Not Providing a Sign Language Interpreter is Neglect: Julie and Matt Svatos gave birth to their first child, Stella, at the Fairview Range Medical Center in Hibbing, Minnesota. During the birth a sign language interpreter was provided to aid in facilitating communication for Matt because he is deaf. The following morning the doctor came in…
Be Aware of Translation Scams: Many important documents are in need of translation in order to conduct business or provide services to the many limited English proficient (LEP) individuals living in the United States. Medical history, legal agreements, governmental aid applications amongst other important documentation, oftentimes need to be translated. As the demand for translation…
Language Barriers Present Challenges in Medical Settings: Diversity within the American population is the leading contributor to language barriers, misunderstandings and poor limited English proficient (LEP) patient care in medical settings. As far back as 1996, the Emory University School of Medicine conducted a report where the objective was to determine how often interpreters were…
Disaster Has No Face and Speaks No Language: As witnessed in 2017, natural disasters can flip a person’s life upside-down, floods, hurricanes and wildfires claimed the lives, homes and possessions of residents in Florida, Texas and California over the past year. Direct insured property losses from catastrophes striking the United States totaled $17.1 billion in…
Large Metropolitan Cities Attract Diverse People: Large metropolitan cities attract people from all over the world wanting to live near beautiful architecture, an assortment of restaurants, easy transportation systems, public parks and amazing entertainment options. The appeal is attractive to many, so naturally the population of these large cities is extremely culturally and linguistically diverse.…
The Advancements in Machine Translation Are Not Enough to Handle the Rigors of Medical Interpretation and Translation: Often times doctors rely on the aid of machine translation in order to communicate with limited English proficient (LEP) patients. Despite advancements in technology, machine translation software is still widely known for its inaccuracies and using this platform…
Increased Need for Accurate Translation: Poor translation comes in many forms, it has been known to be funny at times and offensive at others. With globalization on the rise and the increase in immigration, the need for accuracy in translation is now a priority. Accurate translation is not limited to street signs and menus, but…
Poor Court Interpretation Leads to Misunderstandings: In Chesterfield, Virginia, Patricia Michelsen-King quietly observed a court proceeding while she waited her turn to provide interpretation services for the next hearing. Suddenly a man shouted out loud from the back of the courtroom in Spanish, “I didn’t rape anybody!” Michelsen-King, who teaches Spanish interpretation at Virginia Commonwealth…
Language Diversity Challenges Healthcare Providers: Hospitals and healthcare facilities are struggling to effectively provide professional healthcare services to the linguistically diverse population in the United States. Language barriers prevent provider patient communication, thus resulting in substandard care and possible malpractice. Communication in healthcare is of the utmost importance, when a language barrier is present patients…