title: Translation, por favor.
abstract: Spanish is the first language of a fast-growing proportion of the U.S. population, and not just in traditional areas such as certain big cities and southern border states. Hospitals in nearly every region of the country are scrambling to find ways to communicate with these patients better to avert medical errors, enhance the patient experience and adhere to federal Civil Rights laws. One key consideration: It's not advisable to rely on patients' family members to serve as translators; to avoid liability problems and safety concerns, interpreters must have experience in the delivery of health care and should be certified to provide Spanish translation.
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rollins
mesh_terms: D002568:Certification; D002961:Civil Rights / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003144:Communication Barriers; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D005190:Family; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000639:trends; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015285:Hospital-Patient Relations; D015277:Hotlines; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D016365:Liability, Legal; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards; D014175:Translating; D014481:United States