languagemed
Connecting patients to doctors to help ensure correct diagnosis and proper treatment.
A lot of medical offices and facilities have a relationship with one of the telephone based translation services, which are rather expensive and time consuming for staff to utilize. Actual utilization tends to be low as a result. Most patients who have poor language skills in the facilities principle language will try to bring a friend or relative to assist with translation (often a young grandson). Some staff may also be bilingual and get tapped repeatedly for this task (often taking away from their regular job). This is the reality. BACMAC and LanguageMed have formed a strategic partnership in an attempt to bring a different (perhaps complementary) approach. LanguageMed offers automated, comprehensive medical questionnaires pairing doctor's and patient's languages.
Language access remains a matter of national importance. Effective communication is a critical aspect of safe, quality patient care. The patient-centered communication standards for hospitals were fully implemented in July 2012 in the U.S. and are published in the Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Hospitals (CAMH).
Why use LanguageMed?
Save time:
A. Saving time means saving money. Here is how:- A patient will not be able to skip a question without answering, therefore medical personnel do not need to spend time asking about skipped questions.
- The report shows scores and risk indexes, a real convenience for medical personnel. (Scores and risks are shown only to registered users.)
- The report has an option to list only the pertinent positives, allowing medical personnel to go through a report faster.
B. In case of foreign language speaking patients, it can help reduce the time needed for the interpreter by getting answers to routine questions out of the way before starting an interpreter session. LanguageMed's questionnaires are translated by translators. (If you are using the flags for translating the entire website to your language, this translation is done by Google).
International Use:
LanguageMed's questionnaires allow you to pair any two languages, which are currently available at LanguageMed (e.g., German-Arabic or English-Spanish).
Branching:
- Unlike a paper questionnaire, a computer can "branch" so that if you answer yes to a question, it can go much deeper into that topic, asking more and more questions.
- Questions branch based on gender, age and other factors.
- Patients don't waste time on reading non-relevant questions.
User-Friendly:
- It is more up to date than paper and pencil!
- The font size can be increased for patients with limited vision.
- Can operate on any device with a browser, e.g. desktop, laptop or a tablet.
- A custom template with the logo of a medical office/facility and advertisements for services can be easily created by the department Administrator.
Efficiency:
- The report has an option to list only the pertinent positives, allowing medical personnel to go through a report faster.
- The report will show scores and risk indexes in the Doctor's language.
- LanguageMed's save time for medical personnel and reduce errors in recording the patient's health history.
- An administrator can view statistics on usage of the questionnaires by every team member.
- Reports can be saved as a .PDF and downloaded to your system.
Enhanced Privacy:
Enhanced privacy is provided for the patients that may not want to disclose their medical history in front of their family, friends or an interpreter, who are assisting the patient with translation. Patients' answers may be more candid when queried by a computer.
All data is encrypted and no identifiable patient data is stored on our server.
Surgical Evaluation Tool (SET)
LanguageMed's Surgical Evaluation Tool allows doctors (or PA's, etc.) to fill out a simple form and quickly generate preoperative orders according to standard practice. It is a time saver. It helps ensure consistency.
The tool is just a simple Excel spreadsheet (you must have MS Excel to run it). The spreadsheet can be modified for your particular needs.
How It Works
SET has 2 components:
1. Order sets. You can create Order sets, which are lists of orders you typically write for a procedure (e.g., IV LR KVO, C-arm to OR),
2. 'Truth Table' for preoperative labs. For "major" procedures, the spreadsheet allows you to select history items relevant to your patient and generates the typical orders automatically.
First time setup:
Step 1 - Download and run the spreadsheet in Excel.
Step 2 - If you see a yellow "security warning" at the top of the Excel file, just click on enable content.
Step 3 - Go to "Home" page. Fill out Hospital Name and Physician Name. Choose a measuring system from a drop-down menu. This data will be saved. If you would like to change this data, simply click in the field and type the new data.
