Twin Cities health providers are turning to remote video language interpreting as a way to better meet the needs of a growing number of immigrant patients.

The technology could save them money in the long run, too.

Allina Hospitals & Clinics, Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, HealthPartners and North Memorial Health Care all contracted in the past two years with Columbus, Ohio-based Language Access Network (LAN), which provides the equipment, its own privately run telecommunications network and a staff of 50 interpreters who respond out of call centers in Ohio and California. The firm’s equipment and services generally cost $2,500 to $3,000 per month for a hospital system, according to LAN.

Fairview Health Services, meanwhile, developed videoconferencing technology in-house. It started trying out Web-based software last week at the University of Minnesota Medical Center emergency department.

See: Business Journal