Meeting the needs of patients with limited English proficiency.

Recent guidelines have been promulgated to protect the rights of patients with limited English proficiency when they receive care from health Providers. It behooves Providers to supply access to proper interpreter services to assure appropriate and efficient care. Furthermore, legal strictures that apply include issues of malpractice on the basis of lack of informed consent and the government's ability to exclude non-compliant Providers from federally funded programs including Medicare and Medicaid.