Improving Accurate Documentation of Limited English Proficiency Patients at a Tertiary Affiliated Urgent Care Center in New York City.

Limited English proficiency (LEP) poses a significant barrier to effective communication and patient-centered care. Despite regulatory mandates, documentation of preferred language and interpreter use in electronic health records (EHRs) remains inconsistent, especially in urgent care settings were time and staffing constraints limit workflow interventions. This study evaluates a pragmatic, low-cost quality improvement initiative implemented at a tertiary-affiliated urgent care center (UCC) in New York City, serving a highly multilingual, predominantly non-White population, to improve documentation accuracy for LEP patients. From January to June 2023, triage nurses were trained to apply pink flag stickers on the doors of patients requiring interpreter services and to document language needs in the EPIC EHR system. Weekly error rates, defined as the proportion of patients labeled as "English-speaking" with documented interpreter use, were tracked using time-series and segmented regression analysis. Among 6604 encounters, the baseline error rate was 79.3%. One-week postintervention, this rate dropped by 21.1%, though not statistically significant (P = .55). The trend remained variable, underscoring the need for sustained education and engagement. While the intervention was not technology-based, it was designed to overcome practical EHR integration barriers unique to the UCC setting. The approach highlights how modest workflow adjustments drive frontline awareness and prompt action. Despite its limitations-including a single-site design, short duration, and data inconsistencies, this study contributes a replicable model for improving communication equity for LEP patients. Broader implementation may inform system-level strategies that enhance patient experience and documentation quality.