In-Person Interpreter Use and Hospital Length of Stay among Infants with Low Birth Weight

Abstract

To ensure timely appropriate care for low-birth-weight (LBW) infants, healthcare providers must communicate effectively with parents, even when language barriers exist. We sought to evaluate whether non-English primary language (NEPL) and professional in-person interpreter use were associated with differential hospital length of stay for LBW infants, who may incur high healthcare costs. We analyzed data for 2047 infants born between 1 January 2008 and 30 April 2013 with weight <2500 g at one hospital with high NEPL prevalence. We evaluated relationships of NEPL and in-person interpreter use on length of stay, adjusting for medical severity. Overall, 396 (19%) had NEPL parents. Fifty-three percent of NEPL parents had documented interpreter use. Length of stay ranged from 1 to 195 days (median 11). Infants of NEPL parents with no interpreter use had a 49% shorter length of stay (adjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR) 0.51, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.43–0.61) compared to English-speakers. Infants of parents with NEPL and low interpreter use (<25% of hospital days) had a 26% longer length of stay (adjusted IRR 1.26, 95% CI 1.06–1.51). NEPL and high interpreter use (>25% of hospital days) showed a trend for an even longer length of stay. Unmeasured clinical and social/cultural factors may contribute to differences in length of stay.

Use of professional interpreters for children and families with limited English proficiency: The intersection with quality and safety

“…Recent work in adult patients demonstrates that inconsistent recognition of the unique vulnerability of patients from diverse cultural backgrounds extends beyond clinical notes to verbal and written clinical handover. 17 Within the adult literature, low English proficiency patients are over-represented in ED presentations, 18 are at higher risk of requiring subsequent admission 19 and intensive care unit admission, 20 undergo relatively more diagnostic tests in the ED 21,22 have longer length of hospital stay, 23,24 higher rates of discharge against medical advice 25 and higher rates of unplanned readmission. 26 They are more likely to suffer from medication errors and other adverse events.…”

“…Within the adult literature, low English proficiency patients are over‐represented in ED presentations, are at higher risk of requiring subsequent admission and intensive care unit admission, undergo relatively more diagnostic tests in the ED have longer length of hospital stay, higher rates of discharge against medical advice and higher rates of unplanned readmission . They are more likely to suffer from medication errors and other adverse events .…”

WITHDRAWN: Quality Improvement for Neonatal Resuscitation and Delivery Room Care

“…In obstetrics, there is evidence that limited English proficiency contributes to maternal complications as well as higher rates of primary cesarean delivery 69 . In the NICU, infants of families that require interpreters have been shown to have a longer length of hospitalization than families that are English proficient 70 , and that families with LEP are overall less prepared for discharge 71 .…”

Substance use during pregnancy: impact on Colorado community hospital

“…It has been shown that prematurity or low birthweight could potentially cause an increased LOS for newborns (Eneriz-Wiemer et al 2018 ). However, in different drug groups analyzed in this study, the average birthweight of newborns ranged from 2710 to 3255 g and the average gestational age ranged between 257 and 273 days (see Table 3).…”