Step 4 - Click on "Create Order". A few sample sheets are already there that you can modify. Just select Major or Minor from the drop-down. An order set for a Minor case (cataract, endoscopy, etc.) will not include preoperative labs. Give the Order Set a name, and then list all the orders you typically want for that procedure. If you need more order sets, just keep adding them to the right in new columns.
You order sets will be stored and will be shown in a drop-down menu in the form on the right in the page "Settings", from where you can pick an order set for a current medical procedure.
The normal workflow is as follows:
Step 1 - Fill in Patient's Name, Height, Weight, and DOB (date of birth).
Pick your Order Set from a drop-down menu.
Click on the button "Next Step."
Step 2 - Order Set. Depending on your case, minor or major, you will be led to a "Minor" or "Major" page. Patient's age and BMI will be calculated automatically. If a case is Major, the 'Truth Table' for preoperative labs is displayed. The 'Truth Table', a value of age and BMI contain formulas. These formulas will produce orders automatically based on criteria such as age, BMI, history and medications.
Click on the check boxes, that pertain to your patient in the vertical column, which has these following items:
Female (childbearing)
Smoker > 20 pk-yr
Cardiac – moderate
Cardiac – severe
Pulmonary – severe
Hypertension
Diabetes
Hepatic Dz
Renal Dz
Bleeding disorder
Expected Blood loss
PM/ICD
Recent Coronary Stents
NPO<8hrs
Diuretics
BP meds
Cardiac meds
Steroids
Anticoagulants
+ Drug abuse?
Step 3 - Click "Refresh Data" to generate your orders.
Step 4 - Click "Print". Sign and fax.
Questionnaires
Admission Form
Dental
Doctor's Office
MRI Scan
Orthodontics
POSPOM
PREOP 1
Risk Scores
Scores and Risk Indexes are shown only to registered users and being calculated in the report as follows:
Preoperative 1 questionnaire calculates:
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV)
Revised Cardiac Risk Index (RCRI)
Preoperative Score to Predict Postoperative Mortality (POSPOM)
Sleep Apnea score (STOP BANG)
Doctor's Office questionnaire calculates:Body Mass Index (BMI)
Sleep Apnea score ( STOP BANG)
Diabetes Risk
Body Mass Index
BMI = ( Weight in Pounds / [Height in inches x Height in inches] ) x 703
BMI = ( Weight in Kilograms / [Height in Meters x Height in Meters] )
FAQs
Q. What is the advantage of using a computer over just using printed forms?
Using a computer has several distinct advantages over the traditional, paper and pencil questionnaire approach:
- A computer can "branch" so that if you answer yes to a question, it can go much deeper into that topic, asking more and more questions
- The computer can assure that all questions are answered
- The font size can be increased for patients with limited vision
- A report is generated for the medical staff that lists only pertinent positives
- Scores and risk indexes are calculated in the report
- Translations are available for any language pair (eg English-Spanish or German-Arabic) for languages, which are currently available on our website.
- Some patients may fill uncomfortable to discuss their medical history with an interpreter. Patients' answers may be more candid when queried by a computer.
Q. Do patients look favorably on participating in a computerized medical questionnaires?
A study done in order to determine patients' attitude towards computer usage shows that patients of different ages and educational backgrounds respond positively towards computerized preoperative interviews. A more complete medical history can be obtained from the patients by implementing a preoperative computerized interview. For patients who are very sick or never used computers before, some assistance from a nurse or a relative is often required.
Q. What does the report show?
- The report has an option to list only the pertinent positives, allowing medical personnel to go through a report faster.
- The report will show calculated scores and risk indexes in the Doctor's language. Questions and answers will be shown in both languages or one language if a patient and a doctor speak the same language.
- Personal Information page (demographics page) can be also printed at the end of the report for a patient to fill it out and sign.
Q. Where can I see full text for questionnaires?
Click on the green button in the main menu “Support” and then on “Questionnaires-Q&A”.
Q. How can I get back to the Home page if the menu is not displayed?
Clicking on the logo will bring you to the Home page with the main menu. Main menu and Login/Register are hidden when a questionnaire is displayed. To start a new questionnaire, simply refresh the page.
