CSaC1 - Making Health Equity a Reality: Creative Solutions to Support Community Health Centers that Serve Growing Numbers of Limited English Proficient (LEP) Patients - P2P NETWORK SESSION

Over the past decade, urban and rural communities nationwide have experienced tremendous demographic and economic shifts. According to 2022 UDS data, Community Health Centers cared for 7.9 million patients best served in a language other than English. Providing quality healthcare to these individuals presents unique challenges, especially as the industry moves to population health and value-based care models to improve care while controlling costs. Without adequate translation services, it is well-documented that Limited English Proficient (LEP) patients have higher morbidity and mortality rates from chronic diseases. The alarming 30% who don’t receive professional interpretation experience:
• 30% more ED visits
• 24% more likely to have an unplanned ED re-visit within 72 hours of care
• 40% higher rates of hospitalization
• Longer hospitalization lengths of stay by 1.5 days or more

This interactive and participatory session will provide unique opportunities to engage in small group roundtable discussions with health center peers who are the Employers, Providers and Partners of Choice in their communities. In this session, several health centers with robust programs for LEP patients will provide a fresh perspective and offer ideas on how to best partner with public and private entities to improve health equity. Discussion topics will include connecting patients with additional wrap-around services to address the social determinants of health, best practices to reach migrant and transitory populations, and investing in a multi-lingual/multi-cultural workforce from the communities they serve.