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Interpreter Facilitation for ndividuals with Limited English Proficiency

Language differences between health providers and consumers create a central barrier to the delivery of health education. This article presents the results of an analysis of more than 75 bi/multilingual health sites available on the Internet. The review criteria and a summary of the key features of the best sites are presented. Limitations common to most sites are identified. Recommendations and caveats in the use of bilingual health information sites are introduced.

In BriefIn working with diverse populations, health practitioners often view patients’ culture as a barrier to care. Inverting this problem by viewing the barriers as arising from the culture of biomedicine provides greater direction for practice. Integral to the delivery of culturally appropriate diabetes care are practitioner competencies in specific areas of cultural knowledge, as well as specific skills in intercultural communication, tripartite cultural assessment, selecting among levels of intensity of cultural interventions (neutral, sensitive, innovative, or transformative), adapting patient education, and developing community partnerships.