Q. Are your questionnaires HIPAA compliant?
Yes. All data is encrypted between the user and the server. In addition, no patient data is stored permanently on the site, and no identifying personal data is ever requested.
Q. Are you questionnaires free to use?
Yes, they can be used without subscription. Registration is also free and is required if you would like for the scores and risk indexes to be calculated in your report. However, subscribers get a custom template without google ads.
Q. Do I need to register in order to use questionnaires?
If you prefer not to register, you can still use our questionnaires, but without several features. Registration is free.
Q. Registration doesn't go through - why?
If you filled all required fields, please be sure also to enter captcha at the end of the registration form. Captcha will not show if your browser is using an ad blocker. Please white-list our website in your ad blocker in order to finish your registration.
Q. What do I need in order to set up the questionnaires to work at my office or facility?
LanguageMed's questionnaires can work with any computer, laptop, iPad or other tablets, even a smartphone with an Internet connection. You need to have your device(s) configured to print to a local printer if you want the report to be printed. Reports can be also saved as .PDF files.
Q. How can I make the font larger?
On a desktop computer, you can increase or decrease the font size pressing <control>+ to magnify a page.
Q. My report is not printing.
Make certain your device is properly configured to print to a local printer. Make sure no add-ons in your browser are blocking scripts from running. Try to disable add-ons, which can be found in the Menu for your browser.
Q. How to reduce the size of my images for my Custom Template?
If your images are larger than the limit required for uploading to your Custom Template, an image processing program can be used for reducing dimensions of an image. For reducing the size (not dimensions) of an image, you may find https://kraken.io/web-interface convenient.
Q. I get an error when I pay using Paypal.
If you are using an authentication key to pay through Paypal and you receive an error message "Sorry — your last action could not be completed", Paypal suggests to deactivate your authentication key, pay and activate it again. In order to do this, follow these steps: go to 'My Settings' in your 'Profile' (near Log Out button) → Security → Security key → Deactivate. You can still call to Paypal to report this issue.
A lot of medical offices and facilities have a relationship with one of the telephone based translation services, which are rather expensive and time consuming for staff to utilize. Actual utilization tends to be low as a result. Most patients who have poor language skills in the facilities principle language will try to bring a friend or relative to assist with translation (often a young grandson). Some staff may also be bilingual and get tapped repeatedly for this task (often taking away from their regular job). This is the reality. BACMAC and LanguageMed have formed a strategic partnership in an attempt to bring a different (perhaps complementary) approach. LanguageMed offers automated, comprehensive medical questionnaires pairing doctor's and patient's languages.
Language access remains a matter of national importance. Effective communication is a critical aspect of safe, quality patient care. The patient-centered communication standards for hospitals were fully implemented in July 2012 in the U.S. and are published in the Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Hospitals (CAMH).
Why use LanguageMed?
Save time:
A. Saving time means saving money. Here is how:- A patient will not be able to skip a question without answering, therefore medical personnel do not need to spend time asking about skipped questions.
- The report shows scores and risk indexes, a real convenience for medical personnel. (Scores and risks are shown only to registered users.)
- The report has an option to list only the pertinent positives, allowing medical personnel to go through a report faster.
B. In case of foreign language speaking patients, it can help reduce the time needed for the interpreter by getting answers to routine questions out of the way before starting an interpreter session. LanguageMed's questionnaires are translated by translators. (If you are using the flags for translating the entire website to your language, this translation is done by Google).
International Use:
LanguageMed's questionnaires allow you to pair any two languages, which are currently available at LanguageMed (e.g., German-Arabic or English-Spanish).
Branching:
- Unlike a paper questionnaire, a computer can "branch" so that if you answer yes to a question, it can go much deeper into that topic, asking more and more questions.
- Questions branch based on gender, age and other factors.
- Patients don't waste time on reading non-relevant questions.
User-Friendly:
- It is more up to date than paper and pencil!
- The font size can be increased for patients with limited vision.
