Common Cultural Mistakes

“We have interpreters, so the rest of the staff doesn’t need to know Spanish.”

While interpreters are valuable for communication and liability purposes, relying solely on them can lead to issues. Interpreters may not always be available when a Spanish-speaking patient arrives for an appointment.

Patients and their families often have to depend on whoever is available in the building to assist with interpretation, such as janitorial staff or even family members. This situation can be frustrating for both the interpreter and the patient, who may receive less accurate or incomplete information.

Studies have shown that inadequate interpretation can lead some Spanish-speakers to avoid using certain healthcare facilities altogether.

•  The staff at the healthcare facilities can be empowered to “get by” when an interpreter is not available, and they can learn the skills to help the patient and their family feel much more comfortable.
• It only takes a few hours of precise cultural and interpretation training to get healthcare staff ready to effectively communicate with Spanish-speaking patients and families.