Overcoming Language Barriers: Qualified Interpreters, the Key to Health Equity

Healthy Disruptions Podcast

Get ready to tune in to another exciting episode of Healthy Disruptions – the podcast about health and health inequity across diverse communities in Southern California. With its recent recognition as one of the top 15 podcasts in Riverside by Feedspot, you know you're in for a treat. So, don't miss out - visit Feedspot for more information.
This episode will go over the health disparities and the implications of language barriers on health. Disclaimer: We understand that the Southern Inland Empire is diverse and there are many languages spoken. However, in this episode, we will primarily be discussing the barriers that exist for the Spanish-speaking community. Utilization of professional interpreters to facilitate communication between health care providers is essential to provide the best possible quality of care to non-native speaking patients. Unfortunately, these services are not always readily available to patients and interpretation is then done more often by untrained individuals, such as relatives or friends. This can lead to miscommunication and poor quality of care. It is essential to not just have clinical visits translated but also written material so that patients can feel empowered to ask questions and advocate for their health. So, join Stephanie Sandoval, Health Educator and Selina Hernandez, Community Relations Specialist at the UCR School of Medicine Center for Healthy Communities, as they explore the importance of professional translation services in healthcare. We will hear from Moises Martinez- Cortez, a translator for HDR and private translation consultant. Moises brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in languages as he not only speaks Spanish, but he also speaks Portuguese, Italian, and French.