Why a Spanish Medical Interpreter Is Essential for Equitable Healthcare Access
Language access plays a key role in healthcare equity — research shows that individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) are more likely to go without necessary medical care and face higher readmission rates than patients who speak English.
By providing language access measures that reduce the risk of miscommunication between LEP patients and their care team, healthcare providers can ensure equitable healthcare access for patients who don’t speak English. One simple way to do this is to work with a Spanish medical interpreter to aid your Spanish-speaking patients.
After English, Spanish is the most widely spoken language in the United States, with more than 40 million speakers nationwide. Among the population of individuals with LEP, about 63% are Spanish speakers — that means having a Spanish medical interpreter on your team is a critical first step toward improving healthcare equity and supporting LEP patients.
Table of Contents
– The Impact of Language Barriers on Healthcare
– The Growing Need for Spanish Medical Interpreters
– The Role of a Spanish Medical Interpreter in Healthcare
– How Spanish Medical Interpreters Improve Patient Outcomes
– Legal and Ethical Considerations
– Frequently Asked Questions
– Conclusion
The Impact of Language Barriers on Healthcare
Patients need to be able to communicate seamlessly with doctors, nurses, and other members of their care team — when LEP patients don’t have access to an interpreter, things can go terribly awry.
One often-cited example of the importance of qualified medical interpreters is the Willie Ramirez case. In 1980, Willie Ramirez, an 18-year-old Spanish speaker went to the hospital for pain in his head. Friends and family stepped in to provide impromptu interpretation for Willie and his doctors, but doctors were unable to diagnose him properly due to miscommunication. In the end, Willie lost his arms and legs as a result of the delay in diagnosis and care — had a qualified medical interpreter been present, it’s likely that a diagnosis could have been made much faster.
Willie’s case might seem extreme, but the truth is that LEP patients face a wide range of barriers to healthcare that exert an emotional toll on them as well. Struggling to understand one’s care team can be a frustrating experience at best and a dangerous one at worst.
The Growing Need for Spanish Medical Interpreters
Spanish is by far the most widely spoken language in the United States after English — with around 42 million speakers, Spanish is spoken by about 12 times as many people as the third most widely spoken language, Chinese. Almost 40% of those Spanish speakers are considered to have LEP, meaning that they speak little to no English.
And that population is growing: in the last 25 years, the Spanish-speaking population in the United States has risen drastically, from just under 30 million in 2000. According to Forbes, one in three people living in the United States is projected to speak Spanish by 2050.
With more and more Spanish speakers living in the United States, Spanish medical interpreters will play an even more important role in reducing gaps in healthcare equity and improving healthcare outcomes for Spanish speakers with LEP.
The Role of a Spanish Medical Interpreter in Healthcare
Spanish medical interpreters enable seamless communication between patients and their caretakers, by translating speech in real-time between Spanish and English. As a patient explains their circumstances in Spanish, they relay that information to the care team in English; then, as the doctor or nurse speaks in English, the interpreter relays that information to the patient in Spanish.
Interpreter services for healthcare come in a few different forms:
- Over the phone: The care team calls in an interpreter who then tunes into the appointment via phone call or mobile app. This can be a good option for telehealth appointments or to bridge the gap during emergency situations.
- Video remote: The interpreter joins the appointment via video call. This can be particularly helpful when visual cues are important.
- Onsite: Here, an interpreter is physically present in the room with the doctor and patient. Like video remote interpreting, it’s a good option for catching important visual cues.
No matter what kind of interpreter service you choose, an interpreter will help your patients express themselves freely in their native language. Whether you’re providing care to somebody in the emergency room or offering mental health services, a Spanish language interpreter will allow you to rest assured that your Spanish-speaking patients with LEP understand what you’re saying to them.
How Spanish Medical Interpreters Improve Patient Outcomes
Interpreter services for healthcare ensure that LEP patients have access to the same crucial information about their care that English-speaking patients do. In turn, this improves the patient’s sense of trust in their healthcare provider.
