Reducing Barriers to Language Assistance in Hospital
Mar 25, 2024
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Erin Mulpur discusses reducing barriers to language assistance in hospitals, focusing on Houston Methodist Hospital's use of language assistance technologies during Covid-19. Topics include challenges faced by linguistic minority patients, innovative communication solutions, navigating cultural biases, and strategies for providing language assistance in healthcare.
23:45
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Quick takeaways
Language assistance technologies can reduce barriers for patients from linguistic minority backgrounds in hospitals.
Innovative solutions like phone interpretation via Vocera Smart Badge can enhance patient understanding and care in healthcare settings.
Deep dives
Erin's Background and Work with Hospital Patients from Non-English Speaking Backgrounds
Erin Mulfer discusses her upbringing on an Indian reservation, emphasizing the importance of language in connecting with diverse cultures. She shares her journey from studying in Uganda to her current role at Houston Methodist overseeing language assistance programs for patients from over 70 countries. With a diverse staff speaking many languages, Erin focuses on providing care to patients from different cultural backgrounds.
Challenges and Solutions in Language Assistance for Hospital Patients
Erin highlights the barriers non-English proficient patients face in healthcare settings, stressing the need for language assistance infrastructure. She mentions the importance of providing services like multi-language content and phone systems to enhance patient understanding. Erin's paper on reducing language barriers during the pandemic showcases innovative solutions, such as integrating phone interpretation via Vocera Smart Badge.
Future of Language Assistance and Healthcare Technology
Erin explores the evolving landscape of healthcare technology and language assistance. She envisions leveraging artificial intelligence to complement human interpretation while maintaining the crucial aspect of human connection. Houston Methodist aims to expand language assistance modalities to ensure patients receive optimal care and understanding during their hospital stay.
Brynn Quick speaks with Erin Mulpur about how hospitals can better support patients from linguistic minority backgrounds. The conversation addresses the barriers to both communication and healthcare faced by linguistic minority patients. Drawing on Erin’s 2021 paper “Reducing Barriers to Language Assistance During a Pandemic," the focus is on Houston Methodist Hospital’s innovative use of language assistance technologies during the first waves of Covid-19.
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