Supporting Non-English Speakers in Health Care

As a nation of immigrants, the U.S is filled with diverse people, leading to various patients. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 67.3 million U.S. residents spoke a language other than English at home in 2018. Despite the prevalence of non-English speakers, health care systems are not always prepared to serve them appropriately. As a result, language and cultural barriers pose challenges to health care quality experienced by non-English-speakers. Since effective communication is the key to providing high-quality health care and ensuring patient safety, supporting non-English speakers in the health care system will help better understand the beliefs and values that revolve around their nationality and help make them feel more respected. Even if the efficacy of a treatment is not related to a patient’s ability to speak English, the effectiveness of treatment may suffer when patients do not understand follow-up instructions.