BRIDGING THE LANGUAGE GAP, PROVIDING EQUITABLE HEALTHCARE

Abstract

With the changing demographics of the United States Census and advancements in healthcare, there is also an increasing need for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). This aims to create a non-discriminatory environment which gives each patient an equal chance to receive the best medical care possible, regardless of their background. As efforts are made to provide equity of care, it becomes essential to consider problems such as language barriers to ensure the utmost quality of care. Studies show that millions of Americans are unable to speak English well and that this negatively impacts their care and leads to decreased patient satisfaction. As a result, medical interpreters are necessary in many areas to reduce these risks. Without the proper reimbursement for these professional medical interpreters, however, many hospitals do not provide these services. Ad hoc interpreters, or untrained interpreters like family or friends, are sometimes used as replacements but prompt more issues like erroneous interpretation for the patient.

Considering this evidence, we aim to summarize the literature and understand the benefits of including medical interpreters as an option for Americans who struggle with English, while raising awareness for an increase for equity of care.