Navigating language barriers under difficult circumstances.

Annals of Internal Medicine
Yael SchenkerAlicia Fernandez

Abstract

The proportion of the U.S. population with limited English proficiency is growing. Physicians often find themselves caring for patients with limited English proficiency in settings with limited language services. There has been little exploration of the decisions physicians face when providing care across language barriers. The authors offer a conceptual framework to aid physicians in thinking through difficult choices about language services and provide responses to common questions encountered in the care of patients with limited English proficiency. Specifically, they describe 4 factors that should inform the decision to call an interpreter (the clinical situation, degree of language gap, available resources, and patient preference), discuss who may be an appropriate interpreter, and offer strategies for when a professional interpreter is not available. The authors use a hypothetical case to illustrate how decisions about language services may evolve over the course of an interaction. This conceptual and practical approach can help clinicians to improve the quality of care provided to patients with limited English proficiency.

Citations

Jun 21, 2011·Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness·Richard M Zoraster
Mar 13, 2009·JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association·Alexander K SmithEliseo J Pérez-Stable
Sep 3, 2013·Breast Cancer Research and Treatment·Aparna R ParikhLeah S Karliner
Feb 13, 2010·Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health·Anne RosenthalAlicia Fernandez
Dec 18, 2008·Journal of General Internal Medicine·Lisa C DiamondAlicia Fernandez
Apr 2, 2010·Journal of General Internal Medicine·Susan B GlickAlicia Fernandez
Feb 22, 2011·Journal of General Internal Medicine·Yael SchenkerLeah S Karliner
Jul 21, 2011·Journal of General Internal Medicine·Lisa C DiamondLeah S Karliner
Feb 26, 2010·Teaching and Learning in Medicine·Daniel S ReulandAlicia Fernandez
Nov 24, 2011·Journal of Palliative Medicine·Yael SchenkerAlicia Fernandez
Jul 16, 2010·Telemedicine Journal and E-health : the Official Journal of the American Telemedicine Association·Mary C MaslandLonnie Snowden
Mar 28, 2012·Nursing Management·Sharon Squires
Jun 23, 2011·PloS One·Paramjit S GillNick Freemantle
Feb 2, 2010·Patient Education and Counseling·Alicia Fernandez, Yael Schenker
May 16, 2009·Patient Education and Counseling·Rebecca L SudoreDean Schillinger
Jul 5, 2017·Scandinavian Journal of Public Health·Ida Nygaard MottelsonDorthe Susanne Nielsen
Jan 24, 2019·BMC Health Services Research·Breena R Taira, Aristides Orue
Mar 2, 2013·International Journal of Evidence-based Healthcare·Emina Hadziabdic, Katarina Hjelm
Jun 22, 2019·Hispanic Health Care International : the Official Journal of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses·Seiichi VillalonaJason W Wilson
Aug 24, 2020·Journal of Pain and Symptom Management·Gabrielle DresslerGowri Anandarajah
Mar 4, 2011·The New England Journal of Medicine·Alicia FernandezBernard Lo

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