Increasing Latino Access to Quality Health Care: Spanish Language Training for Health Professionals

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Citation

Bender, Deborah E. & Harlan, Christina (2005). Increasing Latino Access to Quality Health Care: Spanish Language Training for Health Professionals. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 11(1), 46-49.

Abstract

Latino immigrants are moving into new areas of the United States, regions that previously have had few Spanish-speaking residents. North Carolina, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Alabama, and Kentucky are listed among the top 10 states reporting the greatest increases from 1990 to 2000.1 North Carolina, as a whole, experienced an increase of 394% in its Latino population; 93 of its 100 counties recorded greater than 100% increases in the number of Latino residents. The sudden change in population profile has caught health care providers unprepared. Relatively few doctors, nurses, or other health care professionals speak Spanish with functional fluency. A decade ago, interpreters were needed only in isolated instances. Further, many clinical and administrative providers have inadequate knowledge of health beliefs or preferred practices and therefore have difficulty addressing immigrant health care needs, thus compromising the quality of services offered.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00124784-200501000-00008

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2005

Journal Title

Journal of Public Health Management and Practice

Author(s)

Bender, Deborah E.
Harlan, Christina