Understanding barriers to healthcare for Spanish-speaking patients - and the people looking to help
ELKHART COUNTY, Ind. -- For many, going to the doctor is as simple as making an appointment and showing up.
But for some Spanish-speaking patients, it's not that simple.
An article in the Journal of Internal Medicine, published in 2023, discusses how limited English proficiency is a well-documented challenge reported by Latino patients, leading to mistrust of healthcare providers and organizations.
When it comes to healthcare, some things can get lost in translation.
That’s something Diana Isabel Raggio, owner of 'Glow Up Station Beauty Studio' in Elkhart, has noticed.
"Sí, he visto y también he escuchado a muchas personas que han batallado con el idioma. Me parece que el principal problema a veces es que vienen predispuestos a pensar que no van a, o sea, es UN idioma que no saben, pero tampoco lo pueden aprender," dijo Raggio.
translation: "Yes, I’ve seen and heard about many people who have struggled with the language. It seems to me that the main problem is often a preconceived notion - thinking that because it’s a language they don’t know, they simply can’t learn it," said Raggio.
That's when communicating about something as important as your health can become more complicated.
Dr. Aaron Trillo is a bilingual family medicine physician at Goshen Health and a first-generation Mexican-American.
"I can't imagine moving to a different country and not being able to speak the language and having a medical problem, and then having to go talk to somebody, you know, about that, and then having that translated through, like, through a person to another person, it's kind of like the telephone game - if you've ever played telephone," said Trillo.
But when patients find out he speaks Spanish it can make a big difference.
"Being bilingual is one of my favorite parts of being a doctor, seeing a patient's face light up whenever I speak their language to them," said Trillo.
Raggio says there is always a way when someone is willing to ask for help.
"Mira, las personas hablan hasta por señas, entonces yo siento que cuando uno está dispuesto a entenderse con la persona, la persona siempre va a responder de la misma manera, y incluso si no responden de la misma manera siempre te van a dar una opción para tu poderte comunicar como sea. Pero siento que el tema del lenguaje y del idioma no debería ser un obstáculo para nosotros en este país, porque primero todo lo podemos aprender nunca estamos ni muy jóvenes ni muy viejos para aprender una nueva habilidad, muchísimo un nuevo idioma que USA hasta el día de día," dijo Raggio.
translation: "Look, people even use hand gestures. So, I feel that when you are willing to connect with someone, they will usually respond in kind, and even if they don't, they’ll still give you a way to communicate somehow. I don't think language should be an obstacle for us in this country, because we can learn anything, we’re never too young or too old to pick up a new skill, especially a new language used in daily life," said Raggio.
According to Liliana Quintero, Executive Director at the Northern Indiana Hispanic Health Coalition, language barriers can lead people to delay healthcare.
"Sometimes the fact is not that you don't speak the language, but the fact is that you don't feel comfortable. You feel discriminated. You feel the stigma. You know, they don't understand me," said Quintero.
Sometimes she says communicating by phone can be hard too, because there’s really no other way to communicate with your body or hands.
But she says language isn't always the only barrier.
"I want to combine language with literacy level. Why? We're thinking in Elkhart County where 50% of the jobs are manufacturing jobs but we see a lot of immigrants, where the level of education is very low based on our history data; it's 4th-grade education, 3rd-grade education," said Quintero. "Estamos hablando de comunidades que migran condado, pero su nivel de educación es muy bajo, entonces no solamente nos enfrentamos en que no hablan español, pero adicional de su nivel de educación es bajo para enfrentar UN diagnóstico con palabras muy grandes como que le diga el médico sus triglicéridos son altos como que ‘what,’ ¿que me está diciendo?"
translation: "Their education level makes it difficult to process a diagnosis involving complex terminology. If a doctor says, 'your triglycerides are high,' the patient might think, 'What? What are they telling me?'"
But the Northern Indiana Hispanic Health Coalition is trying to fill those gaps.
"Our mission is to increase access to health care to vulnerable populations such as Hispanics, and we do this by providing health education, health screenings, and referral services. Many times, people don't know where to go or what services they have access to," said Quintero.
Both the Northern Indiana Hispanic Health Coalition and medical professionals like Dr. Trillo, help make sure Spanish-speaking patients understand their diagnosis and options.
Si ha pospuesto su salud - o no sabe dónde comenzar - esto es UN mensaje para usted.
translation: If you have been putting off your health - or don't know where to start - this is a message for you.
"Quiero que todos los pacientes sepan que pueden venir a verme a mí, al doctor Alonso u otros doctores. Aquí en las clínicas de Goshen Health usan intérpretes y son muy profesionales, y aunque no sea con nosotros, estamos listos para cuidarlos como necesitan," dijo Trillo.
translation: "I want all patients to know that they can come see me, dr. Alonso, or other doctors. Here at the Goshen Health Clinics, they use interpreters and are very professional; even if it isn't with us, we are ready to provide the care you need," said Trillo.
Liliana Quintero with the NIHHC says they are a phone call or email away and willing to help get you with healthcare providers - because it’s never too late.
"Yo le diría nunca es tarde. Siempre hay una mano dispuesta a ayudar, siempre hay una mano dispuesta a abrirles puertas para que busquen apoyo para su salud," dijo Quintero. "En esta vida estamos prestados y esta vida no solamente somos nosotros sino nuestros hijos, nuestros nietos, nuestras familias y por eso decimos que cuando una persona en una familia tiene una condición crónica, toda la familia está enferma. Toda la familia está enferma porque todos estamos lidiando con esa condición."
translation: "I would tell them, it is never too late. There is always a helping hand ready to assist you and open doors so you can seek support for your health," said Quintero. "Our time in this life is borrowed, and our lives aren't just about us, they involve our children, our grandchildren, and our families. That is why we say that when one person in a family has a chronic condition, the whole family is affected. The entire family is affected because everyone is dealing with that condition together.”
Contact NIHHC:
Email: [email protected]
Phone:+1-877-21-SALUD