Lost in Translation – TeamSTEPPS
In this episode, the we welcome back guest host, Dr. Neelou Weeker, and ED nurse, Leigh Clary, to discuss the critical intersection of language barriers, patient equity, and emergency care. Through two powerful clinical scenarios, the team explores the “gold standards” of medical translation, the challenges of resource-limited community settings, and how TeamSTEPPS tools—specifically closed-loop communication and situational monitoring—can be leveraged to ensure true informed consent and patient safety.
The Gold Standard vs. Clinical Reality
Providing equitable care means ensuring every patient, regardless of language or culture, fully understands their medical team. While academic centers are often highly resourced, executing communication seamlessly remains a universal challenge.
1. Translation Tools and Hierarchy
The Gold Standard: Video- or audio-based professional interpretation tablets allow face-to-face or direct vocal translation.
The Secondary Backup: In-house dual-handset “blue phones” connect directly to professional phone lines when tablets experience connectivity issues.
The Tertiary Backup: Multilingual staff members can help act as a bridge. Many institutions feature language fluencies on staff ID badges.
Note: Staff members should only be used to establish initial rapport or identify the required dialect, not as official medical interpreters.
The Danger of Family Interpreters: While family members bring invaluable cultural context and an understanding of the patient’s baseline, studies show they only correctly interpret medical dialogue 19% of the time.
The Bottom Line: Always utilize the official route first. When technology fails, do your absolute best—never settle for “good enough” when better communication is possible.
2. Academic vs. Community and Rural Settings
Emergency medicine requires extreme adaptability. In resource-limited community or rural hospitals, finding an interpreter for less commonly spoken languages can take upwards of 30 minutes.
Physicians must sometimes physically carry translation phones from room to room while managing other patients just to maintain an open line with a rare-dialect interpreter.
Applying TeamSTEPPS to Patient Communication
We routinely use TeamSTEPPS tools to communicate with our fellow clinicians, but we must remember that the patient is the most important member of the healthcare team.
1. Closed-Loop Communication & The Teach-Back Method
To confirm true patient understanding, avoid simple “yes or no” questions, nods, or smiles. Instead, utilize the Teach-Back Method, requiring the patient to repeat the instructions or choices back to you in their own words.
How to Phrase It (Taking Responsibility):
“I want to make sure that I have been clear in what I’ve said to you. To help me feel reassured that I communicated everything correctly, could you tell me what you understand is going on?”
Clinical Value: This is particularly vital for high-stakes decisions and ED discharge instructions.
Multimodal Approach: In high-stakes moments, combine professional translation, family context, and teach-back to minimize errors.
2. Situational Monitoring
Resuscitative environments are chaotic, and the primary physician trying to run a cod or secure an airway has immense cognitive load.
The Team Safety Net: Other team members (nurses, techs, scribes) can help monitor the situation and catch critical communication errors.
Reconciling Clinical Urgency with Informed Consent
How do you balance the immediate need to save a life with the time-consuming process of formal translation?
The ABC Priority: First and foremost, secure Airway, Breathing, and Circulation. If a patient presents to the ED in extremis and cannot communicate, clinicians must operate under the assumption that the patient wants life-saving measures performed.
Task Delegation: While the medical team manages the immediate ABCs, immediately task support staff (such as social workers) with finding an official interpreter, locating family members, and gathering background information.
Next Steps: Once the ABCs are stable, the team has the time and space to pause, establish formal translation, and dive deeper into informed consent for further procedures.
Key Takeaways
Acknowledge the Bias of Urgency: Time pressure can tempt us to bypass official translation channels. Guard against this by maintaining an equity-first mindset.
Close the Loop with Patients: Ensure they can paraphrase their care plan or consent choices.
Protect the Team via Shared Roles: Trust your teammates to monitor the big picture and catch subtle communication gaps during high-stress resuscitations.
Do you use TeamSTEPPS or a similar model in your ED? We’d love to hear what has been successful for your team. Hit us up on social media @empulsepodcast or connect with us on ucdavisem.com
Host:
Dr. Julia Magaña, Professor of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at UC Davis
Guest Host:
Dr. Neelou Tabatabai, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at UC Davis
Guest:
Leigh Clary, RN, BSN, RN, CEN, ADCES, MICN , ED Nurse and TeamSTEPPS Project Lead at UC Davis
Resources:
TeamSTEPPS Player of the Month Program, Presentation by Leigh Clary and Jose Metica
TeamSTEPPS™: Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety Heidi B. King, MS, CHE, James Battles, PhD, David P. Baker, PhD, Alexander Alonso, PhD, Eduardo Salas, PhD, John Webster, MD, MBA, Lauren Toomey, RN, BSBA, MIS, and Mary Salisbury, RN, MSN.
TeamSTEPPS Pocket Guide – Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
EM Pulse: TeamSTEPPS, September 17, 2021
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Thank you to the UC Davis Department of Emergency Medicine for supporting this podcast and to Orlando Magaña at OM Productions for audio production services.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed on this podcast are those of the hosts or guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of UC Davis Department of Emergency Medicine, UC Davis Health, or their parent organizations.
