Abstract
Superior healthcare delivery requires good communication. For people who have English as a second language this is particularly challenging. Given the advances in technology most especially with Web 2.0 and cloud computing, the following proffers a technology mediated solution to address communication barriers that results when delivering healthcare to non-English speakers or limited proficient english speaking patients. this solution serves to reduce healthcare disparities, satisfy Meaningful use requirements and provide superior healthcare delivery that is efficient, effective and efficacious.
TopBackground
Recent discussions on healthcare disparities (Gibbons, 2011) all note the significant potential benefit technology can make in trying to provide an equal experience to all Americans. Sadly, while there are many good points about the US healthcare system, there also exists a considerable racial and ethnic disparity in the delivery of healthcare across the US (Gibbons, 2011). The underlying root causes for these disparities are all amenable to interventions using IS/IT (information systems/information technology). The thesis of this paper is that technology is well suited to assist is that of limited English proficiency (LEP).
More than 23 million Americans today have limited English proficiency, which in turn has a negative impact on their ability to receive and comprehend appropriate healthcare delivery (Youdelman, 2008; Flores et al., 2008). Integral to the delivery of care is communication between doctor and patient; however, language barriers typically lead to problems such as delay or denial of services, issues with medication management, and underutilization of preventative services (Green et al., 2005; Jacobs et al., 2004; Ghandi et al., 2000; Karliner et al., 2004). The literature suggests that the quality of communication between Although Title VI of the Civil Rights Act 1964 has always required that entities receiving federal funds provide language services to those with LEP, the law has not often been enforced in healthcare settings (Jacobs et al., 2006). However, awareness of the need to provide language services in healthcare has increased in recent years (Gibbons, 2011).
Key Terms in this Chapter
Meaningful Use: Federal government stipulation for technology solutions in healthcare.
Human Interpreter: Person who performs language translation.
Real-Time Translation: Translation that happens instantaneously at the point of action.
Cloud-Based Computing (or Cloud Computing): When computing resources such as software and hardware are delivered as a service over a network.
Language Translation: The act of converting the meaning into a different language.
Healthcare Delivery: The network, structure and stakeholders involved in administering medical care to individuals.
LEP-Limited English Proficiency: Individuals for whom English is not their native language and thus have difficulty communicating and understanding in English.