This year, the Idaho Community Action Network organized its members, especially farmworkers, to win implementation of policies ensuring appropriate translation and interpretation and enforcement of charity care obligations at West Valley Medical in Canyon County.

In the summer, ICAN members began to investigate practices at West Valley and found numerous discrepancies. Thanks to the efforts of ICAN´s leaders, West Valley is establishing a medical interpretation certification program for all interpreters and bilingual staff, implementing cultural competency training, revising its charity care information, and translating signs, brochures, and financial assistance forms into Spanish. The hospital is also implementing a recruitment and training program to hire bilingual and bicultural staff from the community.