Madison Messiah

Failing to Understand

"Bilingual health care providers: the provider needs to be a provider first, not a provider AND interpreter—have trained interpreter even with bilingual providers" - Cambio de Colores 2004, Annual Conference

While I think that language concessions should be made so that individuals are able to access and understand health care, education, legal info, etc.; I think demands such as this are ridiculous. To divert money from other health services to have an interpreter in addition to a bilingual provider is a huge waste of public resources. If individuals are able to communicate and get the care they require, then where is the need?

The more research I've done on the topic of health care and Latinos in the Midwest in general, the more questions have arisen in my mind. Most of the material I have covered thus far has focused on providing cultural sensitivity, cultural competence, and language training for the members of communities facing a large immigration influx. ESL is the only training mentioned as necessary for immigrants. I'm surprised by the seemingly one-way street these recommendations have taken. Wouldn't it be beneficial to all to receive cultural sensitivity training? Clearly you want to increase understanding and minimize potential for discrimination/racism on the local side, but at the same time immigrants are moving into a new culture. It should be a situation of both sides working to establish mutual understanding. Isn't it pertinent to train immigrants on the cultural norms of the society they are entering? I have yet to come across a document suggesting such an action.

Cogs still in motion and more to come on this.

Labels: Health, Immigration, Language

posted by Burbs @ 11:14 PM