Failures of Interpreting and the Impact on Immigrant Healthcare in the United States

Abstract

This is a first hand account on the failure of virtual interpreting systems as a means of communication with non-English speaking patients. The story focuses on the experiences of two medical students who found themselves having to intervene during medical encounters that utilized virtual interpreting systems due to frequent inaccuracies. Furthermore, it explores the research surrounding the importance of language concordance for accurate and safe medical communication, patient satisfaction and mitigation of already existing healthcare disparities, especially with a rapidly growing Hispanic population.