Professional Translators in Healthcare
Using a professional translator in cases where the health care practitioner cannot communicate in the patient’s language is very important in delivering care services. Translators help overcome the language barriers in health care (Kletečka-Pulker et al., 2019). Essentially, speaking in a language the patient understands improves understanding of instructions. Research suggests that although using professional translators in health care has a limited effect on costs, it improves the efficiency of care delivery and treatment outcomes in settings where language barriers exist (Brandl et al., 2019). Research has further proved that using professional interpreters significantly improves adherence to treatment and medical visits (Theys et al., 2020). In cases where language barriers exist, it is a problem for the health care provider. Healthcare providers have an ethical duty to look for approaches to provide care that are not compromised or discriminated against due to language barriers.
References
Brandl, E. J., Schreiter, S., & Schouler-Ocak, M. (2019). Are Trained Medical Interpreters Worth the Cost? A Review of the Current Literature on Cost and Cost-Effectiveness. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health 2019, 22:1, 22(1), 175–181. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10903-019-00915-4
Kletečka-Pulker, M., Parrag, S., Drožđek, B., & Wenzel, T. (2019). Language Barriers and the Role of Interpreters: A Challenge in the Work with Migrants and Refugees. An Uncertain Safety, 345–361. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-72914-5_14
Theys, L., Krystallidou, D., Salaets, H., Wermuth, C., & Pype, P. (2020). Emotion work in interpreter-mediated consultations: A systematic literature review. Patient Education and Counseling, 103(1), 33–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PEC.2019.08.006
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Question 
Professional Translators in Healthcare
If healthcare practitioners cannot communicate with the patients in their language, how important is finding a translator? Whose problem is it, the health care providers’ or the patients’? Why? (5 marks)