POLICY AND PROCEDURES FOR COMMUNICATION WITH PERSONS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY

Yellow Transportation Services LLC. will take reasonable steps to ensure that persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) have meaningful access and an equal opportunity to participate in our services, activities, programs and other benefits. The policy of Yellow Transportation Services LLC. is to ensure meaningful communication with LEP patients/clients and their authorized representatives involving their medical conditions and treatment.  The policy also provides for communication of information contained in vital documents, including but not limited to, waivers of rights, consent to treatment forms, financial and insurance benefit forms, etc. All interpreters, translators and other aids needed to comply with this policy shall be provided without cost to the person being served, and patients/clients and their families will be informed of the availability of such assistance free of charge.

Language assistance will be provided through use of competent bilingual staff, staff interpreters, contracts or formal arrangements with local organizations providing interpretation or translation services, or technology and telephonic interpretation services. All staff will be provided notice of this policy and procedure, and staff that may have direct contact with LEP individuals will be trained in effective communication techniques, including the effective use of an interpreter.

Yellow Transportation Services LLC. will conduct a regular review of the language access needs of our patient population, as well as update and monitor the implementation of this policy and these procedures, as necessary.

LEP Complaint Form (PDF)

PROCEDURES:

  1.  IDENTIFYING LEP PERSONS AND THEIR LANGUAGE

Yellow Transportation Services LLC. will promptly identify the language and communication needs of the LEP person.  If necessary, staff will use a language identification card (or “I speak cards,” available online at www.lep.gov) or posters to determine the language.  In addition, when records are kept of past interactions with patients (clients/residents) or family members, the language used to communicate with the LEP person will be included as part of the record.

  1.  OBTAINING A QUALIFIED INTEPRETER

The Managing Partner of Yellow Transportation Services LLC  is responsible for:

(a) Maintaining an accurate and current list showing the name, language, phone number and hours of availability of bilingual staff

(b) Contacting the appropriate bilingual staff member to interpret, in the event that an interpreter is needed, if an employee who speaks the needed language is available and is qualified to interpret;

(c) Obtaining an outside interpreter if a bilingual staff or staff interpreter is not available or does not speak the needed language.

Some LEP persons may prefer or request to use a family member or friend as an interpreter. However, family members or friends of the LEP person will not be used as interpreters unless specifically requested by that individual and after the LEP person has understood that an offer of an interpreter at no charge to the person has been made by the facility. Such an offer and the response will be documented in the person’s file. If the LEP person chooses to use a family member or friend as an interpreter, issues of competency of interpretation, confidentiality, privacy, and conflict of interest will be considered. If the family member or friend is not competent or appropriate for any of these reasons, competent interpreter services will be provided to the LEP person.

Children and other clients/patients/residents will not be used to interpret, in order to ensure confidentiality of information and accurate communication.

  1. PROVIDING WRITTEN TRANSLATIONS

(a)     When translation of vital documents is needed, each unit in Yellow Transportation Services LLC. will submit documents for translation into frequently-encountered languages to the Managing partner. Original documents being submitted for translation will be in final, approved form with updated and accurate legal and medical information.

(b)   Facilities will provide translation of other written materials, if needed, as well as written notice of the availability of translation, free of charge, for LEP individuals.

(c)   Yellow Transportation Services LLC. will set benchmarks for translation of vital documents into additional languages over time.

 LEP Policy Complaint Form

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