Manage HR Magazine | Wednesday, November 06, 2024
Organizations should prioritize providing language services, such as interpreters, bilingual staff, and translation technology, to promote health equity and overcome language barriers, ensuring accurate information is exchanged, individualized care is provided, and patients are taken care of.
Fremont, CA: A health equity principle means ensuring everyone gets a good shot at optimal health, influenced by social determinants. Healthcare organizations are doing their best to improve it, particularly during this COVID-19 epidemic. While language barriers can negatively impact healthcare quality and safety, the Center for Disease Control focuses on addressing injustices, eliminating health disparities, and overcoming obstacles.
Stay ahead of the industry with exclusive feature stories on the top companies, expert insights and the latest news delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe today.
The impact of language barriers
One in 11 Americans with limited English proficiency suffer from significant language barriers regarding customer support over the phone. Miscommunications, poor patient satisfaction, and compromised quality can happen. In healthcare, language barriers are hazardous to immigrants, refugees, and marginalized communities. A societal barrier can delay or prevent medical care, lead to poorer health outcomes, and increase emergency room visits for treatable conditions.
Benefits of multilingual support
Organizations should prioritize providing language services, such as interpreters, bilingual staff, and translation technology, to promote health equity and overcome language barriers, ensuring accurate information is exchanged, individualized care is provided, and patients are taken care of.
Ways to incorporate multilingual support for healthcare consumers:
Hire and train multilingual staff- Connecting patients with first-language providers can build trust, facilitate proper triage, and help prevent unnecessary emergency calls. Cultural competency and interpreter training can help staff better understand and address patient needs.
Leverage digital and AI translation- Many multilingual support services, including digital and AI-driven ones, are now available. With remote interpretation, patients can talk to healthcare providers in their favorite language, bolstering the work of frontline workers and staff in breaking down language barriers. Telemedicine platforms can facilitate it.
Implement multilingual online scheduling support- Patients with limited language proficiency can schedule online appointments with the help of mobile apps and translation devices. Providers and health plans can provide translations and advanced search options, too.
Offer multilingual phone and chat support.
Phone support in multiple languages is essential for ensuring patients have access to medication, diagnoses, and instructions before and after appointments. It should be extended to all forms of patient outreach, including text, email, voicemail, and live phone calls. By implementing cultural competency training and language services, healthcare organizations can reduce language barriers. Inclusion and equity in healthcare can be enhanced with technology and innovation.
More in News