Breaking Language Barriers: Why Healthcare Interpretation Services Matter

When a Canadian-born English speaker thinks about interpretation services, the first thought is that interpretation services provide a translation of English into another language for those who do not speak English to understand. We see it used in daily conversation, on movie subtitles and in presentations. Plain and simple right? In reality, interpretation services are much more nuanced than this and have a direct impact on well-being and quality of life in many critical areas. There are many areas where interpretation services are integral to being able to advocate for oneself, access information and uphold dignity. The health sector is one of these areas.

Imagine moving to a new place where the primary language is not your first language. You are working tirelessly to learn that language but it takes time to feel fully fluent. In the meantime, you need to visit the doctor because of a health concern. The doctor's office is almost always busy with more appointments than there are hours in a day so things move quickly and you are rushed to chat with the doctor. On top of that, medical terminology is difficult enough to understand in your first language, but these are words you aren't familiar with at all yet in your second-language. This makes the visit confusing and you leave without feeling like you have a thorough understanding of what is happening and are ill equipped to take charge of your own health.

To avoid all of this, you are forced to bring a friend or a neighbour to the doctor with you to help translate. Given your personal connection with this person it might be uncomfortable to discuss your health concerns in detail. So, important details get downplayed or left out all together. Imagine how you would feel if you had to bring your close friend or neighbour to the doctor with you each time you needed to discuss a personal health concern. This situation is the reality for many newcomers. This is why access to professional interpretation services in the health sector is essential.

Previous research done through the London & Middlesex Local Immigration Partnership has indicated that access to health interpretation has a significant impact in three major areas: quality of care; efficiency and costs; and equity, policy and human rights. Let's unpack these areas a little bit...

Quality of Care:

The quality of care is improved when newcomers have access to interpretation services. Interpretation services help avoid misunderstandings or communication errors, ensure appropriate testing is done and enhance preventative care. When a professional and impartial party is present to provide interpretation services, medical professionals and newcomer patients can both feel supported and assured that the flow of information is accurate and precise. Additionally, all are made to feel welcome, safe and supported in the process.

Efficiency & Costs:

Beyond providing quality of care benefits for newcomer patients themselves, interpretation services in the health sector actually contribute to improved efficiency and reduce costs. This is because effective communication can lead to less repeat visits, avoid unnecessary tests and procedures, and eliminate the likelihood of a health condition worsening for too long. The costs affiliated with providing interpretation services in the health sector are therefore lower than the costs affiliated with not having them.

Equity, Policy & Human Rights:

Finally, providing access to interpretation services in the health sector helps advance policy locally, provincially and federally related to equity and human rights. Finding niche areas in society to contribute to improved equity, diversity and inclusion helps mobilize the overarching goal of addressing these areas in the greater social and political fabric of the country. Access to adequate healthcare is a human right and thus access to interpretation services should be viewed as a need, not a special request.

Immigration and thus multiculturalism have become pillars of Canadian society. Immigration is not something that is happening to us as a country, but is something happening for us, so that Canada can grow and thrive demographically, economically, and socially. As such implementing services such as making interpretation readily available and easy to access for newcomers helps us all to move forward successfully and together in the long run.