Week 1: Breaking the Language Barrier in Healthcare: An Introduction
Connor R -
Imagine you or a loved one experiencing a medical emergency. You get rushed to the ER and when you meet your physician, you immediately know something is wrong. The doctor doesn`t speak your language. In an instant, fear and confusion set in, and a simple misunderstanding can have serious consequences. My name is Connor Renner, and for the next ten weeks, I will be researching how translation errors in patient care impact medical outcomes and how we can improve communication in healthcare settings.
Ever since I was a child, I have been surrounded by the medical field. Through my volunteer work at St. Joeseph`s Hospital, I have been able to expand my experiences in healthcare by running the information center and assisting nurses in the Neuro ICU. During this time, I have come to encounter multiple scenarios in which visitors did not receive proper assistance because they did not speak English. These miscommunications range from simple directions around the hospital to details of a patient`s condition. What I witnessed at the hospital is just one example of a larger problem that affects patient care across the healthcare system. For example, language discrepancies can lead to delayed treatments, misdiagnoses, and loss of trust between patients and providers.
To dig deeper into this issue, I will be working with Medical Director Scott Bonnono to conduct online surveys and in-person interviews with healthcare professionals to identify specific challenges patients have and explore possible solutions. This includes but is not limited to AI-powered translation tools designed for medical use with the cultural competence necessary to enhance communication, as well as multilingual training and cultural sensitivity programs. Ultimately, I hope this project helps to make healthcare more inclusive and effective for all patients, regardless of the language they speak. Stay tuned for updates as I continue my research!
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