Crosscut Now
Mar. 4, 2021 - WA health care often lacks language services
3/4/2021 | 1m 15sVideo has Closed Captions
WA health care often lacks language services for immigrant patients.
Washington mandates language-access services for patients who speak limited English, but lack of oversight means many fall through the cracks. A growing immigrant population means that these services are more crucial than ever.
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Crosscut Now is a local public television program presented by Cascade PBS
Crosscut Now
Mar. 4, 2021 - WA health care often lacks language services
3/4/2021 | 1m 15sVideo has Closed Captions
Washington mandates language-access services for patients who speak limited English, but lack of oversight means many fall through the cracks. A growing immigrant population means that these services are more crucial than ever.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship(reverent orchestral music) - I'm Starla Sampaco in the Crosscut KCTS 9 newsroom.
Language services for immigrant medical patients in Washington are more crucial than ever.
- Because you didn't speak the language, it's so hard.
You cannot tell what you feel and what you need.
And when your kid's sick, you don't know how to ask for help.
- [Starla] Every day, patients rely on interpreters to communicate with their doctors, pharmacists, and other providers.
Federal and state laws require language access services for patients who speak limited English, but these laws aren't always enforced.
According to the Washington State Coalition for Language Access, some clinics and offices have asked patients to bring their own interpreters, and other patients who need language assistance are turned away from care.
- All those things are illegal, but they happen all the time.
- I'm Starla Sampaco.
Crosscut explores the disparities in Washington health care access in our new series, "Hidden Barriers."
Watch the full episodes on crosscut.com.
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Crosscut Now is a local public television program presented by Cascade PBS