# https://www.nobarrier.ai/ llms-full.txt
## AI Medical Interpreter
Results are in! AI vs professional medical interpreters,
[see our surprising study results →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/nobarrier-ai-outperforms-traditional-medical-interpreters-in-first-scientific-study)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
For healthcare professionals
# Get Instant Medical Interpretation
Instant access, state of the art medical accuracy, fully compliant
[Get Started](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#) [Start Encounter](https://app.nobarrier.ai/)
14 days free trial
[.png)](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oYzfH579EpS-8_19CeURI7Yw2bEtj3wU/view?usp=sharing)
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70% Cost reduction compared to traditional services
20% More accurate
on average than professional interpreters
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0 Waiting time
to start medical encounter
## Supporting most popular languages
## Supporting most popular languages
## Used daily by providers
[\\
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](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#)
### **Cost-Effective**
“No Barrier helped us eliminate delays in patient care and reduce our translation costs significantly. Our teams are more efficient, and we’ve reinvested that time and savings back into improving patient experience”
[See full case study](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
### Judd Semingson
CEO Community Clinic NWA
[\\
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### Simple & Effective
"I'm able to confidently communicate medical terminology and ensure my patients truly understand their care. It's super accessible, easy to use, and cost-effective"
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### Sarah Joyce, RN
Registered Nurse
#### Instant & Seamless
“Game changer - No more waiting for an iPad interpreter... It's fast, easy, and I have a more fluid conversation with my patients”
##### Sam Frenkel, MD
Emergency Medicine
Physician
#### Accurate & Private
“The app is more accurate than Google Translate and both faster and more convenient than using video translators. My patients have really enjoyed the anonymity and privacy”
##### Jeffrey Chen, MD
Emergency Medicine
Physician
#### Transformative Care
“Having the flexibility and access to interpretation services whenever you need it is truly transformative for a practice and allows you to practice the same way across all community groups.”
##### Neal Douglas, MD
Family Medicine Physician
#### Deeper Connection
״What surprised me most is that removing the presence of a human interpreter actually increases the feeling of connection during medical visits.״
##### Jay Zaslow, MD
Family Practice
Physician
#### Fast-Paced Care
״Its user-friendly interface fits perfectly into our fast-paced environment... No Barrier AI has truly revolutionized our ability to connect with diverse patients."
##### Shelby Blackman, RN
Emergency Room
Registered Nurse
#### Universal Access
״Now I have literally no barrier to communicate with almost all patients that speak another language.״
##### Kevin Herman, MD
Interventional Radiology
### What Providers Say?
Jay Zaslow
Family Practice Physician, New York
"The **No Barrier AI** Medical Interpreter works beautifully. The interface is clean and simple. My patient and I are **up and running in seconds** \- way faster than calling up a language line. The translation is **amazingly accurate** and the voice is pleasant. My patients and I are delighted with the experience. **What surprised me most** is that removing the presence of a human interpreter actually increases the feeling of connectionduring medical visits."
[Read more](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#)
@sarahdaily
89k followers
“Easy to use and effective. I feel better knowing that I'm in control of who can see my data.”
[Read more](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#)
@danielhankle
122k followers
“Love it! It's helped me find new opportunities with some legit brands from all over the world.”
[Read more](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#)
@styledbyjane
47k followers
"This literally takes a few seconds to set up and is totally worth having."
[Read more](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#)
@modernlux
403k followers
"It has cut out the back and forth of sharing insights with sponsors. It's a useful tool for any creator."
[Read more](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#)
@sarahdaily
89k followers
“Easy to use and effective. I feel better knowing that I'm in control of who can see my data.”
[Read more](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#)
@danielhankle
122k followers
“Love it! It's helped me find new opportunities with some legit brands from all over the world.”
[Read more](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#)
@styledbyjane
47k followers
"This literally takes a few seconds to set up and is totally worth having."
[Read more](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#)
## Customer testimonials
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## Healthcare has a language barrier
Language barriers create **daily care delays**, **frustrated providers**, and **poor patient experience**. Current solutions are a costly burden that can't keep up with fast-paced healthcare needs. Quality healthcare shouldn't depend on what language the patient speaks.
## With Our AI Medical Interpreter, You:
### Gain Immediate Access
Remove waiting time, bureaucracy & workflow burden of language lines and video interpreters - which leads to shorter, more efficient encounters.
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### Get Accurate Communication
Communication is medically accurate and direct - no human paraphrasing / missing information / biased, no need to talk slowly in chunks, no dropped calls
### Superior Patient Experience
Faster and better care workflow for Limited English Proficiency patient care, increases patient privacy, satisfaction and connection
## Security & Trust Built-In
We designed our medical interpreter from the ground up for healthcare security. Enterprise-grade encryption, automatic data deletion, and HIPAA & SOC2 compliance ensure your patient conversations remain private and protected at every step.
[Learn more](https://www.nobarrier.ai/security)
## Privacy and Security
Our system is designed with security and privacy as top priorities:
Enterprise grade technology is HIPAA compliant, incorporating multiple layers of security and controls.
All data is encrypted during the encounter.
No data from the encounter content is persisted.
Secure cloud - all data and processes are conducted in US-based data centers.
Read more about our [HIPAA compliance](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oYzfH579EpS-8_19CeURI7Yw2bEtj3wU/view?usp=sharing) and [Privacy Policy](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wxgQKTpJPVhOQlzpyA3Tx0xvR1tIMUNW/view?usp=sharing).
## **Medical Interpreter you can trust**
**Equivalent to Professional Interpreter**
The AI Medical Interpreter controls the medical jargon and provides interpretation services at par or better than professionals interpreters.
**Full Transparency**
Providers can always verify that their English messages are accurately transcribed by our platform. Feel confident during every conversation knowing your message is accurately conveyed.
**Cultural Sensitivity**
AI takes into consideration various factors during the encounter for correct interpretation such as age, gender, language formality and more.
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**Error Prevention**
Utilizing advanced AI techniques, our platform proactively looks for miscommunication during the encounter - be it contextual, or unclear terms. In instances where clarification is needed, it prompts the provider \ patient.
## **See It In Action**
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# Sorry
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# Sorry
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## Breaking Down Language Barriers in Healthcare
### As Featured in HIMSS 2024
Dr. Jeffrey Chen from No Barrier talks about language barriers, provider burnout, and how technology can yield triple win for patients, healthcare professionals & institutions.
## AI Medical Interpreting Insights
[**All articles…**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
[**So You're Using Family Members as Medical Interpreters** \\
\\
Providers commonly rely on family members as interpreters, yet numerous factors must be taken into account.\\
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**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/so-youre-using-family-members-as-medical-interpreters)
[**The Multiple Touchpoints Problem of Non-English Speaking Patients** \\
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Patients with limited English proficiency navigate multiple healthcare touchpoints, each with varying levels of language support quality.\\
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**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-multiple-touchpoints-problem-of-non-english-speaking-patients)
[**Deploy Medical Interpreter - The Waiting Time Aspect** \\
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The waiting time to deploy a professional medical interpreter remains a top challenge in healthcare settings for non-English speaking patients, often causing frustration for medical providers.\\
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**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/deploy-medical-interpreter---the-waiting-time-aspect)
## Let's discuss your language needs / workflow
Every healthcare organization faces unique challenges in serving non-English speaking patients. We’re eager to learn about your current practices and explore opportunities to enhance care together.
Get Started
14 days free trial
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
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[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Cultural Healthcare Access
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
# Medical Interpretation for Latino/LEP Patients: Dr. Shapiro's Insights on Cultural Healthcare Access
Host:
Eyal Heldenberg
Duration:
20:43
Release Date:
April 21, 2025
6
[Play Episode](https://youtu.be/RqBv7lIKRxg)
Medical Interpretation for Latino/LEP Patients: Dr. Shapiro's Insights on Cultural Healthcare Access - YouTube
[Photo image of No Barrier](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA5zFOhL0ub5nu-jvaCCbJg?embeds_widget_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nobarrier.ai%2F&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.embedly.com%2F&embeds_referring_origin=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.embedly.com)
No Barrier
131 subscribers
[Medical Interpretation for Latino/LEP Patients: Dr. Shapiro's Insights on Cultural Healthcare Access](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5FyvMwEwAA)
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0:00
0:00 / 20:44
•Live
•
## About this podcast:
In this talk, pediatrician **Dr. Ilan Shapiro** shares real-world advice from years of helping patients who speak different languages. Growing up and working in Mexico and now working at a health center in Los Angeles, Dr. Shapiro knows firsthand what at takes to care for patients from many backgrounds.
As America becomes more diverse, doctors and nurses often struggle to connect with patients who speak Spanish or have different cultural views about healthcare. Dr. Shapiro offers practical tips that any healthcare worker can use to better help their Spanish-speaking patients.
**Key Moments**
**On Cultural Distinctions (03:04):** "A lot of the times, the first one and the most common error is to think that all Latinos are the same. And it's really not true, because if you see the difference between an Argentinian, a Mexican, a Dominican, a Puerto Rican, it's different. Maybe the Spanish, we can understand each other, but there will be certain words that would not translate from one side to another."
**On Workflow Challenges (09:44):** "...even though that it's maybe a simple click or waiting and stuff like that. if you multiply that for a normal day between 20 and 25 patients and you're adding two minutes, that's almost an hour and a little bit more of your time."
**On Interaction Styles (11:06):** "For Latinos in general terms, usually touching, saying hello with a hand, having a closer space, actually it's OK."
**On Healthcare Decision-Making (15:15):** "One of the best well-kept secrets of absolutely everything that we have in front of us is that the female figure, the grandma, the mother, actually carries a lot of the healthcare power of the family. They are usually the uniting force of the Latino household."
**On Building Connections (19:39):** "Learn a couple of phrases in their language. That actually opens a lot of doors because it creates that bond that you're at least trying to connect."
