This week we all have an opportunity to protect language access in healthcare for minority populations by submitting comments to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on a proposed plan to remove safeguards against discrimination in healthcare. 9% of the United States population is limited in their use of the English language,
Pharmacies are a vital part of the healthcare industry, and they play a key role in patient health. The role of pharmacists has evolved along with the health care needs of our population, and that includes serving linguistically diverse populations. Pharmacy language access – including interpretation and translation services – is more important than ever.
Many rural area hospitals in the United States face unique challenges that must be overcome in order to deliver the highest quality care to patients. According to the American Hospital Association, about 20% of Americans live in rural areas without easy access to primary care or specialist medical services. For example, the number of physicians
The increase of foreign-born populations and linguistic diversity in the U.S. has led to higher numbers of limited English proficient (LEP) patients. One in five United States residents speaks a non-English language at home, and 25 million people in the U.S. speak English “less than very well.” What does this mean in a health care
Handling transitions in care for LEP patients…communication is key! Communication in health care settings is especially important when patients experience transitions in care. When patients move to another care setting or are discharged from the hospital, a thorough understanding of discharge instructions is necessary for patient compliance. But for patients with limited English proficiency, transitions
Medicare and Language Access – Open Enrollment for Medicare begins October 15th, 2018 and ends on December 7, 2018. Why are Medicare and language access so important during this period? 8% of the 57 million U.S. residents enrolled in Medicare are limited English proficient. Navigating healthcare can be confusing for anyone, but for Limited-English proficient populations, communication barriers make
How do language barriers affect hospital readmissions rates? More than 60 million Americans speak a language other than English at home, and 41% of this population (8% of the total U.S. population) have limited English proficiency (LEP). The increase in LEP patients in the U.S. can present communication barriers for healthcare systems to overcome in
As we deal with evacuations and the effects of Hurricane Florence, we are reminded that when an emergency or disaster strikes, emergency preparedness and response is critical for public safety. Responding to evacuation notices and other crucial information can be difficult and stressful for everyone, but it can cause even more strain for Limited English
Written Translation and Language Interpretation for Government Agencies: Building Trust in Public Services Between 1990 and 2013, the United States has seen an 80% growth in the limited-English proficient (LEP) population–reaching 25.1 million in 2013. Linguistic diversity in the U.S. makes language interpretation for government agencies a critical component in overcoming language barriers that
When a language barrier arises in a healthcare setting, communication may become stressful for any professional. In situations where you need to communicate with a patient who is not proficient in English, professional medical interpreters are available to overcome language barriers. Professional interpreters in healthcare have been shown to reduce liability, aid in effective communication,
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