- Can operate on any device with a browser, e.g. desktop, laptop or a tablet.
- A custom template with the logo of a medical office/facility and advertisements for services can be easily created by the department Administrator.
Efficiency:
- The report has an option to list only the pertinent positives, allowing medical personnel to go through a report faster.
- The report will show scores and risk indexes in the Doctor's language.
- LanguageMed's save time for medical personnel and reduce errors in recording the patient's health history.
- An administrator can view statistics on usage of the questionnaires by every team member.
- Reports can be saved as a .PDF and downloaded to your system.
Enhanced Privacy:
Enhanced privacy is provided for the patients that may not want to disclose their medical history in front of their family, friends or an interpreter, who are assisting the patient with translation. Patients' answers may be more candid when queried by a computer.
All data is encrypted and no identifiable patient data is stored on our server.
Surgical Evaluation Tool (SET)
LanguageMed's Surgical Evaluation Tool allows doctors (or PA's, etc.) to fill out a simple form and quickly generate preoperative orders according to standard practice. It is a time saver. It helps ensure consistency.
The tool is just a simple Excel spreadsheet (you must have MS Excel to run it). The spreadsheet can be modified for your particular needs.
How It Works
SET has 2 components:
1. Order sets. You can create Order sets, which are lists of orders you typically write for a procedure (e.g., IV LR KVO, C-arm to OR),
2. 'Truth Table' for preoperative labs. For "major" procedures, the spreadsheet allows you to select history items relevant to your patient and generates the typical orders automatically.
First time setup:
Step 1 - Download and run the spreadsheet in Excel.
Step 2 - If you see a yellow "security warning" at the top of the Excel file, just click on enable content.
Step 3 - Go to "Home" page. Fill out Hospital Name and Physician Name. Choose a measuring system from a drop-down menu. This data will be saved. If you would like to change this data, simply click in the field and type the new data.
Step 4 - Click on "Create Order". A few sample sheets are already there that you can modify. Just select Major or Minor from the drop-down. An order set for a Minor case (cataract, endoscopy, etc.) will not include preoperative labs. Give the Order Set a name, and then list all the orders you typically want for that procedure. If you need more order sets, just keep adding them to the right in new columns.
You order sets will be stored and will be shown in a drop-down menu in the form on the right in the page "Settings", from where you can pick an order set for a current medical procedure.
The normal workflow is as follows:
Step 1 - Fill in Patient's Name, Height, Weight, and DOB (date of birth).
Pick your Order Set from a drop-down menu.
Click on the button "Next Step."
Step 2 - Order Set. Depending on your case, minor or major, you will be led to a "Minor" or "Major" page. Patient's age and BMI will be calculated automatically. If a case is Major, the 'Truth Table' for preoperative labs is displayed. The 'Truth Table', a value of age and BMI contain formulas. These formulas will produce orders automatically based on criteria such as age, BMI, history and medications.
Click on the check boxes, that pertain to your patient in the vertical column, which has these following items:
Female (childbearing)
Smoker > 20 pk-yr
Cardiac – moderate
Cardiac – severe
Pulmonary – severe
Hypertension
Diabetes
Hepatic Dz
Renal Dz
Bleeding disorder
Expected Blood loss
PM/ICD
Recent Coronary Stents
NPO<8hrs
Diuretics
BP meds
Cardiac meds
Steroids
Anticoagulants
+ Drug abuse?
Step 3 - Click "Refresh Data" to generate your orders.
Step 4 - Click "Print". Sign and fax.
