Exploring Proven Strategies for Healthcare Communication: What is Video Remote Interpreting?
In healthcare, immediate communication is crucial. It is essential that language barriers do not impede patient care. Enter Video Remote Interpreting (VRI), which is advancing healthcare communication. But what exactly is VRI, and how can it benefit healthcare providers? Let's explore.
About Video Remote Interpreting
Video Remote Interpreting is a real-time video communication service connecting patients and healthcare providers with professional interpreters. Unlike traditional phone interpretation, VRI includes visual interaction to enhance understanding.
Understanding Video Remote Interpreting
VRI can be accessed through various devices like smartphones, tablets, computers, and dedicated video conferencing and telehealth systems.
Benefits of Video Remote Interpreting
- Enhanced Communication - Visual cues in VRI facilitate better understanding, making it easier to convey complex medical information accurately. It is a necessity for deaf and hard-of-hearing patients who rely on sign language for communication. The visual component of VRI enables these patients to interact with healthcare providers through a professional sign language interpreter.
- Quick Access to Interpreters – Connect instantly with qualified medical interpreters to improve patient care processes, such as discharge, and bypass prescheduling for emergent care. This helps to reduce length of stay and readmission rates.
- Cost-Effective – VRI can often reduce costs compared to on-site interpreting. At AMN Healthcare Language Services, our clients are not required to invest in capital equipment; we provide clients with both iPads and secure, hospital-grade stands under a right to use program.
How Video Remote Interpreting Works
VRI is extremely user-friendly and requires no technical expertise to operate. Its instant access at the click of a button and intuitive interface makes it a convenient and efficient solution for language interpretation needs.
- Setup - Use tablets, smartphones, or laptops to access VRI services seamlessly.
- Connection - Secure, HIPAA-compliant platforms quickly connect providers to qualified medical interpreters.
- Interaction - Interpreters provide clear and accurate communication between patient and provider.
Leveraging VRI in Healthcare
With the increasing diversity of patients, VRI has become an essential tool for effective communication and promoting health equity. Here are some ways healthcare providers can leverage VRI to improve patient care:
In Emergency Rooms
In emergency situations where immediate communication is vital, VRI can provide quick access to interpreters. This ensures critical information is conveyed accurately without any delays.
Specialty Care
Patients seeking specialty care, such as mental health services, can have medical conditions that require detailed explanations and discussions. With VRI, providers can easily communicate with these patients and ensure they understand their diagnosis.
Routine and Follow-up Appointments
Provide a convenient way to communicate with non-English speaking patients, ensuring understanding of health conditions and treatment plans. It can also be utilized for follow-up appointments to provide continuity of care, which can reduce missed appointments and promote patient engagement.
VRI Success Story
Atrium Health successfully transitioned to Video Remote Interpreting from traditional on-site and remote audio interpreting, demonstrating remarkable improvements in both operational efficiency and patient satisfaction. This strategic shift has enabled Atrium Health to save approximately $1.5 million annually, a testament to the cost-effectiveness of VRI. The healthcare provider now averages over 103,000 VRI minutes per month, underscoring the significant demand and utility of this service.
To further understand how one of the country’s leading healthcare organizations leveraged VRI, access the quick case study here.
Why Use AMN Healthcare for Video Remote Interpreting?
AMN Healthcare Language Services is exclusively focused on medical interpretation. Our interpreters are highly skilled and medically qualified, ensuring precise and culturally competent communication. We provide comprehensive medical language services, including over-the-phone, video remote, and onsite interpretation, along with a user-friendly translation service. Our services are HIPAA compliant, our interpreting application holds a security certification from CA Veracode, and we are SOC 1® and SOC 2® certified.
Our services can be accessed using everyday technology like tablets, smartphones, and laptops for seamless integration into your existing processes. Additionally, our application is interoperable with various telehealth solutions, including Epic’s EHR/EMR system, ensuring that language access is available to patients whenever and wherever needed.
Adopt VRI so that every patient, regardless of language, receives the highest quality of care. Visit our VRI page to learn how your organization can improve communication and patient satisfaction.