## Listen this episode on:
[Spotify](https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/XEZ43OdWISb) [Youtube Music](https://youtu.be/c5FyvMwEwAA) [Apple Music](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/medical-interpretation-for-latino-lep-patients-dr-shapiros/id1795321107?i=1000704198103)
## Chapters Timeline:
**1\. Introduction to Care Culture Talks \[00:00-00:54\]**
- Welcome and introduction by Eyal Heldenberg, CEO of No Barrier
- Introduction of Dr. Ilan Shapiro as an advisor to No Barrier
- Purpose of podcast: exploring language accessibility and cultural competency in healthcare
**2\. Dr. Shapiro's Professional Background \[00:54-02:38\]**
- Medical education in Mexico City
- Work as WHO-Mexico liaison
- Pediatric training at Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago
- Experience with diverse populations
- Current position at AltaMed, a Federally Qualified Health Center
**3\. Understanding Latino Community Diversity \[03:04-04:01\]**
- Misconception that all Latinos are culturally homogeneous
- Regional differences between Spanish-speaking populations
- Cultural variations in health perceptions and practices
- "We're not just seeing a language, we're seeing the entire package"
**4\. Institutional Approaches to Language Barriers \[04:20-05:21\]**
- Staff training on communication tools
- Multiple translation approaches:
- In-person certified translators
- Telephone interpretation services
- Technology-based solutions
**5\. The Bilingual Provider Experience \[05:46-07:15\]**
- Being frequently called upon for translation assistance
- Balancing personal workload with translation requests
- "Double job" phenomenon for bilingual healthcare workers
- 20 years of navigating this dual responsibility
**6\. Challenges with Current Interpretation Services \[08:11-09:44\]**
- Time-consuming technology integration
- Accumulated waiting periods (approximately one hour daily)
- Impact on provider workflow and patient experience
**7\. Empowering Patients through Technology \[09:54-10:45\]**
- Need for patient-centered translation tools
- Importance of medically accurate translations
- Applications for prescription and pharmacy interactions
**8\. Cultural Factors Beyond Language \[11:06-12:52\]**
- Learning about patients' cultural backgrounds
- Cultural norms regarding physical space and eye contact
- Patient hesitation to question medical authority
- Understanding cultural perspectives on traditional remedies
**9\. Family Dynamics in Healthcare Decisions \[15:15-16:09\]**
- Female figures as healthcare decision-makers
- Grandmothers and mothers as "the uniting force of the Latino household"
- Strategic communication with family influencers
**10\. Vision for Healthcare System Improvement \[16:26-17:21\]**
- Seamless technological integration
- Efficient tools that don't disrupt patient-provider interaction
- Integrated systems across all healthcare touchpoints
**11\. Practical Advice for Cultural Responsiveness \[18:39-20:05\]**
- Understanding culture before addressing language
- Learning about patient expectations for medical interactions
- Value of learning basic phrases in patients' languages
- Leveraging technology to enhance communication
Key themes throughout the episode:
- Medical interpretation
- Cultural competency in healthcare
- Language barriers
- Patient empowerment
- Healthcare communication
- Diverse Latino populations
- Technology in healthcare
- Family influence in medical decisions
## Episodes Transcript:
Eyal Heldenberg (00:10)Hi everyone, welcome to Care Culture Talks. My name is Eyal Heldenberg. I'm the CEO of No Barrier, AI medical interpreter for healthcare providers. I'm very happy to have with us Dr. Ilan Shapiro. Dr. Shapiro is an advisor to No Barrier, so happy to have you.
Ilan Shapiro MD (00:29)It's a pleasure. Very excited to be here with you.
Eyal Heldenberg (00:32)Perfect. Amazing. So basically the podcast purpose is to learn from healthcare professionals, from their experience around language accessibility in healthcare and cultural competency. So first, Dr. Shapiro would love to kind of get to know you and your background in medicine.
Ilan Shapiro MD (00:54)Gladly. Well, I'm born and raised in Mexico City. I did my MD degree over there. And afterwards, I worked as a liaison between the WHO and Mexico. I love that because I got to see what was the health care system in Mexico and also compare it in policy with other communities and countries. And that actually opened not just the little pueblitos, the little towns that I was actually taking care of or the big cities in Mexico, but also the perspective of importance of culture, language, and you you're there and there's like at least 50, 60 languages around you. And that actually opened my mind. And that continued during my pediatric training at Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago, where we had absolutely a very amazing Latino community and also an African-American community, but also a very important migrant community that they came from Russia, they came from Vietnam, they came from a lot of countries and they were all together tied with health. That's something that we all need. Then on my entire background and travel from place to place from Chicago to Fort Myers, Florida, and right now in Los Angeles serving AltaMed, the Fair Qualified Health Center, the continuum of the importance of being there with your patient. Having knowledge, because you don't need to be an expert of the cultural aspect of it, but also the linguistics part of it makes a huge difference for treating our communities and also bringing better quality outcomes.
Eyal Heldenberg (02:38)Perfect. I think you have like a kind of a very unique background coming from the Latino community. And, you know, I wonder you know, there are some unique communication challenges you might encounter as a medical provider, would you like to kind of address unique challenges of communications with Latino communities?
Ilan Shapiro MD (03:04)A lot of the times, the first one and the most common error is to think that all Latinos are the same. And it's really not true, because if you see the difference between an Argentinian, a Mexican, a Dominican, a Puerto Rican, it's different. Maybe the Spanish, we can understand each other, but there will be certain words that would not translate from one side to another. And also the cultural aspect of it, because there are very regional or very localized things that are very different on how they see mental health, how they perceive vaccines, how they actually want to take care of themselves with, you know, alternative medicine. Then all of these things are crucial and important in order to actually take care of our patients, because we're not just seeing a language, we're seeing the entire package. But of course, if you don't have the language. You have that first barrier between you and the patient.
Eyal Heldenberg (04:01)Yeah, yeah, yeah. All right, you mentioned that you are now working at AltaMed. So I wonder if you can take us to how AltaMed navigates now the language barriers when providing care. Are there any particular approaches that you practice there?
Ilan Shapiro MD (04:20)We, from the beginning on the onboarding of our nurses, front staff, physicians, everybody actually gets the tools on how to communicate with a patient. And we have a very diverse set of patients. And part of it, it's understanding what do we have at hand. Then we have different modules from actually in-person, someone actually translating that are certified to do so, or actually a telephone number. Or we also have the technology, it looks like an iPad, practically that you press on it, you select the language, and it actually goes to a database or central base or whatever, and you have an interaction with a human that it's actually translating for you. In this way, at least, if we have sign language, if we have Cantonese or Spanish or whatever language we have in front of us, we can actually leverage all these tools in front of us to connect with our patients.
Eyal Heldenberg (05:21)Perfect. You know, since you are a kind of a native speaker in Spanish, I wonder if during your career you had other, you know, monolingual providers that, you know, approach, hey, Ilan, could you help us with this patient, with that patient just kind of getting this, your knowledge around that.
Ilan Shapiro MD (05:46)Probably I share the same story as many other physician, nurses, and people in healthcare where they were the only ones that actually spoke a language that was not typically used in the healthcare settings. And since I was a medical school, a med student, and in residency, and still today as a provider, as a physician, always there's someone like, can you come in? Can you help me translate? Can you do that part? Can you bridge that gap that we have right now? Because I'm not getting the full picture. And it makes a huge difference. First of all, I love doing it because one, I am helping my partner inquire my fellow physician, my nurse, my team member. And the second one is that I'm most importantly helping my patient. Because at the moment that we raise our hand and go like, well, I need help. Can you come in? I love doing that part. But with that part, a lot of us end up doing a double job because you need to take care of your workflow. You need to take care of your things that you're doing, but also at the same time, the translation. That's a second job at the same time that you're doing your own things. That's kind of what I kind of saw and I'm still seeing for the past almost 20 years that I have been practicing.
Eyal Heldenberg (07:15)Yeah, we heard stories, I had a chat with one Cantonese speaking provider that, you know, a lot of months, you know, he was approached by colleagues and he just couldn't have enough time for his, for his patients. So he shared that he started to kind of push back for, for, hey, just use the formal solutions. You have, you know, medical interpreters available. So we kind of navigate between his patients, but also the need to help. So this is the way he chose to put some boundaries, but totally get the pros and cons of that. We've discussed medical interpretation now. I wonder from your perspective, what kind of evolution in those services in healthcare you see or where do you see room for improvement?
Ilan Shapiro MD (08:11)A couple of things. When I see my patient, we have all this technology that it's there, it's helpful, but it takes time. It takes a process to get there. And it's very cumbersome sometimes, even though that it's maybe a simple click or waiting and stuff like that. If you multiply that for a normal day between 20 and 25 patients and you're adding two minutes, that's almost an hour and a little bit more of your time that you're spending just waiting for the machine to connect. Then having all these things actually align on an easy way would be something that I really, really cherish. Because sometimes you're waiting for the translator, you're waiting for the telephone to be picked up, or there could be little kinks there. They start adding to the process. Of course, you're going to be there with your patient. You want to actually be there with your patient. You want to talk with your patient. But these barriers, at the end of the day, actually takes a toll on the physician, the nurse practitioner, the practitioner that is actually in front of the patient, the nurses that are trying to do something. But because of this technology that it's actually helping us, because before it was horrible, there was really nothing, create a time lag that starts accumulating and it's not kind of the best approach that I'm seeing.
Eyal Heldenberg (09:44)Right, so basically you say like the room for improvement is around the waiting time, the access to care, like can we do it faster in a sense?
Ilan Shapiro MD (09:54)And also give that tools to the patient. Because when they call your office, when they go to the pharmacy, when they're other medical stuff, they need that tool also. Because sometimes actually it happens, and it's a great example. When they go to the pharmacy, the script maybe is not on the language that they have or they perceive or they prefer. Then imagine that they actually have a tool to translate and have that part on their language and actually that it's medically, it's not just like translate from the limbo, but it's something that actually making a difference for them that it's actually medically graded, then that actually can help a lot.
Eyal Heldenberg (10:38)Right, so technology in the hands of the patients could empower them.
Ilan Shapiro MD (10:44)Completely.
