News Briefs: Program to help providers remove language barriers
February 1, 2002
News Briefs: Program to help providers remove language barriers
About one in five Spanish-speaking Latinos in high-growth communities reports not seeking medical treatment due to language barriers, according to a survey by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) in Washington, DC.
The survey found that 94% of health care providers said communications is a top priority in delivering quality care, while 72% said language barriers increase the risk of complications.
A new RWJF program, "Hablamos Juntos (We Will Talk Together)" will work to develop effective and affordable models for using trained translators to help providers overcome language barriers. The $18.5 million initiative will offer grants of up to $1 million to providers in areas with fast-growing Latino populations.
The program is open to physician groups, hospitals, health centers, managed care plans, and others. For more information, go to www.hablamosjuntos.org or www.kaisernetwork.org.