Hospital and Health System-Level Interventions to Improve Care for Limited English Proficiency Patients: A Systematic Review
JOINT COMMISSION JOURNAL ON QUALITY AND PATIENT SAFETY
Authors: Taira, Breena R.; Kim, Kenneth; Mody, Nisha
Abstract
Objective: Although federal legislation mandates the provision of qualified interpreters for limited English proficiency (LEP) patients, language services are consistently underutilized by health care providers even when readily available. The objective of this study was to systematically review the literature and summarize evidence for interventions at the hospital or health system level that improve communication with, quality of care for, or health outcomes of LEP patients. Methods: The literature was systematically reviewed according to PRISMA guidelines to answer the following question: "For patients with limited English proficiency, which interventions at the hospital or health system level will result in improved communication, quality of care, or health outcomes?" Results: The search yielded an initial 16,686 references, 19 of which met the inclusion criteria. Baseline rates of language service utilization were extremely low and remained at low levels postintervention in multiple studies. Most studies focused on language service utilization, patient communication, metric tracking, and access to care, whereas few studies evaluated quality of care or health outcomes of LEP patients. Multifaceted interventions that include elements of administrative emphasis, process evaluation, and education appear to improve language service use and communication. Conclusion: This review revealed large gaps in the evidence to guide hospital and health system improvement strategies for LEP patient care. Given the large and persistent performance gaps in the provision of language assistance for LEP patients, hospitals, health systems, and granting agencies should invest in implementation and dissemination research focused on language service use.
Adsorption removal of Cr(VI) by isomeric FeOOH
WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Authors: Zhang, Di; Liu, Jiaxin; Zhu, Shibei; Xiong, Huixin; Xu, Yiqun
Abstract
The aim of this work is to study the performances of isomeric alpha-, beta-, and gamma-FeOOH (goethite, akaganeite and lepidocrocite, including five samples named as Gth1 and Gth2, Aka1 and Aka2, and Lep, respectively) for removing hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) from aqueous solutions. The adsorption mechanisms were explored by kinetic and isothermal experiments. Adsorption efficiencies under the different pH values, anions, and the levels of adsorbate and adsorbent were also measured. Results showed that the Cr(VI) adsorption by isomeric FeOOH could be best described by pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The processes of Cr(VI) isothermal adsorption could be greatly fitted by the Langmuir and Freundlich equations with the high correlation coefficients of R-2 (>0.92). Also, there were the optimum pH values of 3.0-8.0 for FeOOH to adsorb Cr(VI), and their adsorption capacities were tightly related with the active sites of adsorbents. Cr(VI) adsorptions by these adsorbents were easily influenced by H2PO4-, and then SO42-, while there were little effects by Cl-, CO32- and NO3-. These obtained results could provide a potentially theoretical evidence for isomeric FeOOH materials applied in the engineering treatment of the polluted chromate-rich waters.