Governor Kaine Announces Spanish Language Internet Resource for Health Care Providers and Consumers
Governor Kaine Announces Spanish Language Internet Resource for Health Care Providers and Consumers
- Ultimately, site will accommodate 24 additional foreign languages -
Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced the launch of the Virginia Department of Health's (VDH) new Cultural and Linguistic Appropriate Standards, or CLAS Act, Internet site. The site is designed tassist health care providers in delivering culturally competent care for their limited English proficient patients.
It contains many commonly used phrases in the clinical setting, their Spanish translations, and audifiles where listeners can practice correctly pronouncing these phrases. Over time, as many as 24 additional languages will be added.
"The CLAS Act Web site is a great tool for Virginia residents that require language assistance in order treceive the best care possible," said Governor Kaine. "It should be emphasized, however, that the site is a tool and not a replacement for regular interaction with doctors and other medical professionals. This is another important step for giving Virginia's health care community the proper resources that it requires tprovide the necessary services tthe entire Commonwealth."
VDH's Office of Health Policy and Planning (OHPP) alswill release a CLAS Act Resource Directory, identifying successful programs and resources for health providers timprove their ability tdeliver core health care services tlimited English proficiency patients.
"The OHPP is proud to support Governor Kaine and are proud of his leadership on this critical issue," said Kathy Wibberly from OHPP. "We have worked with various statewide partners, like the Sharpe Community Scholars at the College of William and Mary, timprove health care providers' ability tcommunicate more effectively with Virginia's culturally and linguistically diverse communities in order tensure that patients are receiving the best available care."
The OHPP created the site toffer a comprehensive resource for culturally and linguistically appropriate health care resources. According tVDH, improvements in communication will lead tbetter health outcomes, greater patient satisfaction, and a decrease in the cost of health care due tdelays in accessing basic preventive care. Medical errors and inefficiencies due tcompromised comprehension will alsbe minimized by enhanced communication abilities.
For more information on the CLAS Act Virginia Web site, visit: http://CLASActVirginia.vdh.virginia.gov.
http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/newsReleases/2006/May06/0509.cfm