Catholic Health System Uses Video Remote Interpreting to Remove Language Barriers for Immigrants, Refugees in Buffalo, New York

SEATTLE, May 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Catholic Health System recently unveiled video remote interpreting (VRI) in its Buffalo, New York-based healthcare system to address the new wave of immigrants who have arrived in the city throughout the past 15 years. Today, seven percent of Buffalo's city population consists of resettled refugees from places like Iraq, Bhutan, Burma, Somalia and Sudan.

InDemand Interpreting, the system used throughout Catholic Health, offers VRI services on PC or iPad devices available on portable carts that can be wheeled into the patient's room. VRI enables hospital staff to use interpreters via a live, web-based video conference with medically trained and certified interpreters. The system provides the hospital with access to interpreters, 24 hours a day, in more than 200 languages, including American Sign Language.

With Catholic Health's new Language Assistance Program, the patient, the medically trained interpreter and the physician can see one another while they talk, although the image can also be screened for patient privacy during an exam.

"The first day we had VR, we had two pediatric cases, a four-year-old girl from Iran, and a Burmese family. If not for the new video remote interpreting system, we would not have been able to communicate effectively with these patients in the ER," said Heather Telford, director of nursing for emergency and critical care services at Kenmore Mercy Hospital. "It worked beautifully. Removing the language barrier keeps everyone safer and more connected about their care."

VRI carts are available in a number of areas at all Catholic Health hospitals. At the click of an icon, a healthcare provider is connected to a medically-trained interpreter. The interpreter appears on the monitor - similar to Skype - and begins interpretation between the provider and the patient. Previously, the hospitals used phone interpreting services and on-call interpreters, which often required long wait times and ultimately slowed down patient care.

"If you have an emergency, you have an emergency," said Telford. "When this happens, doctors needs information immediately and they need to be able to rely on someone to help them quickly."

About InDemand Interpreting

InDemand Interpreting was founded in 2007 with the vision of ensuring that every patient receives the highest quality healthcare, regardless of language, cultural background or disability. By delivering the most experienced medical interpreters and highest quality video technology InDemand Interpreting provides doctors, nurses and clinicians the language access they need to provide the best possible care. Visit InDemand at http://www.indemandinterpreting.com.

About Catholic Health

Formed in 1998 under four religious sponsors, Catholic Health in Buffalo, NY is a non-profit healthcare system that provides care to Western New Yorkers across a network of hospitals, primary care centers, imaging centers, and several other community ministries. In recognition of its superior service, Catholic Health has been named as among the top 100 integrated healthcare systems by SDI. Visit Catholic Health at: http://www.chsbuffalo.org/.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/catholic-health-system-uses-video-remote-interpreting-to-remove-language-barriers-for-immigrants-refugees-in-buffalo-new-york-300086731.html

SOURCE InDemand Interpreting

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