Summary
Communication during a medical encounter can be challenging, even when both the patient and their healthcare provider speak the same native language. So, imagine the added difficulty of discussing symptoms, diagnoses, and treatment when there’s a language barrier. Research shows that such communication issues can lead to longer hospital stays, greater risk of falls, delayed diagnosis and treatment, medication errors, and even death.
An analysis of safety events reported in Pennsylvania—where more than 1.4 million residents speak a non-English language at home and more than 500,000 have limited English proficiency—reveals that language barriers continue to pose a risk to patient safety, despite policies requiring certified interpreters and translated materials be available to patients who need them.
Content
Patient Safety Authority researchers identified 336 events reported to the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Reporting System (PA-PSRS) in 2024 relating to language barriers. The two languages most commonly involved in these reports were Spanish and Nepali, with issues including the lack of a certified interpreter, the lack of translated materials, and materials with inaccurate or incomplete translations.
This study closely examines the interpretation and translation challenges faced by Pennsylvania patients and providers, and how they affect patient safety. It also provides strategies and recommendations for facilities to supplement available language services, such as hiring staff bilingual in English and the common languages of the service area and explaining common procedures with visual aids and pre-translated materials.
Recommended Comments
Create an account or sign in to comment