But even having an interpreter at the hospital won’t help patients deal with insurance providers, she noted.
“There are contextual issues that you may not be able to fully adequately address unless you can understand the nuances,” Jacobs said.
“When dealing with immigrant population, it is almost always more than ‘just’ language,” Ngai agreed. There can be cultural issues, too.
In addition, people with low English proficiency may also be less able to take days off of work, and to agree to be admitted to the hospital when necessary, than others, Jacobs said.
We’ve made tremendous progress in assuring interpreters are more available,” in person, over the phone or by video, Jacobs said.
But, she said, “we are very imperfect at getting patients the services they need. It’s important for providers to be educated on these issues and to understand how to access these services.”
It would be ideal to try to match patients with providers by language and culture, but in the meantime, “language is a good start,” Ngai said.