To reduce disparities within social determinants of health (SDOH), everyone needs equal access to opportunities and information. And for those with Limited English Proficiency (LEP), language challenges can contribute to many SDOHs. Healthcare is one of many areas where LEP individuals may face language roadblocks. For example, recent research pointed out that more language access to information dissemination could … Continue reading
Wearable technology is transforming the healthcare landscape. From fitness trackers to blood sugar monitors, wearables empower individuals to take more control over their health. Yet wearable data is equally valuable for healthcare providers and health insurers. They can use it to provide personalized recommendations and develop resources that target specific demographics—including limited English proficiency (LEP) … Continue reading
Why the Government Community Should Follow Digital.gov’s Best Practices for Multilingual Websites Thank you, Laura Godfrey, Fedora Braverman, Lina Younes, and Leilani Martinez for your great inputs and for allowing Avantpage to share this information with our clients and partners. Digital.gov is a cross-functional team of writers, editors, strategists, technologists, and designers who all work at the Technology Transformation Services (TTS) at the General Services Administration … Continue reading
Clear, effective communication between healthcare providers and their patients is essential for improving health outcomes, especially within minority communities. However, the path to understanding isn’t always straightforward. While speaking the same language as your patients — that is, providing translations, interpreting, etc. — goes a long way, it’s not the only way to ensure that you’re communicating … Continue reading
State departments of revenue play a vital role in our civic ecosystem — they make possible many of the public services and programs we enjoy on a day-to-day basis. From registering small businesses to offering programs for community and economic development, these entities are important beacons of financial responsibility. Still, one of our most frequent … Continue reading
With Earth Day right around the corner and summer fast approaching, many of us here in the northern hemisphere are enjoying the green spaces in our lives just a little bit more lately. As the weather warms up, we tend to appreciate our parks — from the local park on the corner to the sprawling landscape … Continue reading
Healthcare is one area where limited English proficient (LEP) individuals may face inequities in getting high-quality care due to language roadblocks. One federal agency, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service (CMS), has made health equity the first pillar in their 2022 strategic plan. The plan has nine health equity goals and has charged their programs … Continue reading
With the COVID-19 vaccine rollout underway, the end of the pandemic may soon be in sight. Yet healthcare professionals still face the daunting task of vaccinating millions of residents in the coming months. Vaccine distribution, misinformation, and a lack of language support for limited English proficient (LEP) populations all pose major challenges to their success. Fortunately, with the proper planning, healthcare organizations can better serve … Continue reading
Maximizing voter turnout and ensuring that voters are informed is a top priority for anyone working in elections. With increasingly diverse communities around the United States, providing in-language support is crucial to engage, inform, and drive eligible voters to the polls on election day. Each election cycle, too many Americans miss out on voting solely … Continue reading
When seeking out language services, one of the first things people ask is “What is the difference between an interpreter vs. a translator?” After all, interpreting and translation services are both used to convert words and sentences in one language into another. While it can be easy to mix the two terms up, the interpreter … Continue reading
If you’re looking to improve your organization’s language access measures, you may want to consider leveraging an advisory board that specializes in language access and accessibility. Advisory boards can play a helpful role in evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of your organization’s language access measures (or lack thereof) and provide actionable insights into improving services … Continue reading
It’s simple, but true: Patients need to be able to trust their healthcare providers. From routine doctor’s appointments to calling their insurance provider, it’s important that patients are confident in their provider’s ability to give them the highest quality of care possible. After all, the healthcare system can be daunting — fostering a sense of … Continue reading
