HARRISBURG, Pa., March 1, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Language barriers slow down access to healthcare, can compromise the quality of care and may increase the risk of harmful medical events among patients with limited English proficiency (LEP), according to data and research studies released today in the March 2011 Pennsylvania Patient Safety Advisory.

Events reported to the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority from June 2004 through May 2010 were reviewed to determine what types of events most frequently affect patients with LEP. Falls, errors related to a surgical procedure, and medication errors were the top three types of events reported for LEP patients during this time frame.