Having an interpreter present in the emergency room may do more than help make patients feel at ease. Research printed in the Annals of Emergency Medicine shows that patients who had in-person interpreters were four times more likely to be satisfied with their emergency room visit than those who didn't.

The researchers found that patients and physicians alike reported that the overall care experience was higher and more satisfying when a trained professional emergency room interpreter was used. At hospitals where there isn't a professional interpreter, a family member or other hospital staff are typically relied on for communication assistance.

"The results were the same for physicians and nurses, which could be important for reducing staff burnout and errors," says study author Ann Bagchi. "The improved quality of care can also reduce the likelihood that a patient will return to the ER for the same health problem."

Such findings may be helpful when determining staffing as a large number of patients stand to benefit from the potential of decreased wait times. Data from the Centers for Disease Control shows that an average of 227 people visited the emergency room every minute in 2006.