Access to healthcare is a fundamental need that surpasses linguistic barriers or cultural boundaries. However, for non-English speakers, accessing quality health services can often be jeopardized by fear, confusion, and misunderstanding.
According to a recent study from Nurse Journal, more than 65% of patients who do not speak the local language experienced barriers to healthcare. In fact, 20% of patients did not seek healthcare services because of fear of misunderstanding healthcare providers.
In order to break down language barriers in healthcare, it is essential to promote the availability of language assistance in community health centers and reproductive health clinics.
Interpretation services are vital to bridging the communication gap between healthcare professionals and patients who have a limited understanding of the English language.
Interpretation services can help you address language barriers in healthcare by:
- ensuring accurate communication
- fostering an inclusive healthcare environment
- improving patient outcomes
- eliminating personal bias from family member interpretation.
These goals are especially crucial in clinics offering reproductive health services, where the services can often be very personal and sensitive in nature. Interpretation ensures that every person – regardless of their preferred language – can make informed decisions about their body and their health.
Use these strategies to raise awareness and effectively market the availability of language services for your patients:
1) On Your Website
- Clearly display information about interpretation services on your website’s homepage, either through an easily navigated call out (i.e. button or eye-catching graphic) or link to a list of languages available (or flag icons to visually communicate) for easy reference.
- Create a landing page that provides detailed information about interpretation services, specifically which ones are currently offered.
2) Utilize Online Profiles
- Update your organization’s profile on Google My Business and other online directories to highlight the availability of interpretation services.
3) Leverage Social Media
- Share the news on Facebook and Instagram, highlighting the wide range of available interpreters proficient in multiple languages.
- Take this a step further and have the graphics/captions translated into the various languages offered.
- Ensure these posts are repeated at a cadence that allows you to reach a wider audience.
- Also, be sure to add the availability of language assistance in your profile descriptions on each channel.
4) In-Office Signage and Print Materials
- Consider including flags or names of primary languages requested in printed informational or educational materials.
- Provide a sheet at the front desk or lobby for people to point to when requesting their preferred language. At Alboum, we have two templates for these available to our clients:
- Quick Language List
- You Have the Right to an Interpreter Language List (This one is particularly helpful for compliance with the new HHS Rules aimed at strengthening nondiscrimination protections in healthcare.)
5) Networking, Collaboration & Training
- Inform referring partners and others in the patient care chain about your interpretation services. Also, be sure to have an understanding of interpretation services provided by partners to appropriately manage referrals and patient expectations.
- Collaborate with community organizations, advocacy groups, and local language communities to ensure they are aware of the interpretation services offered.
- Provide training and resources to clinicians and staff on the availability of interpretation services in the office and how to access them.
Ensuring Health Equity
Healthcare is a right, not a privilege.
This right should never be compromised by language barriers. Beyond in-office interpretation, it’s important to translate:
- medical and post-procedure instructions
- diagnosis information
- forms and brochures.
While machine translation tools, like Google Translate, can be helpful to get a sense for what someone is saying, these tools fall short in healthcare settings.
Finding a Professional Language Partner
Availability of on-demand professional interpreters can help reduce language barriers in healthcare. Since your clinic may serve patients who speak or prefer languages not spoken by staff members, having a language partner who can provide medical interpreters at a moment’s notice can be essential to delivering effective care.
When choosing a partner to provide virtual medical interpreters, make sure the service can offer:
- Reliable access during your clinic hours.
- A wide range of languages to meet your patients’ needs.
- Flexibility to support phone, in-office, and telehealth needs with both audio-only and video support.
- Professional interpreters with HIPAA compliance training who can accurately interpret medical terms.
- Services that meet your budget.
If you choose a reputable company that has experience working with clinics and health centers, you can break down language barriers to improve the patient experience and ensure the best care possible.
Alboum provides cost-effective, professional medical interpreter services for independent abortion clinics, other reproductive healthcare providers, and community health centers.
Our on-demand interpreter service is available in dozens of languages via phone, Alboum’s web portal or app.
Connection time is under a minute for the most popular languages and is available 24/7.
