Question

Discussion Question #1: Providing proper instructions for a patient's care to the patient or person responsible for the patient is an important aspect of a provider's responsibility. In areas of the country where many different languages may be spoken, this may be a challenge if the providers and the staff speak only English. It is also a challenge if the patient or responsible party is unable to read or write. How would the providers and staff provide written instructions for their patients who do not speak English, or if they speak English but are unable to read?

Answer 1

It has always been a major concern when it comes to the linguistic barrier in the health care settings. In various countries where the language spoken are more than 3-4 and in some countries like India where the languages spoken are more than 22 languages and each state has many languages according to their casts. It is a major challenge faced by the provider's and the staffs to provide instructions and important informations to the patient as well as the family members.

In order to provide the written instructions to the patients who do not understand English, the provider should always think about the language common to both the parties and instruct in the same language and if he is unable to communicate in the same he can always ask for help from the other people. If the people are able to understand English but not read it then the provider should make sure to explain each and every instructions thoroughly and make them revise it Infront of him before discharging and make them to come for the follow up often more than required.