Medical providers face various challenges in providing quality care to patients with limited English proficiency (LEP). The language barrier can significantly impact effective communication and, consequently, patient outcomes. Fortunately, on-demand interpretation solutions such as Interprenet On-Demand address this issue. In this blog post, we explore the benefits of on-demand interpretation for medical services, including over-the-phone interpreting and video remote interpreting, and highlight the importance of leveraging such solutions to enhance patient care.
In 2022, the U.S. Census Bureau indicated that 67.8 million people in the US spoke a language other than English at home. Out of those, 13.3 percent have limited English proficiency (LEP) and 5.8 percent don’t speak English at all. Non-English-speaking patients account for a significant portion of the population seeking healthcare services. And studies like this one finds that “language barriers have a major impact on the cost and quality of healthcare.”
Given its status as the largest minority group in the United States, it comes as no surprise that Spanish dominates as the most commonly spoken non-English language in U.S. homes, accounting for 62% of the total in 2019. This percentage is a staggering twelve times higher than the combined total of the next four most common languages spoken. See the U.S. Census Bureau graphic below for reference.
The language barrier between medical providers and patients with limited English proficiency poses several challenges for clinics and hospitals. Here are some pain points commonly faced that you might recognize:
Miscommunication: Without proper language support, miscommunication can occur, leading to misunderstandings about symptoms, treatment plans, and medication instructions. This can jeopardize patient safety and well-being.
Limited access to medical history: Often, patients with limited English proficiency struggle to provide accurate and detailed medical history information. This can complicate diagnoses, impair continuity of care, and impact treatment decisions.
The time factor: Research has shown that physicians perceive the need for more time when interacting with non-English-speaking patients. While the length of the visit may not differ significantly, the perception of time spent with these patients may affect the quality of care delivered. To address this, on-demand interpreting services play a crucial role in facilitating efficient communication and reducing the time burden on medical providers.
When an interpreter is needed for medical services, a powerful on-demand interpreting solution offers numerous benefits for medical providers to overcome language barriers and improve patient care.
With Interprenet On-Demand, medical providers can get connected to a professional interpreter for medical services in seconds via any mobile device or the Internet.
We have elevated over-the-phone interpretation (OPI) and video remote interpretation (VRI) to a user-friendly experience in a secure and scalable cloud-based application allowing clinics and medical professionals to manage all their urgent interpretation requests. Our interpreters are available 24/7 for certified ASL, Spanish, and hundreds of other languages. This makes Interprenet On-Demand the perfect solution for any emergency room or clinic that provides 24-hour care.
Every year, emergency rooms across the United States receive nearly 136 million patient visits on average. If eight percent of these visits are from patients with limited English proficiency - the percentage of the US-LEP population - then every year, ERs across the nation arguably treat as many as 27 million people (about the population of Texas) who struggle to communicate in English.
By investing in on-demand interpretation, healthcare providers can swiftly meet the needs of their LEP patients, reduce lengths of stay, and decrease the number of 30-day readmissions. Interprenet On-Demand offers a modern, secure, and scalable cloud-based system to deliver all remote interpretation requests in real time.
By utilizing on-demand interpretation services, medical providers can enhance patient outcomes, promote cultural sensitivity, and bridge the language gap in healthcare. With Interprenet On-Demand, we have transformed the way interpretating services can be accessed and used in healthcare facilities and clinics at any time, in any language, and on any device.