The American Hospital Association Awards Its
Endorsement to CyraCom for Interpretation and Translation Solutions
CHICAGO, IL - March 04, 2009
(BUSINESS WIRE)--The American Hospital Association, through its subsidiary, AHA Solutions, Inc., announced the exclusive
endorsement of CyraCom’s interpretation and translation solutions, a critical tool for hospitals struggling with the
medical consequences of communicating with patients with Limited English Proficiency (LEP). The difficulty doctors,
nurses and staff have in communicating with Limited English Proficient patients increases the risk of incomplete medical
histories and limits the ability of patients to follow procedure and post-procedure instructions. As a result, the AHA is
pleased to announce the endorsement of a service that has proven effective in breaking down communication barriers, linking
healthcare workers with LEP patients.
With CyraCom’s interpretation and translation solutions, trained medical interpreters and translators help patients
to communicate in both oral and written formats with doctors, nurses, general medical staff and administration, increasing
the likelihood of improved clinical outcomes. Interpreters participate in more than 160 hours of training in medical and
colloquial terminology in both languages to be aware of and sensitive to how patients receive information, as well as to
accommodate regional and cultural differences among people even speaking the same language. CyraCom interpreters are focused
on the healthcare culture and its complexities. The organization’s healthcare focus was an important reason CyraCom
was chosen for endorsement by the AHA.
“We learned from our AHA-member hospitals and thought leaders on our advisory boards, that the ability of patients
and their families to understand the patient’s care drives most hospitals to employ language services. Regulatory
concerns drive others,” says Anthony Burke, CEO of AHA Solutions. “We also learned of the runaway costs hospitals
experience using local interpreter services. We believe CyraCom provides reliable, high quality communication between patient
and caregiver, encouraging the best of care and optimized patient satisfaction.”
Mary Washington Hospital, a 412-bed, full-service hospital with an outstanding reputation for patient-centered care, utilizes
CyraCom interpretation and translation solutions. Pamela Thorpe, Mary Washington Hospital’s Coordinator of Cultural
Services and Special Projects, cites CyraCom’s quality, saying, “CyraCom provides complete and comprehensive
language access services. The quality of their interpreter services assures our patients receive exemplary care 24 hours
a day, seven days a week. CyraCom has been our trusted source of interpreter services since 2005.”
“This AHA endorsement is validation of our deep understanding and commitment to solving the communication challenges
of patients,” says Jeremy Woan, President and CEO of CyraCom. “This is the result of the efforts of an organization
with a significant focus on bringing the highest-quality interpretation and translation solutions to healthcare. We look
forward to working with AHA Solutions in taking our story to hospitals across the United States.”
For more information about CyraCom, please visit www.cyracom.com.
About the AHA
The American Hospital Association (AHA) is a not-for-profit association of healthcare provider organizations and individuals
committed to the health improvement of their communities. The AHA is the national advocate for its members, which includes
nearly 5,000 hospitals and healthcare systems, networks, and other providers of care, and 37,000 individuals. Founded in
1898, the AHA provides education for healthcare leaders and is a source of information on healthcare issues and trends.
For more information, visit www.aha.org.
About AHA Solutions
AHA Solutions, Inc. is a resource to hospitals pursuing operational excellence. As an American Hospital Association (AHA)
member service, AHA Solutions collaborates with hospital leaders and market consultants to conduct product due diligence
and identify solutions to hospital challenges in the areas of finance, human resources, patient flow and technology. AHA
Solutions provides related marketplace analytics and education to support product decision-making. As a subsidiary of the
AHA, the organization convenes people with like interests for knowledge sharing centered on timely information and research.
AHA Solutions is proud to reinvest its profits in the AHA mission: creating healthier communities. For more information,
contact AHA Solutions at (800) 242-4677 or visit www.aha-solutions.org.
About CyraCom
CyraCom is the leading provider of innovative language solutions for healthcare including Over-the-Phone Interpretation,
Video Interpretation, as well as Translation and Localization.
CyraCom’s language services contribute to:
- Improved patient flow for Limited English Proficiency patients
- Improved quality patient care and better health outcomes
- Meaningful access to health services and improved patient satisfaction
- Compliance with federal & state regulations
For more information, visit www.cyracom.com or contact us at 1-800-781-7871.
Contact:
American Hospital Association
Matthew Fenwick
312-422-2820
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