A Retrospective Evaluation of Time to Obtain an MRI for English- Versus Non-English-Speaking Patients

Purpose: Americans with limited English proficiency (LEP) face significant barriers to health care that result in health disparities in the LEP population. LEP could delay an MRI, potentially increasing morbidity and mortality in the LEP population. This study compares the time to obtain a neurological MRI in English versus non-English language preference patients. Methods: 24,219 unique patients at a single health system who underwent inpatient neurological MRI were included in the study. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify characteristics predictive of time to examination (TTE) from the set: patientpreferred language, gender, race, age, performing hospital, and order priority (routine versus stat). Results: Bivariate analysis showed a longer TTE is associated with increasing age category, non-English language preference, and routine priority. A multivariate analysis showed non-English language preference effect on TTE is reduced in magnitude and is no longer significant in a model that includes age group, priority, and hospital (P = .23, effect estimate = 4%, 95% CI: -2.5%, 11.0%). Routine order priority (P < .0001) and increasing age (P < .0001) were associated with increased TTE. In a model that included interactions, the effect of language preference did not depend on order priority (P = .59) or age group (P = .11). Conclusion: There is no significant difference in the time to obtain a neurological MRI in English versus non-English language preference patients when age, order priority, and performing hospital are accounted for. This finding supports the effectiveness of the protocols and resources in place to support patients with LEP at the sponsoring health system.