Eyal Heldenberg (10:45)Got you. Yeah, yeah, makes sense. All right, perfect. Now I would love to kind of talk about any other cultural factors that you find most important to consider when treating patients from diverse backgrounds, you know, besides language.
Ilan Shapiro MD (11:06)One of the most important parts, and I love doing this, that it's actually learning a little bit more of the culture. If you have a set of patients that are coming from a certain area from China or a certain area from Mexico or Dominican Republic or Ethiopia, you choose whatever country you want. But actually learning a little bit of their culture, what's actually appropriate, what's actually the way that they want to be perceived and approached, that's very important. For example, for Latinos in general terms, usually touching, saying hello with a hand, having a closer space, actually it's OK. And also the eye contact is very important, actually giving space for them and the respect to the patient. And also they see the doctor as someone that actually is bringing a lot of empowerment for their families and their future, then sometimes they are afraid to ask. And it's not because they don't want to ask. It's because they don't want to offend the doctor. Then making sure that we are understanding not just the language, but the cultural aspect that we are taking care of a patient. And that also includes a lot of the times the background of asking my patient, do you take any medications? And they go like, no. After that, go, well, medications or medicines could be natural teas and stuff like that. And they give me a huge list of vitamins and teas and other stuff. Then making sure that we are in tune with the cultural aspect of it and, of course, using the language to actually bridge that gap.
Eyal Heldenberg (12:52)Yeah, yeah, totally makes sense. Are there any, I would say, deeper beliefs? You know, we heard, for example, about some populations, you know, with kind of less of, you know, trust maybe in healthcare or at least, you know, the conventional one. Kind of like different beliefs. I don't know if from the Latino community or others, like how do you see this kind of other belief when they enter the room.
Ilan Shapiro MD (13:25)It's very important because the way it's kind of going to a marathon without training and without, you know, knowing that you're actually going to not make it the first mile. Then the entire idea of this is actually to have that expectation, to open the door to where they're coming from. Because a lot of the patients that I take care of, they have two or three jobs. They are like very, there are fighters, fighters, they're, they're doing their own good, amazing things. And they could be afraid. Maybe they have not been in the doctor for a while. Maybe they just don't like the procedure and that's totally okay. Then we need to be open for that part. And, and most importantly, even though that we can group the Latino community in one group or the African community in one group or the African American in one group. It's very important that at the end of the day, we're still individuals and we all have a different type of experience on what's our day to day. What are we actually doing with our health?
Eyal Heldenberg (14:37)Yeah, yeah. You know, one of the previous guests mentioned for the Asian communities that there are some family dynamics where, for example, the mother could take decisions in the family, right? You need to consult other family members. I wonder if there is some family dynamics of patient in the Latino community where more people needs to be involved. Maybe the provider needs to talk to the, I don't know, grandfather in the room. I wonder if you have kind of any insights on that part.
Ilan Shapiro MD (15:15)One of the best well-kept secrets of absolutely everything that we have in front of us is that the female figure, the grandma, the mother, actually carries a lot of the healthcare power of the family. They are usually the uniting force of the Latino household. Then a lot of the times we have seen it with procedures for screening against cancer, vaccination, and other stuff. That usually if you have and you attach a lot of the conversation with the female part of it, the mom, the grandma, actually that can carry a lot of weight on medical conversations. And at the end of the day, everybody needs to choose whatever path they want to do. But that actually actually starts that conversation in a larger scale.
Eyal Heldenberg (16:09)Yeah. All right, perfect. So I wonder if you could implement one major change across the healthcare system to improve care for patients with language or cultural barrier, what would it be in that sense? Like one change.
Ilan Shapiro MD (16:26)I would love, love, love, love to actually have the tools and everything to empower our patients. And technology where I can actually be with my patient and they can be with me without that cumbersome circulation of having a computer and it's slow and connecting, something that can actually make it more efficient, not only for me, because my nurses actually are talking with my patient first, my front desk is actually talking with my patient first, then making sure that all of those steps are actually integrated and we leverage the time and technology to actually be taking care of our patients and taking care of us as physicians, providers, nurse practitioners, healthcare, anything that they're touching a human.
Eyal Heldenberg (17:03)Mm-hmm.
Ilan Shapiro MD (17:21)That way we can save time and of course, most importantly, be with our patients and improve their health.
Eyal Heldenberg (17:28)Yeah, amazing. Basically you say we need technology to save us from technology in a sense, right? You need to have the second generation through automate EMR, automate the interpretation, automate everything. So in the room, will be the regular bonding like 200 years ago, right? Between the doctor and the provider.
Ilan Shapiro MD (17:54)That's part of the beautiful part of it. And I love your definition of saving us from technology by technology. But that's kind of true. It's kind of at the beginning that technology was actually using a letter and mailing it out. And right now, after that, was an email. And right now, we're chatting. Then, yes, probably that will be a faster way to actually have some type of technology to make the difference.
Eyal Heldenberg (18:18)Perfect. All right. I think we are in the kind of last kind of question of practical advice. So I wonder like what advice would you give to healthcare providers, healthcare organization, wants to prove their ability to provide culturally responsive care, whether language, cultural or other.
Ilan Shapiro MD (18:39)The first part, if you already know that you're serving a certain type of population that comes from a certain ethnicity or have a certain language, try to understand before the language, the culture. Where are they coming from? What's expectation of the interaction with the doctor? And in the old days, was like, actually, you need to go that place to actually experience it. Right now, you can actually Google it, and you will have a decent answer on that part. And try to actually refine that part. Learn a couple of phrases in their language. That actually opens a lot of doors because it creates that bond that you're at least trying to connect. And of course, having technology that can improve the way that I talk with my patients. And because even though that I mainly have monolingual or bilingual patients, Spanish, English, I still have my Mandarin patients. I have Cantonese patients. I do have patients that actually speak other languages, including Russian, then having that ability on my pocket or me or in their pocket as patients, that could make a huge difference. And that's what I really want from healthcare systems and also medical providers to get that you have the linguistic part that is very important. And sometimes we cannot manage it that much, but the cultural aspect, we do have a lot of power for that.
Eyal Heldenberg (20:05)Amazing, Basically you say even with small steps, like those gestures that you know, like the small steps basically could do like a big, a big impact in the room.
Ilan Shapiro MD (20:18)Completely.
Eyal Heldenberg (20:20)All right, perfect. Thank you so much, Ilan, for being with us in Care Culture Talks. Appreciate it.
Ilan Shapiro MD (20:28)Pleasure as always and hope that we open a lot of the linguistically and culturally concordant care that our patients deserve.
Eyal Heldenberg (20:38)Thank you.
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## Language Access Resources
```
https://www.nobarrier.ai
https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy
https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service
https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog
https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq
https://www.nobarrier.ai/no-barrier-vs-languageline
https://www.nobarrier.ai/no-barrier-vs-amn-language-services
https://www.nobarrier.ai/no-barrier-vs-cyracom
https://www.nobarrier.ai/no-barrier-vs-lionbridge
https://www.nobarrier.ai/no-barrier-vs-propio
https://www.nobarrier.ai/no-barrier-vs-globo
https://www.nobarrier.ai/hipaa
https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing
https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages
https://www.nobarrier.ai/podcast
https://www.nobarrier.ai/about
https://www.nobarrier.ai/security
https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact
https://www.nobarrier.ai/new-footer
https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa
https://www.nobarrier.ai/cantonese-interpreters
https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation
https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center
https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives
https://www.nobarrier.ai/ai-interpreting
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/2025-slator-language-ai-50-under-50
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-big-problems-in-medical-interpretation-what-healthcare-providers-tell-us
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-medical-translation-challenges-patients-face-with-interpreters
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/ai-in-healthcare---consider-starting-small
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/ai-in-medical-translation-capabilities-and-limitations
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/are-you-paying-for-silence
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/are-your-non-english-speaking-patients-following-up-on-your-discharge-notes
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/basic-spanish-isnt-enough-why-healthcare-providers-still-need-professional-language-services
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/best-practices-for-treating-patients-from-different-cultures
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/bias-vs-accuracy-in-ai-medical-interpreting-tech
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/complete-guide-evaluating-ai-medical-interpreter-solutions-for-healthcare-organizations
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/could-your-bilingual-staff-double-as-certified-medical-interpreters-answers-to-your-questions
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/deploy-medical-interpreter---the-waiting-time-aspect
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/dialect-vs-language
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/do-you-have-micro-encounters-with-limited-english-proficiency-patients
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/generating-new-revenue-for-healthcare-organizations-with-ai-medical-interpreting
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/google-translate-risks
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/haitian-creole
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-many-mistakes-do-medical-interpreters-make
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-private-is-a-medical-encounter-with-an-interpreter
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-spanish-dialects-impact-patient-care
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-to-solve-the-one-patient-multiple-interpreters-challenge-in-healthcare
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/language-as-a-social-determinant-of-health-addressing-inequities-for-lep-patients
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreter---human-vs-ai-the-memory-aspect
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreter-underutilization-understanding-the-gap
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreting-reimbursement-state
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/nobarrier-ai-outperforms-traditional-medical-interpreters-in-first-scientific-study
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/nurses-and-limited-english-proficiency-lep-patients
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/organization-hybrid-approach---deploy-human-interpreters-side-by-side-with-ai-interpreters
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/patient-flow-ops
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/planning-your-2025-language-access-strategy-with-ai-powered-oral-interpretation
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/provider-do-you-have-lep-burnout
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/relying-on-bilingual-peers-for-language-interpretation--a-cautionary-tale
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/remote-interpreters-audio-and-connectivity-challenges
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/so-what-is-techquity-and-why-does-it-matter
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/so-youre-using-family-members-as-medical-interpreters
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/so-youre-using-google-translate-as-medical-interpreter
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/teach-back-prevents-errors
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-executive-checklist-for-choosing-your-next-ai-interpreter-vendor
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-intersection-of-low-health-literacy-and-limited-english-proficiency-in-healthcare
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-multiple-touchpoints-problem-of-non-english-speaking-patients
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-role-of-health-educators-in-multilingual-healthcare-settings
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/three-languages-many-dialects
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/using-no-barrier-in-the-er-an-inside-look
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/value-based-care-and-communication-challenges-for-patients-with-limited-english-proficiency
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/what-clinicians-really-think-about-interpreters
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/what-is-interpreting-directionality
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/whats-your-healthcare-ai-strategy
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/when-and-when-not-using-ai-medical-interpreter
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/where-is-the-interpreter-ipad-cart
https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/why-were-ending-per-minute-pricing-in-medical-interpretation
https://www.nobarrier.ai/episodes/beyond-translation-a-doctors-guide-to-cultural-healthcare-communication
https://www.nobarrier.ai/episodes/beyond-words-the-art-of-medical-interpretation-with-matias-saenz
https://www.nobarrier.ai/episodes/community-health-centers-culturally-competent-care-for-all-with-diana-erani
https://www.nobarrier.ai/episodes/cultural-barriers-in-urology-how-dr-weiser-navigates-sensitive-conversations-across-languages
https://www.nobarrier.ai/episodes/emergency-care-across-languages-a-conversation-with-dr-jeffrey-chen
https://www.nobarrier.ai/episodes/language-access-in-community-centers-improving-care-with-medical-translation-with-louis-d-simmons
https://www.nobarrier.ai/episodes/medical-interpretation-for-latino-lep-patients-dr-shapiros-insights-on-cultural-healthcare-access
https://www.nobarrier.ai/episodes/seconds-count-dr-sam-frenkels-frontline-perspectives-on-language-barriers-in-emergency-medicine
https://www.nobarrier.ai/episodes/speaking-your-patients-language-dr-gezzer-ortega-on-cultural-competency-in-medicine
```
## AI in Medical Translation
Announcement
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## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
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AI & Technology in Healthcare Interpretation
# AI in Medical Translation: Capabilities and Limitations
AI-powered medical interpretation that’s instant, accurate, and HIPAA-compliant bridging language gaps, improving patient safety and reducing costs across every clinical encounter.
