Addressing Language and Culture Differences in Health Care Settings

Abstract

Health care encounters can be stressful, compromising a patient’s ability to fully engage and understand. This is particularly challenging for patients who are limited-English proficient (LEP) and not able to speak, read, write or understand English at levels appropriate for successful encounters in healthcare settings. To provide quality care to the increasing number of LEP patients from different cultural backgrounds, health care practices have to bridge that communication gap with linguistically and culturally appropriate services