Questionnaires
Admission Form
Dental
Doctor's Office
MRI Scan
Orthodontics
POSPOM
PREOP 1
Risk Scores
Scores and Risk Indexes are shown only to registered users and being calculated in the report as follows:
Preoperative 1 questionnaire calculates:
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV)
Revised Cardiac Risk Index (RCRI)
Preoperative Score to Predict Postoperative Mortality (POSPOM)
Sleep Apnea score (STOP BANG)
Doctor's Office questionnaire calculates:Body Mass Index (BMI)
Sleep Apnea score ( STOP BANG)
Diabetes Risk
Body Mass Index
BMI = ( Weight in Pounds / [Height in inches x Height in inches] ) x 703
BMI = ( Weight in Kilograms / [Height in Meters x Height in Meters] )
FAQs
Q. What is the advantage of using a computer over just using printed forms?
Using a computer has several distinct advantages over the traditional, paper and pencil questionnaire approach:
- A computer can "branch" so that if you answer yes to a question, it can go much deeper into that topic, asking more and more questions
- The computer can assure that all questions are answered
- The font size can be increased for patients with limited vision
- A report is generated for the medical staff that lists only pertinent positives
- Scores and risk indexes are calculated in the report
- Translations are available for any language pair (eg English-Spanish or German-Arabic) for languages, which are currently available on our website.
- Some patients may fill uncomfortable to discuss their medical history with an interpreter. Patients' answers may be more candid when queried by a computer.
Q. Do patients look favorably on participating in a computerized medical questionnaires?
A study done in order to determine patients' attitude towards computer usage shows that patients of different ages and educational backgrounds respond positively towards computerized preoperative interviews. A more complete medical history can be obtained from the patients by implementing a preoperative computerized interview. For patients who are very sick or never used computers before, some assistance from a nurse or a relative is often required.
Q. What does the report show?
- The report has an option to list only the pertinent positives, allowing medical personnel to go through a report faster.
- The report will show calculated scores and risk indexes in the Doctor's language. Questions and answers will be shown in both languages or one language if a patient and a doctor speak the same language.
- Personal Information page (demographics page) can be also printed at the end of the report for a patient to fill it out and sign.
Q. Where can I see full text for questionnaires?
Click on the green button in the main menu “Support” and then on “Questionnaires-Q&A”.
Q. How can I get back to the Home page if the menu is not displayed?
Clicking on the logo will bring you to the Home page with the main menu. Main menu and Login/Register are hidden when a questionnaire is displayed. To start a new questionnaire, simply refresh the page.
Q. Are your questionnaires HIPAA compliant?
Yes. All data is encrypted between the user and the server. In addition, no patient data is stored permanently on the site, and no identifying personal data is ever requested.
Q. Are you questionnaires free to use?
Yes, they can be used without subscription. Registration is also free and is required if you would like for the scores and risk indexes to be calculated in your report. However, subscribers get a custom template without google ads.
Q. Do I need to register in order to use questionnaires?
If you prefer not to register, you can still use our questionnaires, but without several features. Registration is free.
Q. Registration doesn't go through - why?
If you filled all required fields, please be sure also to enter captcha at the end of the registration form. Captcha will not show if your browser is using an ad blocker. Please white-list our website in your ad blocker in order to finish your registration.
Q. What do I need in order to set up the questionnaires to work at my office or facility?
LanguageMed's questionnaires can work with any computer, laptop, iPad or other tablets, even a smartphone with an Internet connection. You need to have your device(s) configured to print to a local printer if you want the report to be printed. Reports can be also saved as .PDF files.
Q. How can I make the font larger?
On a desktop computer, you can increase or decrease the font size pressing <control>+ to magnify a page.
Q. My report is not printing.
Make certain your device is properly configured to print to a local printer. Make sure no add-ons in your browser are blocking scripts from running. Try to disable add-ons, which can be found in the Menu for your browser.
Q. How to reduce the size of my images for my Custom Template?
If your images are larger than the limit required for uploading to your Custom Template, an image processing program can be used for reducing dimensions of an image. For reducing the size (not dimensions) of an image, you may find https://kraken.io/web-interface convenient.
Q. I get an error when I pay using Paypal.
If you are using an authentication key to pay through Paypal and you receive an error message "Sorry — your last action could not be completed", Paypal suggests to deactivate your authentication key, pay and activate it again. In order to do this, follow these steps: go to 'My Settings' in your 'Profile' (near Log Out button) → Security → Security key → Deactivate. You can still call to Paypal to report this issue.
To learn more, please call 800.240.9473 today.
