#thread - I& #39;m glad #disparities in care of patients with #limitedEnglishproficiency is getting more attention during #covid19. Thinking of articles in @TIME by @Jas_Aguilera https://ti.me/3cf0Gej ;">https://ti.me/3cf0Gej&q... @nytimes https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/17/health/covid-coronavirus-medical-translators.html;">https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/1... @propublica https://www.propublica.org/article/hospitals-have-left-many-covid19-patients-who-dont-speak-english-alone-confused-and-without-proper-care">https://www.propublica.org/article/h... /1

& many other venues, but this is NOT NEW. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp058316.">https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/... We& #39;ve known about #inequities for #LEP patients for a long time. We don& #39;t live in the same world, if stories about #inequities are shocking - check out @UREssien& #39;s thread: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1246072211150004226.html">https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/12... 2/

So I& #39;ve been https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤔" title="Thinking face" aria-label="Emoji: Thinking face"> - how do we https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⬇️" title="Downwards arrow" aria-label="Emoji: Downwards arrow"> inequities? Instead of only identifying disparities, how do we use this #pandemic to build infrastructure that& #39;ll have lasting impact? Def need solutions for acute need & agree w @AliciaFMD that embedding #languageconcordant clinicians... 3/

into clinical teams helpful now ( https://twitter.com/AliciaFMD/status/1252011115149578241?s=20).">https://twitter.com/AliciaFMD... But how do we ensure #languageaccess, so #postcovid19 we have tools to ensure equitable care for #LEP patients? How do we develop #innovative solutions in a suddenly fast-moving healthcare? IMHO, just educating &... 4/

telling clinicians "try harder" is ineffective. Clinicians want to provide #quality care. Need org & policy changes to create better infrastructure for pts w #languagebarriers. #Medtwitter: 1) $/incentives for interpreter access/eqpt (this is why #EHRs finally adopted)...

2) $/incentives for providing care to #LEP patients (takes more time, #communication gaps https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⬆️" title="Upwards arrow" aria-label="Emoji: Upwards arrow"> complexity); 3) #pipeline development - more #languageconcordant multilingual clinicians & value lang skills in admissions; 4) more interpreters certified in medical interpretation...

5) enforcement of already existing #languageaccess policies through fines / citations. Def many other options. Bottom line - we need to do better. #MedTwitter & #equity advocates - what changes will most https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⬆️" title="Upwards arrow" aria-label="Emoji: Upwards arrow"> #languageaccess in healthcare? Other ideas? Role for private sector? END

Would love thoughts from - @AliciaFMD @LucySchulson @translatedmed @lkarliner @Levmal526 @DrLisaDiamond @lfernandezi @ShailRawalMD @breenataira @lyyinaround @MarleneMartinMD & any others!