Telehealth has changed the way we access healthcare. With a smartphone or computer, patients can now connect with doctors from the comfort of their homes.
It’s fast, convenient, and often more affordable. But as this technology grows, so does the need to make sure all patients can use it, especially those who don’t speak English as their first language. This is where interpretation services come in.
As a Language Service Provider (LSP), we work with healthcare providers to stay on top of all of their interpretation needs, from what tech to use to hiring the right interpreters, so they can focus on making their patient’s lives better.
In this blog post, we’ll share what we know about why interpretation services are becoming more important in telehealth, what challenges patients and providers face, and how interpreters are helping bridge the gap.
The Rise of Telehealth
Telehealth, or remote healthcare through video, phone, or messaging, became especially popular during the COVID-19 pandemic.
People avoided clinics and hospitals unless absolutely necessary. At the same time, healthcare providers found telehealth to be a safe and efficient way to treat patients.
And telehealth has remained popular. It’s used for mental health counseling, follow-up visits, prescription renewals, and even urgent care.
However, this shift to virtual care has brought a new set of challenges, especially for patients with limited English proficiency (LEP).
The Language Barrier in Healthcare
In the United States alone, about 25 million people have limted English proficiency according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
That’s millions of patients who might struggle to explain their symptoms, understand a diagnosis, or follow medical advice over a video or phone call.
In traditional, in-person settings, hospitals and clinics often provide interpreters or bilingual staff. But in telehealth, this isn’t always the case. Without proper language support, patients are at risk of:
- Misunderstanding their diagnosis or treatment
- Taking the wrong medication or dosage
- Failing to follow medical instructions
- Avoiding care altogether
These risks can lead to poorer health outcomes, more emergency room visits, and higher healthcare costs.
Why Interpretation Services Are Crucial in Telehealth
Here are a few reasons why interpretation services are becoming a must in the world of virtual care:
Diverse Patient Populations
As communities grow more diverse, healthcare providers are seeing more patients who speak a variety of languages.
Telehealth needs to meet these patients where they are, in the languages they understand.
Legal and Ethical Responsibilities
Healthcare providers have a legal and moral responsibility to offer language access.
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act requires federally funded healthcare providers to offer interpretation services to LEP patients.
Failing to do so could lead to lawsuits or penalties, not to mention putting patients in danger.
Patient Safety and Trust
Clear communication is key to building trust between patients and providers.
When a patient understands what’s happening with their health, they’re more likely to follow through with treatment and return for follow-up care.
Your LSP should provide you with interpretation services make sure nothing is lost in translation.
Growth of Multilingual Communities in Rural Areas
Telehealth is often promoted as a way to reach rural or underserved areas. Many of these areas now include growing immigrant or refugee populations who need care in their native language.
Without interpreters, these patients won’t have the same level of service as strong English speakers and may be left behind all together.
How Interpretation Services Work in Telehealth
Interpretation in telehealth can happen in several ways:
Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) — The interpreter joins the video call live to help translate in real time.
Over-the-Phone Interpreting (OPI) — The interpreter joins via a conference phone line.
On-Demand Interpreting Apps — Some telehealth platforms now have the ability to provide instant access to professional interpreters.
Relying on bilingual providers or staff to fill this role can work, but translation is more than just taking words from one language to another. We always suggest using skilled medical interpreters to ensure accuracy and professionalism.
Technology is Making It Easier
Today’s telehealth platforms are getting smarter. Many now include built-in interpretation tools or integrate with third-party interpretation services.
Scheduling a session with an interpreter, even on short notice, is becoming more seamless.
Some systems even allow patients to select their preferred language when booking appointments, so the provider can prepare ahead of time with the right interpreter on hand.
Looking Ahead
As telehealth continues to grow, the one thang that’s clear is that language should never be a barrier to care. Interpretation services are not just a nice-to-have, they are a necessity.
Making healthcare accessible means making it understandable to everyone, no matter what language they speak. The right LSP will show you how to invest in interpretation solutions today that will help you be better prepared to serve diverse populations tomorrow.
Are you a healthcare provider finding you have a more frequent need for telehealth services in different languages? If so, we’d love to talk to you. Consultations are free and there’s no obligation.
You’re in safe hands with us as we’re ISO 17100 and ISO 9001 compliant, have over twenty years of professional translation experience, and have earned the trust of organizations around the world.
