It’s a Win, Win, Win with Human Interpreters
By: Bill Glasser, President & Founder, Language World
In the healthcare sector, one of the most valuable propositions is the use of human interpreters for patient encounters. Each participant within the healthcare encounter: patient, provider, and interpreter all benefit from this life-changing service.
Starting with the first “win”: improved health outcomes for patients. Peer-reviewed research has shown that providing a competent, carefully vetted, and prepared interpreter during critical healthcare encounters improves health outcomes for many limited English-speaking patients. These patients are statistically sicker and suffer compounding medical barriers to a healthy life when compared to their English-speaking counterparts.
Sharing important information in the patient’s native language improves their understanding of confusing medical instructions. Many chronic conditions that require adherence to complex medication schedules and constant monitoring become clearer and more actionable when a meaningful understanding of the instructions is conveyed in one’s native language.
The second “win” is that of the provider. Our healthcare workers operate in a high-stress environment where every patient encounter matters. When there are barriers to communication, it makes the clinical objectives that much more difficult. Medical personnel burnout is a reality, and nationally there is an alarming shortage of healthcare professionals needed for an expanding aging population [Source]. Interpreters help with clinical objectives, prevent costly hospitalizations, and contribute to provider satisfaction because their words are hitting their mark. Anything that can keep these valuable employees committed to their careers will help develop the next generation of new providers who will need their vast experience, knowledge and mentorship.
The third “win,” and often the most overlooked benefit, is that of the bilingual human interpreter. Very soon now, many medical practices will begin to solely use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to run their language access programs. This means that what was once a human-centered task of negotiating languages and cultures will be left to a computer algorithm that will convert English into a target language and back again.
What seems like a good cost saving idea will have reverberating effects on our society. Displacing thousands of interpreters to save a few dollars outwardly seems like an inevitable cost-saving tactic, but the societal costs will be significant. Interpreting is a field where demonstrable linguistics matters much more than an expensive degree, where stay at home parents can make extra income interpreting over the phone and via remote video, using their language skills.
Young college graduates can experience real clinical encounters without the burden of student debt and can efficiently be recruited into the healthcare field as precisely the type of 21st century medical provider we need, smart, bilingual, and eager to help. A young, diverse interpreter workforce is the ideal recruiting pool from where we can find tomorrow’s providers.
Re-entering, post-retirement workers benefit too, as they have the time, experience and profound understanding of their respective communities to serve as excellent interpreters. With a deep sense of pride and empathy, matured workers can find a meaningful activity that can counter the effects of aging. Many studies have shown that using bilingualism is a wonderful way to keep aging brains active because speaking in two languages every day is a hedge against neural decline. For the few dollars spared by going all in on AI interpreting, we lose a wonderful occupation our seniors need to help combat loneliness, isolation, and give purpose and income assistance in retirement.
Can anyone believe that the cost savings from laying off tens of thousands of human medical interpreters will truly benefit our society in the long run? We need to hold onto these valuable human resources to make patients whole, providers satisfied in their work, and interpreters engaged and productive in helping our society become healthier and happier.