Healthcare and Language: Challenges Faced by Multilingual Patients in the US
Open Access
Author:
Haque, Rufaida
Area of Honors:
Business
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Carla Rae Chamberlin, Thesis Supervisor David Ruth, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
Healthcare language barriers Healthcare language access Limited English Proficiency (LEP) patients Multilingual patients Immigrants Child language brokering Technology Philadelphia nonprofits
Abstract:
With the rising demand of access to healthcare language services can healthcare systems keep up? This thesis examines the federal laws regarding language interpreting services for limited English proficiency (LEP) patients, the challenges faced by LEP patients, how technology can aid in language interpreting, and how nonprofits are stepping up to support their communities. The findings outline that while there are laws mandating qualified language interpreters for LEP patients, these laws are not widely followed. As a result, children are often brought in to interpret, with negative impacts. LEP patients often have negative healthcare experiences—from long lists of testing to long waiting times, to not communicating or understanding their healthcare care plans. Technological solutions are still emerging. The solutions available have their own drawbacks from inaccuracy in language translation to regulation limitations. While there are community-based services available, they have limited resources, and it is simply not enough to be a long-term solution.
