Language Barriers Identified as Potential Factor in Maryland Hospital Safety Incidents
TL;DR
Hospitals can gain a competitive edge by investing in communication training for foreign-born staff to reduce medical errors and improve patient outcomes.
Maryland's 5% increase in medical errors is attributed to pandemic after-effects, staffing shortages, and potential communication gaps among foreign-born healthcare workers.
Improving communication clarity among healthcare staff enhances patient safety and builds trust in medical institutions for a healthier community.
Approximately 50,000 foreign-born healthcare workers in Maryland face communication challenges that may contribute to rising medical errors.
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Medical mistakes in Maryland hospitals increased by 5% in fiscal 2023 according to the state health department's annual Hospital Patient Safety Program report. The data revealed 808 serious level 1 incidents, with 49 resulting in patient deaths. Most serious injuries stemmed from falls and pressure injuries like bedsores, while the report attributed some increases to pandemic after-effects and staffing-related issues.
Approximately 50,000 foreign nationals work in Maryland's healthcare system, representing about 26% of the state's healthcare workforce according to data derived from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. This estimate, calculated using the most recent available data from 2021 and adjusted for 2023 employment trends from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, suggests nearly one-quarter of healthcare staff may speak English as a second language.
The communication challenge became apparent during a 51-day hospitalization at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, where approximately 26% of staff reflect the state's foreign-born healthcare worker percentage. While the overall medical care received high praise, observations revealed instances where medical instructions were misinterpreted by staff with limited English proficiency. On multiple occasions, follow-up verification with physicians prevented potential medication errors when nursing staff misunderstood original directions.
The issue extends beyond nursing assistants and nurses to include physicians who received medical training outside the United States. Clear communication throughout the healthcare chain—from doctors to nurses to aides—proves essential for patient safety outcomes. While foreign-born healthcare workers undergo rigorous certification processes and demonstrate medical proficiency, varying English language abilities can create communication gaps during critical patient care moments.
Maryland's healthcare system faces significant staffing challenges, with foreign-born workers filling essential roles across the state's medical facilities. However, ensuring these professionals can communicate clearly about patient needs remains crucial for preventing medical errors. As the state health department continues investigating root causes of safety incidents, examining communication dynamics among multilingual staff could provide valuable insights for improving hospital safety protocols and patient outcomes statewide.
Curated from citybiz
