Maria Olivo, who grew up in Rifle, Colorado, often served as an interpreter for her Spanish-speaking mother from a young age, despite feeling unqualified. This experience is common in Rifle, where 36% of residents speak Spanish at home. Olivo, now a quality analyst at Grand River Health, highlights the importance of professional interpreters to avoid miscommunication in medical settings. Poor interpretation can lead to serious medical errors and malpractice risks, as noted by Dr. Glenn Flores from the University of Miami. He emphasizes that patients may not be truthful about sensitive issues when family members interpret. Grand River Health is addressing these challenges by improving its interpreter program to ensure better communication and care for its Hispanic and Latino patients.
QUESTION: How might the availability of professional interpreters in healthcare settings impact the trust and outcomes for non-English speaking patients?
A Colorado hospital profits from resolving language barriers