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
February 24, 2025
**Updated:**
October 9, 2025
6
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h2\\
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Abstract](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/ai-in-medical-translation-capabilities-and-limitations#abstract)
[h2\\
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Introduction](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/ai-in-medical-translation-capabilities-and-limitations#introduction)
[h2\\
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Capabilities of AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/ai-in-medical-translation-capabilities-and-limitations#capabilities-of-ai)
[h2\\
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Limitations of AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/ai-in-medical-translation-capabilities-and-limitations#limitations-of-ai)
[h2\\
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Risks in AI Translation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/ai-in-medical-translation-capabilities-and-limitations#risks-in-ai-translation)
[h2\\
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Advantages of AI Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/ai-in-medical-translation-capabilities-and-limitations#advantages-of-ai-interpretation)
[h2\\
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Future Trends in AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/ai-in-medical-translation-capabilities-and-limitations#future-trends-in-ai)
[h2\\
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Recommendations](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/ai-in-medical-translation-capabilities-and-limitations#recommendations)
[h2\\
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Conclusion](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/ai-in-medical-translation-capabilities-and-limitations#conclusion)
## **Abstract**
This article examines the role of artificial intelligence in medical translation and interpretation, analyzing its current capabilities, limitations, and potential impact on healthcare delivery. The study focuses on how AI technologies are transforming language barriers in healthcare settings while acknowledging important considerations for implementation.
**Executive Summary**
The integration of AI in medical translation represents a significant advancement in healthcare communication, offering immediate, cost-effective solutions while maintaining high accuracy standards. This analysis explores the advantages and challenges of implementing AI translation systems in healthcare settings, providing insights for healthcare institutions considering adoption of these technologies.
For example - if remote interpreters' cost could be $1-$2 per minute, AI vendors could roughly be 70% less in cost.
## **Introduction**
As healthcare becomes increasingly globalized, effective communication between healthcare providers and patients of diverse linguistic backgrounds is crucial. AI-powered translation and interpretation services are emerging as powerful tools to address language barriers in medical settings, promising to improve access to healthcare while maintaining quality of communication.
The U.S. healthcare system serves one of the most culturally diverse populations in the world. According to KFF, over [42% of patients now identify as racial or ethnic minorities](https://www.kff.org/key-data-on-health-and-health-care-by-race-and-ethnicity/?entry=racial-diversity-within-the-u-s-today-total-population-by-race-and-ethnicity).
## **Capabilities of AI**
The implementation of AI in medical translation has demonstrated several significant capabilities that are transforming healthcare communication. AI systems excel at streamlining workflows by providing immediate, 24/7 translation services for both documents and real-time interpretation between patients and providers. This immediate availability significantly reduces waiting times and improves healthcare delivery efficiency.
From a financial perspective, AI translation services offer substantial cost savings, making professional translation services accessible to a broader range of healthcare institutions. This democratization of language services enables smaller facilities to provide quality care to diverse patient populations.
Let’s take Akron children’s hospital for [example](https://www.modernhealthcare.com/safety-quality/medical-interpreters-demand-covid-19-pandemic-recruiting-training-amn). They utilize 60,000 minutes of human interpretation every month, with the need of 250 different languages, in 2022. Assuming each minute costs $1 means that their annual spend is $720K. If we assume that AI systems usually cut around 60% of the cost - the savings could get to $432K every year.
One of AI's most notable strengths lies in its consistency. Unlike human interpreters, who may vary in their professional expertise and approach, AI models maintain uniform quality across translations. This consistency is particularly valuable in medical settings where accuracy and standardization are crucial.
AI translation systems also create a more intimate healthcare environment by enabling direct communication between patients and providers without the physical presence of a third-party interpreter. This privacy-focused approach can enhance patient comfort during sensitive medical discussions.
In one [study](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11729812/) (from December 2024 “Artificial intelligence in clinical settings: a systematic review of its role in language translation and interpretation) - patients were “generally positive” with AI translation, “found that communicating through machine translation was easy” and will be “willing to use the application again (84-96.6%).
Also, some felt translation into their native language provided comfort and respect
In terms of accuracy, particularly for widely-used languages, top AI language models have demonstrated high levels of precision in medical translation across various specialties. This reliability is essential for maintaining quality care standards.
In one [study](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/nobarrier-ai-outperforms-traditional-medical-interpreters-in-first-scientific-study), by No Barrier, AI interpreting outperformed remote phone interpreters by 25% in accuracy. Research, from 2024, tested 91 utterances for both directions of English and Spanish, and the overall accuracy was evaluated blindly by two professional medical interpreters.
.jpg)
## **Limitations of AI**
Despite its capabilities, AI in medical translation faces several important limitations. A significant challenge exists in handling less common languages, where AI accuracy may not match that of major languages due to limited training data and resources. This "long tail" language challenge affects healthcare institutions serving diverse linguistic communities.
For example English to Hadza is a rare pair, where accuracy of translation is very low, making it unusable. Another example of English to Taa (southern african language spoken in Botswana). Those languages could be served solely by human translators.
Regulatory compliance, particularly regarding HIPAA and security standards, presents another crucial limitation. Healthcare providers must ensure that any AI translation service adheres to the strictest security standards and undergoes regular audits to maintain patient privacy and data protection.
Perhaps most significantly, AI systems currently lack the culture & emotional intelligence and empathy that human interpreters provide. Unlike human interpreters who can adjust their tone, pace, and emotional delivery based on the situation, AI systems have limited ability to convey empathy or adapt to emotionally sensitive circumstances - which human interpreter do (see “Agents of Empathy” [here](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7197396/)) .
## **Risks in AI Translation**
The implementation of AI translation in healthcare settings requires careful consideration of system integration, data privacy, and backup procedures. Healthcare providers should develop comprehensive protocols to ensure reliable service delivery.
Ways to mitigate:
1. Check vendor compliance and security measurements - and that it adheres to HIPAA, and works on the highest security standards - for example, encryption, firewalls and access control.
2. PHI processing and persistent - make sure that data is secured and safe, and if possible no-low retention of sensitive data at all.
3. Accuracy - make sure the vendor can present to the provider/user if there might be errors in the translation workflow - either automatic notification or manual notification.
4. Data repurpose - make sure PHI is not repurposed for training and other not-related purposes.
## **Advantages of AI Interpretation**
AI interpretation offers significant advantages in healthcare settings. The technology provides immediate availability across all time zones and reduces waiting times for translation services. This accessibility is particularly valuable for rural and remote healthcare facilities that may have limited access to human interpreters.
## **Future Trends in AI**
The field of AI medical translation continues to evolve, with ongoing improvements in natural language processing, multi language large language models, and efforts to enhance emotional intelligence capabilities. Integration with telemedicine platforms and expanding multilingual capabilities represent key areas of development.
## **Recommendations**
Healthcare institutions considering AI translation implementation should adopt a phased approach that combines AI and human interpreters. This hybrid model allows organizations to leverage AI's efficiency while maintaining access to human interpreters for situations requiring emotional sensitivity or handling rare languages.
Concrete steps to take:
1. Assess the top 10 languages in your institution. This information might be in your EHR, or in the administrator dashboard of your language service providers.
2. Find established AI medical interpreter vendors - ensure that at least 80% of your languages can be covered by the AI vendor, to make sure this new workflow could be part of providers’ daily workflow and not something they will forget. Make sure the vendor is specialized in medical terminology. Also - make sure the application is simple to use and be adopted by providers.
3. Assign a project manager to deploy AI medical interpretation across organizations.
4. Start by implementing AI in one site and one department, with appropriate onboarding, training - and collect feedback for learning. The learning curve should be fast and the provider should know how to operate the application after 3-4 encounters.
5. Key KPIs to measure - providers’ ease of use and patients’ satisfaction (aim for 90% and up), cost per encounter, providers’ adoption rate of AI.
6. Expand according to the progress to other departments and sites.
## **Conclusion**
AI in medical translation represents a transformative technology that is revolutionizing healthcare communication. With its ability to provide immediate, consistent, and cost-effective translation services, AI is making quality healthcare more accessible to diverse patient populations. While certain challenges exist, particularly in rare languages and emotional communication, the rapid advancement of AI technology continues to address these limitations. Healthcare institutions that embrace AI translation solutions position themselves at the forefront of modern healthcare delivery, offering their patients enhanced access to care while maintaining high standards of communication. The future of medical translation lies in the thoughtful integration of AI technologies, promising even greater improvements in healthcare accessibility and patient outcomes.
