About the author: Edward L. Martinez, M.S. has nearly thirty years of experience as an executive and administrative leader in the public sector. He consults in the areas of health care executive management and operations with focus on organizations serving diverse populations. He is currently Senior Consultant for the National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems (NAPH) and for the American Hospital Association/Institute for Diversity in Health Management (IFD).

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
There is always a bottom line for executives of enterprises that require a large outlay of financial and human resources. But health care is a unique enterprise. Health care executives are accountable not only for the financial bottom line of their organizations, but also for the very critical bottom line of the quality and safety of care that directly affect people’s health and well-being. Executives are accountable not only to their governing bodies and investors, but also to the communities they serve. In the United States today, census and demographic data point to the fact that these communities reflect a growing diversity of race, culture and language. Moreover, our history has shown that such diversity strengthens and enriches the American character and our democratic way of life. Responding appropriately to the needs of our diverse communities requires clear and accurate communication when providing health care. The direct relationship between effective communication and quality of care has been substantiated by current research and supported by accrediting bodies. Quality language access for limited English proficient (LEP) patient populations makes sense for the accountable executive who responds not only to the financial goals of an organization and the governing body, but also to the health care needs of the diverse communities he or she serves. This white paper focuses on four critical dimensions of language access for the health care executive:

• Quality and safety of patient care
• Efficiency of health care operations through improved patient-centered communication
• Funding language access
• Accountability for quality health care

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