Language and Health Equity during COVID-19: Lessons and Opportunities

Health Disparities in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…73 Linguistic barriers can result in inadequate health communication, racial stereotyping, language discrimination, and bias against patients in the US with limited English proficiency, which can lead to unfair treatment and health inequities. 2,74,75 The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified this unmet health communication need, which could be due to the increased demands on the health care system as a whole as well as the rapid increase in use of telehealth. 74,76 To adequately prepare to care for patients with limited English proficiency, patient language abilities need to be documented and accessible in health system records.…”

“…2,74,75 The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified this unmet health communication need, which could be due to the increased demands on the health care system as a whole as well as the rapid increase in use of telehealth. 74,76 To adequately prepare to care for patients with limited English proficiency, patient language abilities need to be documented and accessible in health system records. 74 Clinicians entering encounters that are not language concordant tend to resort to less effective medical interpreting methods out of convenience, urgency, or lack of access to appropriate resources.…”

“…74,76 To adequately prepare to care for patients with limited English proficiency, patient language abilities need to be documented and accessible in health system records. 74 Clinicians entering encounters that are not language concordant tend to resort to less effective medical interpreting methods out of convenience, urgency, or lack of access to appropriate resources. Such scenarios can result in communication challenges, time constraints, and in turn, suboptimal medical care.…”

“…3 A strategy proposed to reduce health inequities for linguistic minority patients and improve language-concordant care includes adding linguistic competencies, virtual strategies, and cultural humility skills to education and training curriculums. 74…”

“…91 Access to the Internet and mobile technologies is a SDH. 74 Populations with lack of access to technology are usually the same populations that are underserved with poor health outcomes. Solutions are needed for reducing the digital divide.…”