"Language Barrier to Life-Saving Care: Rural Colorado Hospital Takes Initiative to Address Critical Shortage of Medical Interpreters A disturbing trend is emerging in the US healthcare system: non-English speaking patients are facing severe health consequences, including life-threatening outcomes, due to a critical shortage of qualified medical interpreters. In rural Colorado, a hospital is taking a bold step to bridge this service gap by training its existing bilingual staff to provide vital language support to patients in need. With a growing population of limited English proficiency (LEP) individuals, this innovative solution could serve as a model for hospitals nationwide to prioritize language access and ensure that all patients receive equal care, regardless of their linguistic background."
Without qualified interpreters at doctors' offices, non-English speakers can face bad — even fatal — health outcomes. A hospital in rural Colorado is training its existing bilingual staff to address the service gap.
