Preferred Language

Rexpert is taking steps to incorporate support for Meaningful Use core measure #7. One way we're doing this is by adding Ethnicity to Account Registration. Continuing with the January, 2014, update, the option to choose a Preferred Language, as well as the need for an Interpreter, will be available.

As with ethnicity, we will transition all your previously entered language information over to the new field as best we can.This may seem like a hassle, but (besides being required by law) a list of universal language codes makes the required transfer of data from system to system possible. (Which is slightly ironic, if you think about it... we're creating a new system of symbols to represent various languages. In other words, we're creating an entirely new universal language to categorize non-universal languages. Personally, I think that's hilarious... anyway, back to the important stuff...)

To support this, a new Language Maintenance table will be available to maintain the ISO 639.2 standard language codes:


Note: Care is required when editing a language code. These codes are a part of a standardized government list, and have been selected for easy translation between systems. Contact Client Services if you have any questions or need help editing language codes.


At the moment, the default value for the Preferred Language field in Account Registration is English. This can be changed. If, for example, the majority of patients you see are Spanish or Russian speakers, contact Client Services to change the default preferred language for your practice.

Also, as a reminder from last week's blog post, once these changes are implemented into Rexpert, some changes will have to be made on your end as well:

• Be sure to update your encounter forms to include race, ethnicity, preferred language, interpreter required, and sex (as opposed to gender).
• Once you have made these changes, please print out a copy, black out identifying information, show us where you want ethnicity/race/language to appear, and fax it to 775-618-1358.

These updates are in an effort to make medical care easily accessible to everyone. If you have any suggestions or ideas that can help the process, let us know by contacting Client Services using the Feedback button or leave a Comment below.

Written by: Kylie McKenzie Soder