Language Access & Cultural Proficiency

The Medical Leadership Council on Cultural Proficiency (MLC) is a unique and powerful group of medical and specialty societies, health plans and health systems working to improve language access, cultural proficiency, and health care workforce diversity in California. The SBCMS participates in the MLC. We have a first-of-its-kind database designed to assist physicians and others in providing improved language access and culturally competent health care. To access the database, go to http://medicalleadership.org and click on "Language Access Resources".

The searchable, internet-based, free-to-the-public database includes contact information for interpreters, nonprofit organizations, hospitals, public health departments and others that provide health information and services in languages other than English. Users, including physicians, nurses, social service workers, patients and the general public, can search for listings by county, by language, or by type of service. See other sections of this site for videos of expert presentations, Continuing Medical Education materials, toolkits for physician offices, publications, information about the MLC, and more. These are important tools for important work. Every patient deserves to be heard -- and understood. Quality health care depends on it.