## FAQs
### 1\. Can AI interpretation improve clinical workflow and patient experience?
**Yes.** AI interpretation provides instant translation, removing interpreter wait times and allowing nurses and clinicians to communicate with patients in real time. It improves care flow, reduces stress and increases patient understanding.
### 2\. Can AI interpretation reduce interpreter costs for hospitals?
**Yes.** AI interpretation can cut costs by up to **60–70%** compared with remote human interpreters while maintaining high accuracy. Hospitals using hybrid models see faster ROI and lower readmission rates.
### 3\. Is AI interpretation accurate enough for clinical use?
**Yes.** Clinically validated systems like **No Barrier** achieve accuracy that meets or exceeds professional interpreters in major languages. Built-in quality checks and alerts help clinicians identify when human support is needed (especially end-of-life discussions).
### 4\. Can AI be safely used in critical medical conversations?
**Yes.** When using HIPAA-compliant and medical models such as **No Barrier**, providers can safely use AI in diagnosis, consent and treatment discussions. Audit trails and human oversight available when needed.
### 6\. Should hospitals replace all human interpreters with AI?
**No.** AI should **augment, not replace**, human interpreters. A hybrid approach AI for routine encounters, human for emotional or complex cases ensures safety, empathy and compliance.
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
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# AI in Medical Translation: Capabilities and Limitations
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
February 24, 2025
6
Minute Read
## **Abstract**
This article examines the role of artificial intelligence in medical translation and interpretation, analyzing its current capabilities, limitations, and potential impact on healthcare delivery. The study focuses on how AI technologies are transforming language barriers in healthcare settings while acknowledging important considerations for implementation.
**Executive Summary**
The integration of AI in medical translation represents a significant advancement in healthcare communication, offering immediate, cost-effective solutions while maintaining high accuracy standards. This analysis explores the advantages and challenges of implementing AI translation systems in healthcare settings, providing insights for healthcare institutions considering adoption of these technologies.
For example - if remote interpreters' cost could be $1-$2 per minute, AI vendors could roughly be 70% less in cost.
## **Introduction**
As healthcare becomes increasingly globalized, effective communication between healthcare providers and patients of diverse linguistic backgrounds is crucial. AI-powered translation and interpretation services are emerging as powerful tools to address language barriers in medical settings, promising to improve access to healthcare while maintaining quality of communication.
The U.S. healthcare system serves one of the most culturally diverse populations in the world. According to KFF, over [42% of patients now identify as racial or ethnic minorities](https://www.kff.org/key-data-on-health-and-health-care-by-race-and-ethnicity/?entry=racial-diversity-within-the-u-s-today-total-population-by-race-and-ethnicity).
## **Capabilities of AI**
The implementation of AI in medical translation has demonstrated several significant capabilities that are transforming healthcare communication. AI systems excel at streamlining workflows by providing immediate, 24/7 translation services for both documents and real-time interpretation between patients and providers. This immediate availability significantly reduces waiting times and improves healthcare delivery efficiency.
From a financial perspective, AI translation services offer substantial cost savings, making professional translation services accessible to a broader range of healthcare institutions. This democratization of language services enables smaller facilities to provide quality care to diverse patient populations.
Let’s take Akron children’s hospital for [example](https://www.modernhealthcare.com/safety-quality/medical-interpreters-demand-covid-19-pandemic-recruiting-training-amn). They utilize 60,000 minutes of human interpretation every month, with the need of 250 different languages, in 2022. Assuming each minute costs $1 means that their annual spend is $720K. If we assume that AI systems usually cut around 60% of the cost - the savings could get to $432K every year.
One of AI's most notable strengths lies in its consistency. Unlike human interpreters, who may vary in their professional expertise and approach, AI models maintain uniform quality across translations. This consistency is particularly valuable in medical settings where accuracy and standardization are crucial.
AI translation systems also create a more intimate healthcare environment by enabling direct communication between patients and providers without the physical presence of a third-party interpreter. This privacy-focused approach can enhance patient comfort during sensitive medical discussions.
In one [study](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11729812/) (from December 2024 “Artificial intelligence in clinical settings: a systematic review of its role in language translation and interpretation) - patients were “generally positive” with AI translation, “found that communicating through machine translation was easy” and will be “willing to use the application again (84-96.6%).
Also, some felt translation into their native language provided comfort and respect
In terms of accuracy, particularly for widely-used languages, top AI language models have demonstrated high levels of precision in medical translation across various specialties. This reliability is essential for maintaining quality care standards.
In one [study](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/nobarrier-ai-outperforms-traditional-medical-interpreters-in-first-scientific-study), by No Barrier, AI interpreting outperformed remote phone interpreters by 25% in accuracy. Research, from 2024, tested 91 utterances for both directions of English and Spanish, and the overall accuracy was evaluated blindly by two professional medical interpreters.
.jpg)
## **Limitations of AI**
Despite its capabilities, AI in medical translation faces several important limitations. A significant challenge exists in handling less common languages, where AI accuracy may not match that of major languages due to limited training data and resources. This "long tail" language challenge affects healthcare institutions serving diverse linguistic communities.
For example English to Hadza is a rare pair, where accuracy of translation is very low, making it unusable. Another example of English to Taa (southern african language spoken in Botswana). Those languages could be served solely by human translators.
Regulatory compliance, particularly regarding HIPAA and security standards, presents another crucial limitation. Healthcare providers must ensure that any AI translation service adheres to the strictest security standards and undergoes regular audits to maintain patient privacy and data protection.
Perhaps most significantly, AI systems currently lack the culture & emotional intelligence and empathy that human interpreters provide. Unlike human interpreters who can adjust their tone, pace, and emotional delivery based on the situation, AI systems have limited ability to convey empathy or adapt to emotionally sensitive circumstances - which human interpreter do (see “Agents of Empathy” [here](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7197396/)) .
## **Risks in AI Translation**
The implementation of AI translation in healthcare settings requires careful consideration of system integration, data privacy, and backup procedures. Healthcare providers should develop comprehensive protocols to ensure reliable service delivery.
Ways to mitigate:
1. Check vendor compliance and security measurements - and that it adheres to HIPAA, and works on the highest security standards - for example, encryption, firewalls and access control.
2. PHI processing and persistent - make sure that data is secured and safe, and if possible no-low retention of sensitive data at all.
3. Accuracy - make sure the vendor can present to the provider/user if there might be errors in the translation workflow - either automatic notification or manual notification.
4. Data repurpose - make sure PHI is not repurposed for training and other not-related purposes.
## **Advantages of AI Interpretation**
AI interpretation offers significant advantages in healthcare settings. The technology provides immediate availability across all time zones and reduces waiting times for translation services. This accessibility is particularly valuable for rural and remote healthcare facilities that may have limited access to human interpreters.
## **Future Trends in AI**
The field of AI medical translation continues to evolve, with ongoing improvements in natural language processing, multi language large language models, and efforts to enhance emotional intelligence capabilities. Integration with telemedicine platforms and expanding multilingual capabilities represent key areas of development.
## **Recommendations**
Healthcare institutions considering AI translation implementation should adopt a phased approach that combines AI and human interpreters. This hybrid model allows organizations to leverage AI's efficiency while maintaining access to human interpreters for situations requiring emotional sensitivity or handling rare languages.
Concrete steps to take:
1. Assess the top 10 languages in your institution. This information might be in your EHR, or in the administrator dashboard of your language service providers.
2. Find established AI medical interpreter vendors - ensure that at least 80% of your languages can be covered by the AI vendor, to make sure this new workflow could be part of providers’ daily workflow and not something they will forget. Make sure the vendor is specialized in medical terminology. Also - make sure the application is simple to use and be adopted by providers.
3. Assign a project manager to deploy AI medical interpretation across organizations.
4. Start by implementing AI in one site and one department, with appropriate onboarding, training - and collect feedback for learning. The learning curve should be fast and the provider should know how to operate the application after 3-4 encounters.
5. Key KPIs to measure - providers’ ease of use and patients’ satisfaction (aim for 90% and up), cost per encounter, providers’ adoption rate of AI.
6. Expand according to the progress to other departments and sites.
## **Conclusion**
AI in medical translation represents a transformative technology that is revolutionizing healthcare communication. With its ability to provide immediate, consistent, and cost-effective translation services, AI is making quality healthcare more accessible to diverse patient populations. While certain challenges exist, particularly in rare languages and emotional communication, the rapid advancement of AI technology continues to address these limitations. Healthcare institutions that embrace AI translation solutions position themselves at the forefront of modern healthcare delivery, offering their patients enhanced access to care while maintaining high standards of communication. The future of medical translation lies in the thoughtful integration of AI technologies, promising even greater improvements in healthcare accessibility and patient outcomes.
## You’d also be interested in…
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## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
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## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
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## Platform
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## Resource
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- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
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## Compliance
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## Privacy Policy Overview
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
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[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Hipaa](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
# NoBarrier AI Privacy Policy
Last Time Updated: 26/02/2024
We, at No Barrier AI, Inc. ("No Barrier AI", "we", "us", or "our") prepared this privacy policy (hereafter referred to as "this Privacy Policy") to explain to you how we collect and process your personal information. This Privacy Policy applies to how No Barrier AI manages and uses your personal information gathered through our website at [https://www.nobarrier.ai](https://www.nobarrier.ai/) (the “Website”), our cloud-based software service (the ”Platform”) which can be accessed via our Website, and when you connect with us in any other manner.
## i. Explaining the Users and Agreeing to Terms
This Privacy Policy is relevant to visitors to the Website ("Visitors"), customers who have registered to use the Platform ("Customers"), and the employees and contractors of the customer authorized by the customer to gain access and use the Platform ("Authorized Users"). Any capitalized terms not explained in this Privacy Policy will have the meaning as given in our Platform and Website Terms of Use.
