The Language Barrier in Healthcare
In the U.S., one in five people speaks a language other than English at home, making it very likely for U.S. healthcare providers to encounter a patient population that speaks a variety of languages. This diversity enriches the community but can pose significant challenges for effective healthcare delivery. Miscommunication due to language barriers leads to misdiagnosis, inappropriate treatments, patient dissatisfaction, and overall inefficiency in healthcare delivery.
Federal law requires that healthcare providers offer translational services for LEP (limited English proficiency) individuals. In 2023, The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposed the “Language Access Plan” to ensure language assistance and meaningful access to care. By addressing language-related barriers, healthcare organizations can improve access to medical services, promote health literacy and equity, facilitate culturally competent care, and improve outcomes. Although required by law, medical translation services have traditionally been underutilized as a consequence of cost in practice. Interpreters cost up to $3/minute for telephone, $3.49/minute for video, and $25-150/hour in-person.
Breaking Down Communication Barriers with AI
Fortunately, advances in AI offer promising cost-effective solutions to challenges that clinicians face during multilingual patient clinic visits:
Real-Time Translation Services
AI-powered translation tools, such as Google Translate and Microsoft Translator, have made significant strides in accuracy and fluency. These tools can be integrated into clinical workflows to provide real-time translation services, allowing patients and clinicians to communicate more effectively. AI can translate conversations almost instantaneously, ensuring that vital information is conveyed accurately.
Multilingual Chatbots and Virtual Assistants
AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants can conduct conversations in patients’ native languages, answering common questions, scheduling appointments, and providing information about medical conditions and treatments. These tools can be available 24/7, offering support outside of regular clinic hours and reducing the burden on healthcare staff.
Electronic Health Records (EHR) Integration
Integrating AI translation tools with EHR systems can ensure that patient records are accurately maintained in multiple languages. This integration allows clinicians to access comprehensive patient histories regardless of the language spoken during the visit and also allows patients to access the patient portal in their native language. Integration also facilitates seamless information-sharing among healthcare providers.
Potential Benefits of AI in Multilingual Patient Care
The adoption of AI for multilingual patient care brings numerous benefits:
Improved Patient Outcomes
By ensuring clear communication, AI helps clinicians make accurate diagnoses and create effective treatment plans, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes.
Increased Patient Satisfaction
Patients feel more comfortable and confident when they can communicate in their preferred language, leading to higher satisfaction and trust in the healthcare system.
More Efficient Workflows
Rather than manage communication barriers, healthcare providers can focus on delivering care, with AI tools also streamlining administrative tasks and reducing wait times.
Cost Savings
Reducing misdiagnoses and repeated consultations, can result in significant cost savings for providers and patients alike. Additionally, providers will see significant savings with AI compared to traditional translation services.
Challenges and Considerations
While AI holds great promise, its implementation in multilingual patient care is not without challenges:
Accuracy and Reliability
Although AI translation tools have improved, they are not perfect. Ensuring the accuracy and reliability of translations, especially for complex medical information, is crucial.
Privacy and Security
Handling sensitive patient information requires robust security measures to protect data privacy. Healthcare providers must ensure that AI tools comply with regulations such as HIPAA.
Cultural Sensitivity
Effective communication goes beyond language; it involves understanding cultural nuances. AI tools must be designed to be culturally sensitive to provide truly effective care.
DeepScribe Delivers on Multilingual Support Commitment
Last month, DeepScribe launched multilingual support for Spanish and plans to pilot more languages in the coming weeks. With this feature, there is no need for a scribe to craft a note in English during or after the visit.
Below is a snippet from a mock Spanish encounter recorded with one of our partners:
Conversations from visits conducted in other languages are transcribed in DeepScribe in English, and our AI uses it to create a final note. From the above snippet, DeepScribe generated this note:
DeepScribe commercially supports Spanish and English, and offers a beta multilingual program for 50 additional languages. If you are interested in using an AI scribe with language features contact our team to learn how DeepScribe can support your practice and the language needs of your patients.
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The Future of Multilingual Healthcare
The future of healthcare is one in which language barriers are minimized, and high-quality care is accessible to everyone, regardless of the language they speak. AI has the potential to make effective healthcare more equitable in which the doctor and patient can clearly communicate without the barriers of language and distractions of interpreters. By leveraging AI-powered speech recognition and EHR integration, clinicians can ensure that every patient receives the care they need, in the language they understand best.
“DeepScribe has done an amazing job supporting our Spanish speakers. It surprised many of our providers when they found an English-generated, clinically correct note in the EHR from a patient visit that occurred in Spanish.”
James Lindsey
Principal, IT Strategy and Innovation
Texas Oncology
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