Daphne Xia

Click here to read the article on Edmonds Beacon’s website

The Edmonds Diversity Commission is studying ways that could improve translation services for patients who don’t speak English as a response to a class-action lawsuit against the Providence-Swedish group.

Commissioner Elaine Helm brought the case to the commission’s attention at a recent meeting, saying the case affects the community as one of the hospitals being sued is Swedish Edmonds, and the city has a large health-care business community.

The case is a consumer protection lawsuit from the Washington State Attorney General against five Swedish hospitals and nine Providence-affiliated facilities for failing “to ensure that eligible low-income Washingtonians receive the discounts to which they are legally entitled” and “aggressively collecting money” from Washingtonians eligible for charity care, a state law designed to help both insured and uninsured low-income patients.

The state alleges that the hospitals create an environment where employees suggest that all patients, despite being eligible for charity care, must pay for treatment by repeatedly asking and avoiding talking about qualifications for charity care.

Commissioner Helm wanted to use this case to prompt discussions among the commissioners about the challenges people face in health care.

Following Helm’s introduction of the issue, Commissioner Dean Olson started the discussion by talking about the problem with translation for patients who don’t speak English.

Also, there is a communication barrier for patients who communicate through American Sign Language with the pandemic still going on and requiring remote options.

“This is an intersection issue,” Olson said.

Helm agreed and continued the conversation by pointing out that an official translator is needed instead of an accompanying family member because, in some cultures, issues like mental health may be a hard topic, so patients may be uncomfortable about opening up to their health-care provider when family members are present.

Olson said he would look into the lawsuit and find out more facts about the case before the commission takes any action.

Helm said that it would be interesting to learn about what businesses are being educated about regarding providing accommodations to people who need interpreters or have hearing disabilities.

“That’s something we could do through our business guide or – I’ve been hoping – newsletter. Maybe that’s something we can get included in or distributed out.”