New Solutions
Volume 22, Issue 1, 2012, Pages 19-35

Medical interpretation for immigrant workers (Article)

Forst L.* , Masters D. , Zanoni J. , Avila S. , Chaidez F. , Miller A.
  • a Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States
  • b Rush University Medical Center, United States
  • c [Affiliation not available]
  • d Stroger Hospital in Cook County, Chicago, United States
  • e [Affiliation not available]
  • f University of Illinois, Chicago College of Nursing, United States

Abstract

Foreign-born workers have high rates of occupational mortality and morbidity, despite downward trends for the U.S. workforce overall. They have limited access to health care services. Medical interpreters (MIs) facilitate care of acutely injured, low-English-proficiency (LEP) patients, including those sustaining occupational injuries. Our goal was to assess the potential for MIs to serve as advocates of LEP patients injured at work and to deliver preventive messages. We conducted interviews and a focus group of MIs regarding their attitudes toward foreign-born workers, knowledge of occupational health, and perceived roles. They were familiar with occupational injuries and sympathetic toward foreign-born workers, and they described their roles as conduits, cultural brokers, and advocates for hospitals, providers, and patients. More detailed and representative data would require a larger investigation. However, the time-sensitive nature of policy-making at this point mandates that occupational health stakeholders participate in the national dialogue on standards, training, and licensure for MIs to promote improved access and quality of health care for LEP patients who have been injured at work. © 2012, Baywood Publishing Co., Inc.

Author Keywords

Work-related injury Occupational injury Medical interpreters Low English proficiency patients

Index Keywords

Emigrants and Immigrants Communication Barriers Occupational Diseases Occupational Injuries Humans language ethnology health literacy Article United States occupational disease human communication disorder Translating migration statistics occupational accident
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84864042096&doi=10.2190%2fNS.22.1.d&partnerID=40&md5=9d0312a37c96cecd5bfa721629c36f23
DOI: 10.2190/NS.22.1.d
ISSN: 10482911
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English