Language Barriers Affecting Healthcare

While working as a certified medical interpreter and translator for more than five years, I noticed a growing problem affecting healthcare for non-English speaking patients. Today in the United States there are a growing number of non-English speaking residents in the country, which in turn can cause a language barrier within the healthcare system. Many of these non-English speaking residents do not have the resources to hire a medical interpreter and therefore often rely on their school-aged children to communicate with doctors and healthcare workers. However that in itself causes its own set of problems not just for the patient but the doctors as well and is in fact against patient rights regulations. Children are not aware of medical terminology and might not communicate correct phrases to their parents or healthcare professionals. In addition to the confusion that having children serve as interpreters might cause, there is the fact that healthcare is a very personal and confidential matter that not everyone wishes to share with their underage child.

Because of HIPPA, patients' rights and confidentiality laws in the US, interpreters and translators must undergo training and certification before they can interpret in a medical setting. This ensures that both the patient, doctors and healthcare staff are getting the correct information to one another and that the patient's confidentiality will be kept. This also protects doctors, healthcare staff, hospitals and medical establishments from any liability issues that may arise due to error in communication. Having a professional interpreter fluent in the patients native language eases the stress of not being understood and not being able to understand the doctors and the procedures they are undergoing, in the patient and facilitates an otherwise confusing ordeal.

Not every healthcare facility in the US employs a medical interpreter and many rely only on existing and uncertified staff who may not be completely fluent, when available. This can mean hours of wait for both patient and medical staff and often can lead to an incorrect diagnosis or lack of proper treatment. The problem becomes especially crucial when treating emergency patients. Because of the seriousness and liability of that issue, some hospitals are adapting to their rapidly changing client base and employing medical interpreters and translators. The lack of communication and understanding can often lead these patients to not seek medical attention or advice when they are in need of medical care. Lack of proper medical attention and preventive care can cause conditions to become more serious and even lead to death.

As the non-English speaking population continues to rise in the US today, it will continue to present a language barrier affecting the healthcare of these non-English speaking residents unless more medical establishments adapt to their growing need.