School of Medicine

The United States has steadily become more language diverse. This effect is highly visible in San Diego, where approximately 25% of the population prefers to speak Spanish. Language proficiency in bilingual providers has been identified as a concern amongst patients who speak languages other than English. Providers who are not fully bilingual, but do not use the interpreter services provided by the hospitals are putting their patients at risk for poorer outcomes. Interpreters are being underused in interactions with patients with limited English proficiency (LEP). Therefore, identifying providers who are either bilingual or motivated to become bilingual would improve the care of LEP patients greatly.