In this section we provide a SWOT analysis on the Kaiser’s current language assistance program (LAP).
Strengths. Acknowledging the need to improve the language assistance services is one of the strengths of Kaiser LAP. The National Diversity and Inclusion at Kaiser headquarter initiated a program-wide review to establish a baseline to understand Kaiser’s current processes related to language services with regards to cost, quality, patient satisfaction, and compliance. Being actively engaged in figuring out the weaknesses of LAP system-wide and planning to strategically address the LAP shortcomings is Kaiser’s strength.
Opportunities. While focusing on improving the language assistance services, there are opportunities that Kaiser can take …show more content…
This data collection should include patient, staff, and interpreters’ feedback, details of each encounter, and quality of services provided to the members. In order to realize the extent of the language assistance related problems and therefore plan to address the issues, Kaiser needs a rigorous system to reach the front line of the language services and research the battleground by going to gemba! We believe that approaching to solve the problem only with a top-down method will not provide a comprehensive and clear understanding of the language assistance issues.
Lack of standardized interpreter and direct service training, assessment, and certification process constitutes yet another set of potential weakness that influences the general effectiveness of the language assistance program in all Kaiser regions.
Threats. Arguably, the most important issue that threatens the quality of services for Kaiser is the fact that the United States is experiencing increasing language diversity in its population who will need language assistance to receive care. Other competitive health care organizations are in same boat and are active in developing their language assistance in order to increase their
Strengths. Acknowledging the need to improve the language assistance services is one of the strengths of Kaiser LAP. The National Diversity and Inclusion at Kaiser headquarter initiated a program-wide review to establish a baseline to understand Kaiser’s current processes related to language services with regards to cost, quality, patient satisfaction, and compliance. Being actively engaged in figuring out the weaknesses of LAP system-wide and planning to strategically address the LAP shortcomings is Kaiser’s strength.
Opportunities. While focusing on improving the language assistance services, there are opportunities that Kaiser can take …show more content…
This data collection should include patient, staff, and interpreters’ feedback, details of each encounter, and quality of services provided to the members. In order to realize the extent of the language assistance related problems and therefore plan to address the issues, Kaiser needs a rigorous system to reach the front line of the language services and research the battleground by going to gemba! We believe that approaching to solve the problem only with a top-down method will not provide a comprehensive and clear understanding of the language assistance issues.
Lack of standardized interpreter and direct service training, assessment, and certification process constitutes yet another set of potential weakness that influences the general effectiveness of the language assistance program in all Kaiser regions.
Threats. Arguably, the most important issue that threatens the quality of services for Kaiser is the fact that the United States is experiencing increasing language diversity in its population who will need language assistance to receive care. Other competitive health care organizations are in same boat and are active in developing their language assistance in order to increase their