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A language - and health - barrier

Posted by: Erin Kelly on May 07, 2009

It's no secret that navigating the health care system can be like entering a maze. Trying to get answers to medical questions can result in weeks-long wait periods and numerous visits to specialists to determine the problem.

Now imagine navigating that maze and encountering people that don't speak your language. Not only does that complicate the situation, but it could get you very, very lost. In the health care system, language barriers like these can lead doctors and surgeons in the wrong direction. The results can get you more than turned around-- they can be dangerous or even life-threatening.

An article in last week's Washington Post highlights the language-barrier problem, which is becoming more and more common across the country. The author points out that

As immigrant communities swell around the country, hospitals, clinics and health-care providers are increasingly confronted with language and cultural challenges that can discourage people from seeking care and lead to calamitous errors in diagnoses and treatment regimens.

While some hospitals have taken certain steps to reduce miscommunications between doctors and non-English speaking patients, solutions to the problem have been inconsistent at best. While most hospitals may have phones to connect patients to interpreters, many physicians' offices simply don't offer these services.

"Appropriate funding for these services is needed so that patients don't lose access to care," said Joseph M. Heyman, chair of the board of trustees of the American Medical Association, which has asserted in policy statements that "physicians cannot be expected to provide and fund . . . translation services for their patients."

Currently, hospital or health care provider that receives federal funds is required to offer language assistance services. But in an emergency, patients go to the nearest hospital; not the nearest hospital that offers translation services. All medical facilities should be equipped with appropriate and effective interpreter and translation services.

Visiting the doctor can be stressful and frustrating in itself, but when communicating with the doctor becomes impossible, mistakes are inevitably made and the patient suffers. As we move forward with health reform, it's important we don't let often-time overlooked details like these fall through the cracks. It could be the fine line between life and death for many people.