El papel del bilingüismo en la atención médica a pacientes hispanohablantes

Authors

• Ariela deLeon, Chapman UniversityFollow

Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

Spring 5-6-2026

Faculty Advisor(s)

James Hirsch, PhD

Abstract

Spanish-speaking patients in the United States frequently face significant barriers to quality healthcare due to language differences between themselves and their providers. This project examines how English-Spanish bilingualism among healthcare professionals meaningfully improves the quality of care delivered to Spanish-speaking patients. To analyze this, the project draws on a review of academic literature on bilingualism, language concordance, medical interpretation, and health outcomes, as well as interviews with healthcare professionals across various fields who possess different levels of Spanish fluency and regularly work with Spanish-speaking patients. This project argues that bilingualism among healthcare providers is not merely a supplementary skill but a necessary component of equitable, patient-centered care. The evidence drawn from the literature and provider interviews reveals that language concordance directly shapes patient comprehension, medical decision-making, and the overall patient-provider relationship. Ultimately, this study contends that healthcare institutions should reframe language access not as a logistical consideration, but as a clinical priority with direct implications for patient health outcomes.

Comments

Presented at the Spring 2026 Student Scholar Symposium at Chapman University.

Recommended Citation

deLeon, Ariela, "El papel del bilingüismo en la atención médica a pacientes hispanohablantes" (2026). Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters. 802.
https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/cusrd_abstracts/802