## ii. The Information We Gather
No Barrier AI collects and process the following categories of personal information:
### 1\. Getting in Touch with Us.
When you reach out to us via our Website, email, mail, or phone, or when you opt in to get more information about our Website and Platform, you will send us your personal information, including: your full name, email address, phone number, company name, job title, and any other details relating to why you are contacting us. We refer to these as "Contact Details". We use your Contact Details to provide the Website and the Platform or information you requested and to let you know about our current and future services.
### 2\. Creating an Account with No Barrier AI.
To use our Platform, you shall set up an account. When creating your account on our Platform, we will ask for your full name, user details (email address and password), company details, payment details. We collectively call this "Account Details". We use these Account Details to manage your account and to ensure that you are who you say you are.
### 3\. Data You Provide.
In the process of using the Platform, you give us some personal information. Apart from any personal information included in this personal information, we utilize this personal information according to the terms of use of our Platform. For the avoidance of doubt, No Barrier AI is processing the Customer Information on behalf of the applicable Customer and Authorized Users. Therefore, the Customer and its Authorized Users are responsible party for the security, integrity and authorized usage of Customer Information in the context of the Platform and also for obtaining consents, permissions and providing any required data subject rights and fair processing notices required for the collection and usage of such Customer Information.
No Barrier AI has a contractual relationship with its Customers. In the context of No Barrier AI’s services, the Customer can upload, add, input and/or receive to the Platform (at the Customer’s (and its Authorized Users) sole discretion) information, including personal information (the “Customer Information”). Customer Information is not regulated by this Privacy Policy, and this paragraph is provided only for transparency purposes. If you have any questions related to the Customer Information, please contact the Customer and/or Authorized Users directly.
### 4\. Personal information we gather from your online activity automatically.
When you use our Website and Platform, we utilize cookies, pixels, web beacons, and similar tools (the "Tracking Technologies") to gather standard technical information and other data automatically. This information includes usage details (like which profiles you view, the services you use, how often and how long you use our Website and Platform, and your interactions with our content), location details, device specifications (such as device type, operating system, browser type, screen resolution, IP address and other technical information), and logs of your communication data.
These Tracking Technologies also help us identify potentially harmful software or activities that could disrupt our Website and Platform's availability. Various third parties such as advertising companies, analytics networks, and providers may also use these Tracking Technologies to observe and document your online activities across different websites, apps, and devices.
The collected personal information, which could contain personal information, may not directly identify you but can be maintained, combined, or associated with personal information collected through other means or received from third parties, either by us or third parties. We use this information to enhance our Website and Platform's performance and functionality, customize your experience, understand your usage, maintain a persistent session, and improve and further develop the Website and Platform. This personal information is also used to serve target advertising and offer customized experiences across different sites, apps, and services.
### 5\. Personal information Collected from External Analytics Services. Advertising services.
1. We utilize analytics services, such as Google Analytics, to understand how you engage with "No Barrier AI". These services provide reports about user activity, which include details such as IP addresses, your Internet Service Provider, the type of browser, operating system and language you use, pages that you entered and left, timestamps, time spent on specific pages, the sections of "No Barrier AI" you visit, the number of clicks made on our site, search phrases, and other related usage data. More information about these services and how to opt out can be found on their respective websites:
2. Google Analytics: [https://www.google.com/analytics](https://www.google.com/analytics)
3. LogRocket: [https://logrocket.com/](https://logrocket.com/)
4. Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/business/tools/meta-pixel](https://www.facebook.com/business/tools/meta-pixel)
5. Through our Website, we allow third party advertising partners to set technologies and other tracking tools to collect information regarding your activities and your device (e.g., your IP address, website identifiers, page(s) visited, location, time of day). We also combine and share such information and other information (such as demographic information and past purchase history) with third party advertising partners. These advertising partners will use this information (and similar information collected from other websites) for purposes of delivering targeted advertisements to you when you visit third party websites within their networks. This practice is commonly referred to as “interest-based advertising” or “online behavioral advertising. We allow access to other data collected by the services to share information that may be useful, relevant, valuable or otherwise of interest to you. If you prefer not to share your Personal information with third party advertising partners, you may let us know.
## iii. How No Barrier AI Handles Your Personal Information
We use your personal information as described below:
1. **To provide you with the Platform.** We will use the information, including, without limitation, for the following purposes: (i) allow you to create an account; (ii) to provide you the Platform and to process your requests; (iii) communicate with you about your use of the Platform and for support purposes; (iv) fulfill any instruction and/or request made by you in the context of the Platform; (v) send you push notifications and/or emails and notifications regarding your account or certain features of the Platform, including, updates pertaining to your subscription, and related to the services we provide you with; (vi) to personalize your experience with our Platform; (vii) to allow you to create more users and administrate your users; (viii) to generally administer and improve the Platform; and (viii) to receive your feedback and reviews of our Platform.
2. **To allow you to make use of our Website.** We will use your information to allow you to make use of our Website, including, (i) if you request a demo, we will use your personal information to process and answer your request for a demo; (ii) to answer your questions and to allow you to communicate with us; (iii) to analyze your use of our Website and to improve our Website; and (iv) to customize your experience.
3. **For Administrative Purposes.** We may use your information (i) to respond to your questions, comments, and other requests for customer support, or information, including information about potential or future services; (ii) to provide you with the we Platform and Website; (iii) for internal quality control purposes; (iv) to establish a business relationship; and (v) to generally administer our Platform and Website.
4. **To Market our Website and Platform.** We may use information to market our Platform and Website. Such use includes (i) notifying you about offers and services that may be of interest to you; (ii) tailoring content, advertisements, and offers for you, including, targeting and re-targeting practices; (iii) conducting market research; (iv) developing and marketing new products and services, and to measure interest in our services; (v) other purposes disclosed at the time you provide information; and (vi) as you otherwise consent.
5. **Security purposes.** Some of the abovementioned information will be used for detecting, taking steps to prevent and prosecuting fraud or other illegal activity; to identify and repair errors; to conduct audits; and for security purposes. Information may also be used to comply with applicable laws, with investigations performed by the relevant authorities, law enforcement purposes, and/or to exercise or defend legal claims. To audit our internal processes for compliance with legal and contractual obligations or our internal policies.
6. **De-identified and Aggregated Information Use.** In certain cases, we may or will anonymize or de-identify your Information and further use it for internal and external purposes, including, without limitation, to analyze and improve our services (including through the use of artificial intelligence) and for research purposes. We may use this anonymous or de-identified information and/or disclose it to third parties without restrictions (for example, in order to improve our services and enhance your experience with them and/or to develop new product features and improve existing offerings).
7. **Tracking Technologies.** We use Tracking Technologies to automatically collect information through the Website and Platform. We use Tracking Technologies that are essentially small data files placed on your device that allow us to record certain pieces of information whenever you visit or interact with the Website and Platform.
## iv. Third Parties With Whom We Share Personal Information
1. With our business partners with whom we jointly offer products or services. We may also share personal information with our affiliated companies.
2. To specialist third-party contractors who assist us in our business operations and with our Website and Platform. This aid may be technical support, IT and cloud hosting, processing payments and financing, reporting transactions, managing customer relationships, marketing via email, promotional services, analyzing services, distributing and shipping, verifying names and addresses, fulfilling orders, distributing emails, carrying out market research, detecting and preventing fraud, managing promotions, and providing administrative services among others;
3. To the extent necessary, with regulators, courts or competent authorities, to comply with applicable laws, regulations and rules (including, without limitation, federal, state or local laws), and requests of law enforcement, regulatory and other governmental agencies or if required to do so by court order;
4. If, in the future, we sell or transfer, or we consider selling or transferring, some or all of our business, shares or assets to a third party, we will disclose your personal information to such third party (whether actual or potential) in connection with the foregoing events;
5. In the event that we are acquired by, or merged with, a third party entity, or in the event of bankruptcy or a comparable event, we reserve the right to transfer, disclose or assign your personal information in connection with the foregoing events, including, in connection with, or during negotiations of, any merger, sale of company assets, consolidation or restructuring, financing, or acquisition of all or a portion of our business by or to another company; and/or
6. Where you have provided your consent to us sharing or transferring your personal information (e.g., where you provide us with marketing consents or opt-in to optional additional services or functionality).
7. If you want to receive the list of the current recipients of your personal information, please make your request by contacting us to [info@nobarrier.ai.](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
## v. Changing and Managing Your Information and Message Preferences
1. Changing Your Information: If the details that we have about you need to be changed, you can access, correct, update, or erase them by reaching out to us, as detailed in Section XIV of this Privacy Policy. You can manage some of your own personal information in your account on our Platform. We will use commercially reasonable efforts to do everything we realistically can to act on such requests promptly. However, please understand it's not always feasible to entirely delete or modify information in our records. To protect your privacy, we may take steps to verify your identity before fulfilling your request. Subject to legal and other permissible considerations, we will make every reasonable effort to honor your request promptly in accordance with applicable law or inform you if we require further information in order to fulfil your request. When processing your request, we may ask you for additional information to confirm or verify your identity and for security purposes, before processing and/or honoring your request. We reserve the right to charge a fee where permitted by law, for instance if your request is manifestly unfounded or excessive. In the event that your request would adversely affect the rights and freedoms of others (for example, would impact the duty of confidentiality we owe to others) or if we are legally entitled to deal with your request in a different way than initial requested, we will address your request to the maximum extent possible, all in accordance with applicable law.
2. Furthermore, we will keep and utilize your details (or copies thereof) as required to stick to our legal and regulatory responsibilities, solve disagreements, and uphold our agreements.
3. Managing Messages: If you rather not receive marketing and non-transactional messages from us, there's a way to stop them. Simply click on the “unsubscribe” link that you will find at the bottom of any of our marketing emails. Please know, though, that you cannot opt out of getting emails about transactions.
4. Cookies: If you want to block or delete cookies, most web browsers will let you. Just use the instructions in your browser's settings. Many browsers automatically accept cookies unless you ask them not to. Please note that if you choose to block cookies or other tracking technologies, the website and our platform may not work as expected. For more about cookies, including seeing what cookies are on your browser and how to manage and delete them, visit www.allaboutcookies.org.
