Healthcare organizations are facing increasing regulatory pressure and growing patient language needs. This means that compliant language access programs are more critical than ever for safety, equity, and quality of care.
To help providers prepare for the evolving standards ahead of 2026, Martti partnered with the Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality (CIHQ) to host a webinar focused on upcoming language access compliance requirements. Led by Dr. Tatiana Cestari, Director of Language Service Advocacy at Martti, the session provided practical guidance for strengthening language access programs in a rapidly changing and increasingly diverse healthcare environment.
As healthcare systems face growing scrutiny from accreditation bodies and regulators, the webinar underscored a clear message: language access availability alone is no longer enough; language access must function reliably across care settings, teams, and moments that directly affect patient safety and quality outcomes. Dr. Cestari drew on her clinical and regulatory expertise to outline what organizations need to prioritize now to remain audit-ready in the coming years.
Why Language Access Is a 2026 Priority
Dr. Cestari began by highlighting how demographic shifts, regulatory updates, and patient safety data are converging to elevate language access expectations. Accreditation organizations are moving beyond simply verifying that interpreter services exist. Instead, they are assessing whether healthcare organizations can demonstrate meaningful access, consistent workflows, and measurable outcomes tied to language services.
This shift places new emphasis on governance, documentation, and accountability which are areas where many organizations still have gaps.
Identifying Compliance Gaps and Risks
A central portion of the webinar focused on how healthcare leaders can evaluate their current language access programs. Dr. Cestari shared practical strategies to help organizations:
- Assess interpreter utilization across departments and care settings
- Identify inconsistencies in workflows and staff training
- Evaluate interpreter qualification standards
- Ensure policies align with current and emerging accreditation requirements
By proactively reviewing these areas, organizations can reduce risk, improve patient experience, and avoid last-minute remediation ahead of surveys.
Building an Audit-Ready Language Access Program
Dr. Cestari emphasized that strong language access programs are built on structure and integration, not ad-hoc solutions. She outlined best practices for establishing efficient, audit-ready programs, including:
- Clearly defined language access policies and procedures
- Standardized workflows embedded into clinical operations
- Ongoing staff education and competency reinforcement
- Quality metrics that demonstrate performance and improvement over time
Rather than treating language services as a standalone function, Dr. Cestari encouraged organizations to integrate them into broader quality, safety, and compliance frameworks.
The Role of Technology and Responsible Innovation
The webinar also explored how technology can support scalable, compliant language access when implemented thoughtfully. Platforms like Martti help organizations standardize access to qualified interpreters, capture usage data, and support documentation which are key elements for demonstrating compliance during audits.
Dr. Cestari noted that as innovation continues, organizations must balance efficiency with safety, accuracy, and regulatory expectations.
Looking Ahead
As 2026 approaches, healthcare organizations that invest now in governance, workflow integration, and measurable language access outcomes will be best positioned for success. Our webinar with CIHQ and Dr. Tatiana Cestari offered a clear roadmap for navigating these changes with confidence.
Watch the full webinar on demand to learn how your organization can strengthen language access, support equitable care, and prepare for what’s next.
