingly practice global medicine even as they serve local communities.

David B. Hunt, President and CEO	Patricia F. Walker, M.D.

For licensing information or to arrange a free demonstration of this web-based e-learning product, call Critical Measures President David Hunt at 612-746-1375.

Critical Measures, LLC is a corporate training and management consulting firm that assists employers to harness the power of diversity to create more productive, profitable and inclusive organizations. We specialize in cross-cultural health care, diversity and inclusion and global business issues. We provide our clients with cutting-edge knowledge and skills to manage differences, and work effectively across cultures.

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