Health Care Quality Perceptions Among Foreign-Born Latinos and the Importance of Speaking the Same Language

November 1, 2010 | Journal Article

The quality of care received is rated higher when foreign-born Latinos and their providers speak the same language.

The Potential of Shared Decision Making to Reduce Health Disparities

March 1, 2011 | Journal Article

Current methods of obtaining an informed consent leave much to be desired. Patients rarely read consent forms or understand all of the risks, benefits, or alternatives associated with their treatment. Evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of treatment options often presents a more significant challenge for patients with lower levels of health literacy.

Primary Language, Income and the Intensification of Anti-Glycemic Medications in Managed Care

May 1, 2011 | Journal Article

This article examines how language and income interact with treatment of Type II diabetes in a large managed-care trial. Previous research has shown that minorities and low-socioeconomic status individuals have more poorly controlled blood sugar levels than White Americans.

Race, Ethnicity, and Language Data

August 31, 2009 | Report

Hispanics and Health Care in the United States

January 1, 2008 | Report

This survey of the Hispanic population in the U.S. finds that a majority of Latinos are satisfied with the health care they receive, see a physician regularly, and obtain some of their health care information from media including television.

Importance of Language Services

June 4, 2008 | Issue Brief

While quality for all patients needs to improve, research shows that patients of different ethnicities may receive different levels of care.

Documenting How Patients' Language Needs Are Met

January 14, 2010 | Story

Cambridge Health Alliance developed an electronic system in which providers document how a patient's language needs are met during a clinical encounter.

Special Issue of Medical Journal Explores Latino Health and Health Care

October 28, 2009 | News Release

New facts uncovered to advance health care systems and policy for U.S. Latinos.

Caring for Patients with Limited English Proficiency

November 1, 2007 | Journal Article

This article focused on the relationship between limited English proficiency among the patient population and physician services. The study sample was 67 individuals, 45 physicians and 22 office managers, who participated in a total of nine computer-assisted telephone focus groups.

Language Should Not be a Barrier to Good Health Care

February 1, 2003 | Program Result

The National Alliance for Hispanic Health monitored and informed health professional associations and community-based organizations about implementation of a presidential order on the provision of services to people with limited English proficiency.