5. You will need to adjust these settings on all your devices if you do not want cookies. We cannot promise that the organizations we work with will take part in the cookie opt-out.
## **vi. How We Safeguard Your Information. How Do We Retain And Delete Personal Information.**
1. At No Barrier AI, we utilize readily available, industry-standard security methods to make sure your information is handled safely and is shielded from loss, misuse, or unauthorized exposure, change, or destruction. We do this by considering the potential risks involved in processing such personal information, following all applicable laws and guidelines. However, it's essential to note that complete internet security cannot be guaranteed. While we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot promise or ensure the security of any information you share with us. The security of information depends in part on the security of the computer, device or network you use to communicate with us and the security you use to protect your user IDs and passwords, please make sure to take appropriate measures to protect this information. We are not responsible for any unintentional sharing of your information.
2. Your personal information will be stored until we delete our records, and we proactively delete it, or if you send a valid deletion request. Please note that in some circumstances we may store your personal information for longer periods of time, for example (i) where we are required to do so in accordance with legal, regulatory, tax or accounting requirements, or (ii) for us to have an accurate record of your dealings with us in the event of any complaints or challenges, and/or (iii) if we reasonably believe there is a prospect of litigation relating to your information or dealings.
## vii. Links to Other Websites
Our Website and Platform include links to websites owned by third parties (" **Other Websites**"). "No Barrier AI" does not have any influence over the privacy procedures or the content of these Other Websites. As a result, we cannot be held accountable for the content or the privacy policies of those Other Websites. It is advised that you review the privacy policy and terms of use of any Other Websites when you decide to browse and access them.
## viii. Minimal Age
At No Barrier AI, we are committed to protecting the privacy of children. As such, we do not deliberately gather personal information from anyone under the age of 18 via our Website and our Platform. If you are younger than 18, we kindly ask you not to provide us with personal information. We advocate for parents and legal guardians to oversee their kid's internet use and aid in upholding our Privacy Policy. This can be done by teaching their children not to share personal information on our Website or Platform without their consent. If you suspect a child under 18 might have shared personal information with us, please get in touch with us. We will make every effort to remove this information from our databases.
## ix. Important Information for our Users and Customers.
Our Website and Platform are intended to be used by US Users and Customers.
## x. About "Do Not Track"
Some internet browsers provide a feature called "Do Not Track", which is supposed to limit this kind of activity. However, there's no set of defined rules for commercial websites to follow this feature. As of now, we at No Barrier AI do not look into, acknowledge or respect any requests to opt-out or "Do Not Track" instructions. This includes settings or signals coming from your web browser's general "Do Not Track”.
## xi. Information for California Residents
Under the guidelines of Section 1798.83 of the California Civil Code, if you live in California, you have a right to request some specific details about how your personal information is handled. Companies you have an ongoing business relationship with (and that do not fall under certain exceptions) may have shared your personal information with third parties for direct marketing purposes over the previous year. This might include the names and addresses of these third parties, as well as examples of the kind of services or products they promote. If you wish to exercise this right and request this information under Section 1798.83, feel free to get in touch with us via this email: [info@nobarrier.ai.](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
## xii. Information for Nevada Residents
If you live in Nevada, you have the right to ask us not to sell certain personal information to third parties. To do this, you need to send us a message at [info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai), with the subject "Nevada Do Not Sell Request". Please remember to include your name and the email address linked to your account. We want you to know that currently, we don't technically sell your personal information, as understood by Nevada law under Chapter 603A of the Nevada Revised Statutes.
## xiii. Updates to This Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy stands valid from the specified date at the top. At "No Barrier AI", we may occasionally update this Privacy Policy, and we may not always be able to notify you. All updates will be reflected on our Website and Platform. If you continue to visit our Website or use our Platform after we made updates, you are automatically considered to have accepted these changes. It's important that you regularly revisit this Privacy Policy, to stay informed about any changes. If we implement material changes in the way we use your information, in a manner that is different from that stated at the time of collection, we will notify you by posting a notice on our Website, Platform or by other means and take any additional steps as required by applicable law.
## xiv. Get In Touch
If you have any questions or concerns about our Privacy Policy, or need to report a privacy issue, we are here to help. Please email us at: [info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
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## NoBarrier Terms of Service
Announcement
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[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Hipaa](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
# NoBarrier AI Terms of Service
Updated: 15/10/2025
These Platform Terms of Use (“Terms of Use”) form the legal agreement between you and NoBarrier Inc. (“NoBarrier,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). These Terms of Use dictate the specifics of how you may engage with and leverage our proprietary AI Medical Interpreter platform, delivered to you as a web application and/or mobile application (the “Platform”), should one be available.
PLEASE REVIEW THESE TERMS OF USE THOROUGHLY. BY ACCESSING AND/OR UTILIZING THE PLATFORM, YOU DECLARE THAT YOU HAVE PURVIEWED, COMPREHENDED, AND ACCEPT TO BE LEGALLY BOUND BY THESE TERMS OF USE, AS WELL AS THE TERMS AND STIPULATIONS OF OUR PRIVACY POLICY (THE “PRIVACY POLICY”). THE PRIVACY POLICY IS HEREBY BUILT INTO THESE TERMS OF USE BY REFERENCE AND MADE A CONSTITUENT HEREOF (COLLECTIVELY, THE “AGREEMENT”). IF YOU CANNOT AGREE OR DISPUTE ANY OF THE TERMS IN THIS AGREEMENT, PLEASE ABSTAIN FROM UTILIZING THE PLATFORM.
If you accept or affirm the Agreement on behalf of a corporation or any form of legal body, you hereby signify and validate that you are authorized to commit the said entity to the Agreement. In these cases, the "you" and "your" here will be intended and applicable to the company or legal entity you represent.
To the maximum extent permitted by law, we reserve the right to: (i) modify this Agreement at any time by sending you an in-Platform notification and/or publishing the revised Agreement on the Platform or by other means. Such a change will be effective ten (10) days following the foregoing notification thereof, and your continued use of the Platform thereafter means that you accept those changes, (ii) change any information, specifications, features or functions of the Platform, and/or (iii) suspend or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, any or all of the Platform; in each case with or without prior notice and without any liability to you or any third party. THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS TITLED “BINDING ARBITRATION” AND “CLASS ACTION WAIVER” INCLUDE A BINDING ARBITRATION AGREEMENT AND CLASS ACTION WAIVER. THESE INCLUDE IMPORTANT LEGAL STIPULATIONS. PLEASE REVIEW THEM CAREFULLY.
## **1\. RIGHT TO ACCESS AND USE THE PLATFORM.**
1. Subject to your compliance with the terms and obligations (including payment obligations) of this Agreement, NoBarrier grants you a revocable, limited, non-transferable, non-exclusive, and non-sublicensable, right throughout the Term of this Agreement, to access and employ the AI Medical Interpreter platform strictly for your internal business purposes.
2. You are not permitted to (nor should you authorize, encourage, or allow any third-party to): (i) reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, decrypt, or attempt to derive the source code of, the Platform, or in any way attempt to discover the interface protocols or source code of the Platform; (ii) alter, translate, or modify the Platform, or any component or portion of it; (iii) replicate the Platform or any part or component thereof; (iv) distribute, copy, rent, lease, resell, or sublicense, assign, transmit, sell or otherwise transfer the Platform or any component thereof or any of our rights therein or make available the service or the Platform to any third party (such as offering it as part of a time-sharing, outsourcing or service bureau environment) or to make a derivative work of the services and the Platform, or use it to develop any service or product that is the same as (or substantially similar to) it; (v) delete or modify any proprietary marks or restrictive legends placed on the Platform; (vi) use the Platform or any of its parts in violation of applicable law, for creating a competitive product or service, or for any unauthorized purpose, including, as described in this Agreement; (vii) upload, post or introduce any harmful code, Trojan horse, “back door”, or virus to the Platform; (viii) copy (except for back-up purposes), modify, improve, or create derivative works of the Platform or any part thereof; (ix) operate the Platform for a third party's benefit; or (x) circumvent, disable or otherwise interfere with security-related features of the Platform or features that prevent or restrict use or copying of any content or that enforce limitations on use of the Platform ; (xi) remove, alter or obscure any proprietary notice or identification, including, without limitation, copyright, trademark, patent or other notices, contained in or displayed on or via the Platform; (xii) use NoBarrier name, logo or trademarks without our prior written consent; (xii) use the Platform to violate any applicable laws, rules or regulations, or for any unlawful, harmful, irresponsible, or inappropriate purpose, or in any manner that breaches this Agreement; (xiv) violate or abuse password protections governing access to the Platform or any of the Platform’s security measures; (xv) interfere or attempt to interfere with the integrity or proper working of the Platform, including, without limitation, shall not use any automated or programmatic method to extract data or output from the Platform, including, without limitation, scraping, web harvesting, or web-data extraction (except as permitted in this Agreement), (xvi) make the Platform available over a network where it could be used by multiple devices owned or operated by different people at the same time; (xvii) upload Your Information neither use the Platform in a way that infringes, misappropriates or violates any person's or third party's rights and/or applicable law and regulations; (xvii) use Results to develop models or artificial intelligence algorithms that compete with NoBarrier, (xix) represent the Results were human-generated when it is not; (xx) copy, "frame" or "mirror" the services and/or the Platform and/or the model, and/or (xxi) use the Platform other than as permitted herein. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, you shall at all times comply with all applicable laws and not perform these terms of this Agreement and/or use the Platform, Your Information and the Results in violation of third-party rights. In addition, you shall not use the Platform and/or any Results for the purpose of (i) engaging in illegal activities; (ii) generating defamatory, libelous, harassing, abusive, or hateful content; (iii) infringing on intellectual property; (iv) generating malware or spam; (v) impersonating others; and/or (vi) promoting harmful activities; (vii) engaging in any activity that has a that has high risk of physical or economic harm.