Studies show that language gaps and miscommunication lead to higher readmission rates among patients with LEP. By working with a qualified medical interpreter, your organization can build trust with LEP patients and reduce their likelihood of needing to be readmitted to the hospital.
Legal and Ethical Considerations
Besides enabling patients to receive adequate care, interpreter services for healthcare are also required under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. These laws ensure that patients with LEP have a right to access interpreting services when seeking medical care from institutions that receive federal funding.
There are several other legal and ethical considerations to make. The interpreters themselves must comply with HIPAA regulations, ensuring patient confidentiality and privacy during all interpreted interactions. Additionally, a qualified medical interpreter must remain neutral and accurate, conveying information faithfully without adding their personal opinion or omitting any details.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spanish Medical Interpreters
Here are some answers to common questions about Spanish medical interpreters.
When is a Spanish medical interpreter needed?
A Spanish medical interpreter is needed whenever a Spanish-speaking patient has trouble understanding or communicating in English during routine appointments, emergency care, mental health sessions, and follow-up appointments.
What is a Spanish Medical Interpreter?
A Spanish medical interpreter is a professional who is proficient in Spanish and another language (in this case, primarily English). Medical interpreters are trained on specialized medical terminology that allows them to act as a sort of linguistic intermediary between healthcare providers and patients with LEP, ensuring seamless and confidential communication in a healthcare setting.
How do healthcare facilities provide Spanish medical interpretation?
Healthcare facilities work with language service providers to offer a wide range of Spanish medical interpreter services, including over-the-phone interpreting, video remote interpreting, and on-site interpreting. They may also hire their own multilingual staff and interpreters.
Is a Spanish language interpreter the same as a translator?
No. A medical interpreter works in real-time, enabling spoken communication between two parties that do not speak the same language. They often use consecutive interpreting methods, listening and translating speech in segments. Medical translators, on the other hand, translate written text from one language to another, such as member communications, member letters, evidence of coverage, brochures, medical marketing materials, and more.
Can a qualified medical interpreter provide Spanish medical translation services?
Although qualified medical interpreters may be trained in healthcare terminology, they may not necessarily be qualified to act as Spanish medical translators. The two roles require distinct skill sets. As such, it’s best to seek out a certified Spanish medical translator for any written documents you may need translated.
Are hospitals required to provide Spanish medical interpreters?
Yes. Healthcare facilities that receive federal funding are required under Title VI of the Civil Rights act to provide language assistance, including a Spanish language interpreter, to patients with LEP.
What must be included in the documentation of the use of a qualified medical interpreter?
Although the actual conversation matter must remain confidential, the Association of American Medical Colleges advises healthcare providers to document the use of a qualified medical interpreter. The medical office should keep record of the following details:
– Date, time, and duration of the interpreter services
– Name or identification number of the interpreter
– The type of interpreter service used (over-the-phone, video remote, or onsite)
– Confirmation that the patient understood the medical information discussed
– Patient refusal of interpreter services (if applicable)
How can I request a Spanish medical interpreter at a hospital or clinic?
Patients can request an interpreter at check-in, during appointments, or in emergencies. Most hospitals and healthcare providers have their own interpretation department to ensure the availability of interpretation services.
Can a family member act as a Spanish medical interpreter?
This is not recommended. Some patients may rely on bilingual family members as informal or impromptu interpreters, but professional medical interpreters are a much safer option. Because professional interpreters are familiar with complex medical terminology, they’re better suited to help LEP patients than bilingual individuals who are untrained in interpreting or medical terminology.
Conclusion
Spanish medical interpreters can save lives — by improving communication between Spanish-speaking patients and their doctors, interpreters empower patients to better understand and express their medical condition. By giving patients access to a qualified medical interpreter, healthcare facilities can do their part to improve equity in healthcare.
Healthcare facilities looking to improve their language assistance services should invest in Spanish medical interpreters — get a free quote today, or contact us at [email protected] or (530) 750-2040 to learn more.
