When patients enter a healthcare facility, their primary aims are to become well again and to go home. While demographic shifts and rising healthcare costs in the United States had already contributed to a boost in home healthcare services, the COVID-19 pandemic served as an accelerant to truly reimagine the future of remote health care.
The latest numbers show that 4.5 million patients continue to receive care in their homes after being discharged from hospitals or surgical facilities. A recent McKinsey report estimated that up to $265 billion worth of care services will shift from traditional facilities to home health care by the end of 2025. That number represents a three- to fourfold increase in the cost of care delivered at home in 2020.
This shift means we must focus on providing equitable care for limited English speakers, as well as the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, who thus far have not benefitted from remote care to nearly the degree of English speakers.
Disparities Faced by Limited English Speakers & Deaf/Hard of Hearing
The movement toward home health care is rapidly gaining traction as hospitals and surgical facilities increasingly discharge patients early and monitor them remotely. This trend is driven by several factors, including advances in technology, cost-saving measures, and a focus on improving patient outcomes and satisfaction.
Despite these benefits, one significant challenge remains: overcoming language barriers for patients who speak limited English, or who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
A study conducted by New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing found that for patients who spoke limited English or were Deaf or Hard of Hearing, only about 18% of home-health registered nurse visits were conducted in patients’ preferred languages. That figure was at about 26% for home-health physical therapy visits.
A 2022 study published in the International Journal of Nursing Studies found that patients who need home health care are far more likely to have a positive experience if they speak English. From a sample of more than 87,000 home health patients, researchers determined that patients with non-English language preferences faced a higher risk of readmission for facility care within 30 days.
Steps Home Health Providers Must Take
To improve outcomes for home health patients who face language barriers, care providers must adopt a comprehensive approach. First, providers need to recognize the specific health disparities that exist for their patients, particularly those related to language barriers. Understanding these disparities is crucial for addressing and mitigating their impact on patient care.
Second, providers should strive for cultural competence across their operations. This involves ensuring that home-health aides and other caregivers understand how cultural differences influence care and can adapt their approach accordingly.
Finally, providers must take advantage of quality medical interpreting and language support services like those delivered by LanguageLine. Utilizing these services can significantly enhance patient experiences and health outcomes by ensuring that all patients receive clear, accurate communication and culturally appropriate care.
LanguageLine Can Help
Our services are designed to bridge language gaps and ensure effective communication between caregivers and patients. Here’s how we can support both remote and in-home health care providers:
For Caregivers Who Want to Connect with Patients Remotely:
- On-Demand Interpretation: Interpreters can be added to patient calls at any time. LanguageLine offers interpretation services 24/7 in more than 240 languages, ensuring that patients always have access to clear communication. No need to pre-schedule an appointment.
- Telehealth Interpretation: LanguageLine for Telehealth integrates with most major telehealth platforms, allowing seamless connection with interpreters during virtual health visits on-demand, including American Sign Language (ASL).
- Interpretation for Virtual Meetings: Most common virtual meeting platforms have a click-to-connect feature that allows a LanguageLine interpreter to join the call, facilitating smooth communication during virtual consultations.
- DirectResponse: For inbound calls, customized call flows can ensure that the first voice a patient hears is that of an interpreter, who stays on the line throughout the call and supports the patient in their preferred language.
- Translation of Instructions and Discharge Information: LanguageLine can translate important medical documents, instructions, and discharge information, ensuring patients understand their care plans and treatment instructions.
For Caregivers Visiting Patients’ Homes:
- On-Demand Interpretation: Caregivers who travel to patients’ homes can access interpretation services via phone or the LanguageLine app, which provides both video and audio-only formats to meet various communication needs in real-time. With the LanguageLine app, a caregiver can simply access an interpreter on-demand with a touch of a button from their smart phone. There is no need to dial an 800 number and enter a PIN code.
- Testing and Training of Bilingual Employees: LanguageLine can assess the language proficiency of bilingual employees in speaking and writing non-English languages, ensuring that caregivers are well-equipped to communicate effectively with limited-English patients.
We invite you to contact us so that we can learn more about the opportunities that lie within your organization to provide inclusive home health care to all patients.