The Language Barrier Challenge in Public Health Services: In public health services, language barriers create significant challenges at every step of patient interaction - from scheduling appointments to providing medical care. Healthcare employees face the stress of relying on Language Service Providers (LSPs) or scrambling to find colleagues who speak the patient’s language. This results in delays in care, misunderstandings, increased frustration for both staff and patients, and poor patient outcomes. Without a reliable, scalable solution, patients may struggle to communicate their health concerns, understand prescriptions, or receive the appropriate follow-up care.
In the current world, without using VerbumCall from OneMeta, this is what healthcare services struggle with:
Employee Experience:
Healthcare employees often find themselves frustrated when trying to communicate with non-English-speaking patients. They frequently rely on Language Service Providers (LSPs), which can result in delays and extra steps in communication. When an interpreter is not readily available, employees may need to search for a colleague who speaks the patient’s language, causing added stress and disruption to their workflow. The inefficiency of this process not only leads to burnout but also impacts overall job satisfaction. The constant struggle to bridge the language gap leaves healthcare employees feeling unsupported and overwhelmed.
Patient Experience:
Patients who don’t speak English can feel isolated and helpless during their healthcare journey. They often struggle to articulate their concerns, leading to misunderstandings and delays in care. The inability to communicate effectively with healthcare providers can exacerbate anxiety and stress, preventing patients from fully understanding their medical conditions, treatment plans, and follow-up instructions. For patients, this language barrier undermines trust in the healthcare system and prevents them from receiving the care they deserve. It also leaves them feeling invisible or unheard in what should be an empathetic, supportive environment.
The IT Experience:
IT teams in healthcare are often tasked with integrating telephony systems with Language Service Providers (LSPs), managing complex systems and configurations. These integrations often require additional resources and time to maintain, which can lead to frustration when issues arise and IT is blamed for communication breakdowns. However, the real challenge lies in the fact that IT teams frequently don’t have the time or capacity to thoroughly research the market for enterprise-grade AI translation and transcription solutions that address language barriers effectively while also prioritizing security. With increasing concerns about data privacy and compliance - especially in healthcare, where HIPAA and other regulations must be met - IT departments are under immense pressure to find secure solutions that protect sensitive information without compromising on performance. This leaves IT teams stuck in a reactive mode, struggling to manage urgent fixes rather than being able to proactively implement a long-term, scalable solution with the security built-in from the start.
Business Experience:
Senior management often underestimates the true cost of language barriers - the time lost, the operational inefficiencies, and the employee frustration that ultimately results in reduced productivity. Without understanding the broader implications, management may overlook the need for investing in comprehensive language solutions that address these issues head-on. Without a solution, the company continues to pay for inefficient processes, relying heavily on external LSPs and creating a reactive, resource-draining environment. Senior leadership may also struggle to see how implementing a tech-driven solution could relieve pressure on employees and enhance patient experience, while simultaneously improving operational efficiency and reducing costs.
VerbumCall by OneMeta, offers an Over-the-Phone (OPI) AI and Machine Learning transcription and translation solution designed to improve communication across different languages and enhance patient care, in over 120 languages and dialects available 24X7. With HIPAA compliance, GDPR certification, and ISO 27001 certification, VerbumCall ensures all data remains secure, meeting the highest healthcare regulations.
By using VerbumCall, public health departments can eliminate the need for expensive third-party interpreters, reduce appointment scheduling confusion, and enhance overall patient satisfaction. Healthcare providers will be able to offer timely, accurate services, ensuring better patient outcomes while increasing efficiency and reducing costs.
By adopting VerbumCall, public health organizations can expect:
By partnering with OneMeta, public health services can eliminate language barriers, reduce operational costs, and improve both employee satisfaction and patient care. VerbumCall ensures effective communication, improving healthcare outcomes, and offering a cost-effective solution that meets the diverse needs of both patients and healthcare providers.