Would having bilingual health care be beneficial in the US?

Answer 1

Multilingual is necessary, EVERYWHERE.

There are too many people from all over to choose just two. It's better to have many people on a translators list in any medical facility.

We have a list of over 200 different people speaking many different languages. That way no matter when a patient comes into the hospital, chances are there is someone on duty who can be called upon to translate.

Also, it's wise to encourage family of non-english speaking patients to stay and translate. It ensures better continuing care of the patient. It's very hard to treat someone who can't understand, or be understood.

Answer 2

Only to the extent that the health professional and the patient cannot communicate with each other.

Otherwise it is the same type of nonsense that some so called bilingual programs seem to have..

I know of no bilingual cures for illness.

Answer 3

No. As a healthcare worker, it is easier for people to speak english. If u are in an emergency, it helps a lot if the patient can at least speak some english. By the time we can find a translator, the person could be dead. People complain about the rising cost of healthcare, but fail to mention the addedd cost of having to have documents printed in two languages, the need to have translators, etc. My therory has always been and always will be if u can't speak english then you r out of luck with me helping u. I live in america where we speak english.

Answer 4

Yes of course, and it is offered in most health care settings, but even more appropriate would be Universal Health Care with bilingual assistance and communications skills available at every site.

Answer 5

Bilingual means two languages. Which two do you mean? English and Chinese? English and Viet Namese? English and Japanese? Oh, perhaps English and Spanish? Well, it would be no more beneficial than those others.. It would only be more beneficial to Spanish speaking residents, but not to those millions of others who have come here and learned to speak English.

Answer 6

Why bilingual ? My next door neighbors are from China. The people aross the street are from Slovakia.
English is our language. Everything should be printed and broadcast in English only- - - - or in all the languages of the world. Why should one foreign language be selected over all of the others ?

Answer 7

of course! having bilingual health care in all countries in the world is beneficial to all human kind that speak another languages and travel the world.

Answer 8

Having bilingual health care in the U.S. would be beneficial to
the "bilinguals only." unless the rest of the U.S. could have the
bilingual health care in "other" country's. Fair is Fair. <}:-})

Answer 9

Why is it that the U.S. is the only country expected to cater to those who do not wish to learn the language? To get citizenship, you need to read and speak English. Health care businesses would be required to hire bilingual help which would raise the, already high cost, of healthcare.

Answer 10

The Dept of Health & Human Services (ie, Federal Govt) is insisting upon it. They have issued what are called CLAS standards--Culturally & Linguistically Approriate Services--to mandate that hospitals that receive federal funds (think all of them, given the % of medicare that is a hospitals source of income) must provide forms, signage and interpretive services to non english speakers.

See link below to learn more.



THis isn't a matter of being "beneficial"--with enforcement of these standards it will become a requirement.

Answer 11

I have the feeling that you're asking this as a way of side-stepping the issue of "universal" health care, so I won't step into that political trap!

For those of whom English is not a primary language, then, of course, multilingual health care would be beneficial.

However, it should be pointed out that the vast majority of US hospitals and physician offices already have multilingual staff, so, that's pretty much covered! (both my dentist and physician speak at least two languages, and their staff gives them at least one more!)

One hospital I know of gives non-English speaking patients a one-page chart showing many different languages; the patient then dials the number shown next to their language on the hospital's special phone, which then connects them to someone who can speak their language! Many police stations and magistrates are doing the same thing! Of course, if you can't read, then you're probably in trouble, unless the desk person recognizes the language!