Summary
The Language Access Department of the Administrative Office of the Courts in New Mexico chose Boost IMS to integrate interpreter scheduling and billing, which led to a significant reduction in time, cost and environmental impact. It is now also ranked #1 in the United States for Language Access.
The Challenge
The court had been using separate systems for its scheduling and billing. Scheduling happened electronically, but billing was still a manual task. Interpreters had to complete paper invoices and submit them by mail, which increased processing time, costs, and environmental impact. Additionally, any changes to interpreter credentials, ID photos, etc. had to be sent in by mail and processed by the staff. There was a clear need for a unified platform that integrated scheduling and billing, electronically. The court was looking for a solution that could integrate their scheduling and billing processes, while moving away from time-consuming paperwork. After months of extensive research, they decided on an electronic billing system that could reflect a highly complex picture with many variables, while continuing to support their scheduling needs.
The Results
Boostlingo worked with them to customize its IMS, and to provide extensive training to the staff and the interpreters. The court’s contracted interpreters can now electronically submit their invoices directly through the interpreter portal, greatly streamlining the payment process. It has reduced processing time, costs, and environmental impact. Tying the scheduling and billing pieces together has also vastly improved the court’s ability to evaluate the needs of their customers, to keep track of their contracted interpreters, to run detailed cancellation reports, and track reasons for cancellations. All these features enable their program to conserve and consolidate resources.
About New Mexico Courts
The Language Access Department (LAD) in the NM Administrative Office of the Courts, coordinates and funds court interpreting and other communication access services to ensure equal access to the state courts for people with Limited English Proficiency (LEP), as well as Deaf and hard of hearing individuals. The program recruits, trains, and qualifies courtroom interpreters, as well as bilingual court staff to provide services outside the courtroom. LAD also offers training for judges and court employees, extensive translation services, assistive listening devices, signage, and a wide range of technologies to support the NM State Courts.
