«No estamos seguros de que la palabra siempre salve vidas, pero sí sabemos con certeza que el silencio mata» James Orbinski. Médicos sin fronteras. 1999.
Language is one of the essential tools that clinicians use in providing healthcare.
Research shows that patients without language-concordant healthcare providers are more likely to experience miscommunication and adverse events. Conversely, they are less likely to comply with treatments and medical advice and attend follow-up appointments. Overall, patients with non-English language preferences are more predisposed to experience health inequities, worse clinical outcomes, and less care satisfaction than English-speaking patients.
The Cervantes Institute calculates that by 2060, 27.5% of the U.S. population will be of Hispanic origin, and the U.S. will become the world's second-largest Spanish-speaking country. Yet, according to The National Hispanic Medical Association, only nearly 5% to 6% of physicians identify as Hispanic, and just 2% of non-Hispanic physicians speak Spanish nationwide.
The Census Bureau's latest data reveals that as of July 1, 2023, a record 65.2 million Hispanics resided in the U.S., constituting over 19% of the nation's population (Pew Research Center). The American Community Survey (U.S. Census Bureau, 2022a) further highlights that 13.3% of Americans speak Spanish at home, nearly double that of all other languages combined, except for English. This demographic trend underscores the pressing need for bilingual healthcare professionals.
By equipping students in the healthcare professions with the necessary language and cultural skills, we can significantly improve the field's ability to provide quality and culturally congruent healthcare to our Spanish-speaking population.
These Medical Spanish programs seek to enhance communication between healthcare professionals and their Spanish-speaking patients. To improve mutual understanding, which is of critical importance within a medical setting, students will practice the five skills entailed in second-language acquisition: speaking, listening, reading, writing, and culture, focusing on specialized medical vocabulary and intercultural communication.
Please carefully follow the directions to obtain your certification, and contact the program's director, Dr. Marisa Fernández Martínez, at maria.fernandezmartinez@ucdenver.edu if you have any questions.