3. If you breach this Section, NoBarrier reserves the right to instantly prohibit your access to the Platform, or any part thereof, without offering any advance notice. NoBarrier holds the right to alter the availability of any content, information, function, or feature concerning the Platform at any given point, without any liability or requirement to notify you.
## 2\. AUTHORIZED USERS.
You and your employees and contractors who operate and employ the Platform are herein referred to as " **Authorized Users**". Each Authorized User must establish an account by providing his/her email address and generating a password (collectively referred to as " **Login Credentials**"). Login Credentials must not be shared among Authorized Users or by any Authorized User with a third party. It is mandatory to keep the Login Credentials confidential. You are solely responsible for the activity that occurs in your account, and you must keep your account password secure. You hereby agree to promptly inform us of any unsanctioned use or suspected unauthorized usage of any Login Credentials. You are solely accountable for all actions, as well as use or misuse of the Platform, linked to any Authorized User's Login Credentials. You also have the responsibility to ensure that your Authorized Users agree and comply with this
Agreement. You will immediately inform us of any urgency to deactivate or modify any Login Credentials. NoBarrier has the right to terminate or disable any account and/or access to the Platform immediately to protect the Platform or services; if you create a business or other risk or legal exposure for us, violate this Agreement, or infringe other people’s Intellectual Property Rights; if we suspect misuse by you of Platform or our services; and/or where we are otherwise permitted or required to do so by law. If your account is inactive (i.e., not used or logged-into) for a period of time, we may notify you via the Platform or our services that you are not actively using the Platform to confirm whether you want to continue to have the right to use the Platform. If we take action to disable or terminate your account, we will notify you where appropriate. If you believe your account has been terminated in error, or you want to disable or permanently delete your account, please consult us at: [info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai). You may terminate your Account at any time by sending an email to [info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai).
## 3\. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS.
1. The Platform encompasses various elements like software, text, information, documents, descriptions, products, software, graphics, images, audio recordings, audiovisual works, photos, sounds, videos, interactive features, and services that we provide you, and other material sourced from or facilitated by NoBarrier (the "Materials") and the trademarks, service marks and logos contained therein ("Trademarks", and together with the Materials, the "Content"), is the property of NoBarrier and/or its licensors and may be protected by applicable copyright or other intellectual property laws and treaties. NoBarrier and NoBarrier logo are Trademarks of NoBarrier and its affiliates. All other Trademarks used on the Platform are the Trademarks of their respective owners. The Content on the Platform is provided to you “as is” and “as available” for your personal use only and may not be used, copied, distributed, transmitted, broadcast, displayed, sold, licensed, de-compiled, or otherwise exploited for any other purposes whatsoever without our prior written consent. If you download or print a copy of the content you must retain all copyright and other proprietary notices contained therein. The Platform is licensed and not sold to you under this Agreement, and you acknowledge that NoBarrier and its licensors retain all title, ownership rights and Intellectual Property Rights (defined below) in and to the Platform (and its related software). We reserve all rights not expressly granted herein to the Platform. "Intellectual Property Rights" means any and all rights in and to any and all trade secrets, patents, copyrights, service marks, trademarks, know-how, or similar intellectual property rights, as well as any and all moral rights, rights of privacy, publicity and similar rights of any type under the laws or regulations of any governmental, regulatory, or judicial authority, whether foreign or domestic.
2. We always appreciate feedback or other suggestions, but please note that will own them and we may use them without any restrictions or obligation to compensate you for them and are under no obligation to keep them confidential.
3. If any aspect of this Agreement is violated, user's authority to access and/or utilize the Content and the Platform is instantaneously terminated, and any duplications of the Content made must be destroyed immediately.
## 4\. YOUR INFORMATION; USER STATISTICS; ANONYMIZED DATA; SUMMARY DATA; AND RESULTS.
1. In this Agreement, "Your Information" stands for any data or information submitted by you or your Authorized Users to the Platform, including, but not limited to, Patient Records (as detailed below) and personal information of Authorized Users. "Patient Records" include: (i) audio, recordings, transcripts, translations and/or video documenting sessions between you (or your Authorized Users) and the patient (or patient’s parents, kin, or friends, if involved in the sessions) that are uploaded to our Platform, and (ii) information and data accumulated during these sessions (which could potentially include personal information and/or PHI). "Protected Health Information" or "PHI" refers to the meaning given under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or any relevant updates (“HIPAA”). "User Statistics" refers to anonymous analytical data that NoBarrier collects concerning your and your Authorized Users’ use and performance of the Platform; details such as the frequency and extent of Platform usage, accessed sections, and other performance and usage data. "Results" implies Content that the Platform produces, among it - transcription, interpretation, speech generated by processing Your Information via the Platform, available to you and your Authorized Users through the Platform.
2. You are solely responsible and liable for Your Information, as well as for the Results. As between the parties and to the extent permitted under applicable law, you retain ownership rights in and to Your Information, and own the Results. We hereby assign to you all our rights, title and interest, where relevant, in and to the Results. To the maximum extent permitted by law, we shall have no liability to you with respect to Your Information and/or the Results, including, without limitation, liability with respect to: (i) any information (including your confidential information) contained in or apparent from Your Information and/or the Results; and/or (ii) any copy right infringement claim or another infringement claim by a third party in relation to or in connection with Your Information and/or the Results. You warrant, represent and covenant that: (i) you own or have a valid and enforceable license and all the necessary rights to use, submit or transmit all Your Information and use the Platform, including, without limitation, you shall comply at all times with any and all applicable laws and regulations, including, without limitation, HIPAA, and you obtained any and all permissions, authorizations and/or informed consents from the patients and/or the relevant data subjects before sharing Your Information with us in the context of the Platform. It is hereby understood that we are processing Your Information on your behalf and subject to your instructions; (ii) that Your Information or the Results does not infringe, misappropriate or violate or will infringe, misappropriate or violate, the rights (including, without limitation, any copyrights or other Intellectual Property Rights) of any person or entity or any applicable law, rule or regulation of any government authority of competent jurisdiction; (iii) you shall not disseminate or distribute Your Information or the Results in breach of any applicable law or third party's Intellectual Property Rights or other rights.
3. You hereby grant to NoBarrier a worldwide, non-exclusive, fully paid-up, royalty-free, sub-licensable (through multiple tiers, such as to NoBarrier's vendors and service providers, as well as to third party service providers engaged by NoBarrier in the provision of the Platform), right and license to utilize, copy, process, create derivative works of, modify, adapt, store, alter, perform, showcase and disseminate Your Information: (i) during this Agreement, for the purpose of performing under this Agreement (such as providing, administering, and maintaining the Platform); and (ii) on a perpetual basis, and provided Your Information is anonymized, de-identified or pseudonymized, for the purpose of generally enhancing the Platform and our products and services (such as developing new features and functionalities).
4. Our Privacy Policy Is available on our website. To the extent that you need to execute a business associate agreement (“BAA”) please request it to us at [info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai). You are solely accountable for the accuracy, quality, and legality of Your Information. In the scenario of conflicts between this Agreement and BAA, BAA dominantly applies in relation to PHI processing. By providing Your Information, you legally consent to the terms and conditions of the BAA, forming part of this Agreement.
5. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, both we and our third-party service providers may, for operating, maintaining, managing, and enhancing our product and services including the use of the Platform, use Your Information, and any User Statistics we gather, as anonymous and aggregated data ("Summary Data"). Summary Data does not recognize you or your patient. To the maximum extent permitted by law, you hereby agree to our collection, use, dissemination, sale, transfer, and exploitation of such Summary Data.
## 5\. **RETENTION OF YOUR INFORMATION.**
We retain data only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected or to comply with applicable law. When identifiable data is no longer required, we delete or anonymize it. Any information that may contain personal or health identifiers is deleted or anonymized within seven (7) days of collection.
We may retain anonymized or aggregated data for lawful business purposes, including analytics, improving system performance and maintaining the security and reliability of the Platform. Such anonymized data contains no personal or health identifiers and cannot be traced back to any individual.
You acknowledge that the Platform is not intended to operate as an archive or medical-records storage service. You are solely responsible for maintaining copies of any information you must retain for your own business or regulatory compliance purposes, including any record-retention requirements under HIPAA or other applicable healthcare laws.
## 6\. PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS.
In consideration for access and usage of the Platform, you may be required to make a payment for the applicable subscription plan chosen during the registration process within a timeframe of thirty (30) days upon receipt of the invoice. NoBarrier may offer a free of charge tier for your use of the Platform (which may have certain limitations, including, without limitation, time-usage limitation, usage limitation, some features may not be available). NoBarrier reserves the right to stop offering the free tier and to start charging a fee for certain access or usage of the Platform. You will not be charged for any such access or use of the Platform unless you first agree to such charges, but please be aware that any failure to pay applicable charges may result in you not having access to some or all of the Platform. NoBarrier retains the right to revise and alter the payment structure, providing you with prior notice (at least 30 days before the renewal term). Adjusted prices for your subscription plan shall be enforced at the commencement of your subsequent service year. We further uphold the right to introduce new or augment existing fees, any time provided you are notified beforehand. By purchasing a subscription, you agree and understand that we process payments through third-party payment processor selected by us. NoBarrier reserves the right to add or change the third-party payment processors at any time at its sole discretion.
## 7\. GUIDELINES FOR PLATFORM USAGE.
Upon accessing and/or engaging with the Platform, you shall abide by the following terms:
01. Use of the Platform in a vehicle. If you are using the Platform in a vehicle, you agree: (i) to comply with all applicable traffic laws; and (ii) if you are the driver, not to use the Platform unless your vehicle is stationary and legally parked. While you are using our Platform, please be aware of your surroundings, and play and communicate safely;
02. You agree that your use of the Platform is at your own risk, and that you will not use the Platform to violate any applicable law, regulation, policies, or instructions as outlined in this Agreement and you will not encourage or enable any other individual to do so;
03. NoBarrier does not intend to provide a medical Platform (and the Results) or health devices or provide medical or health advice. The Platform (and the Results) are not intended to be used by themselves for any clinical decision-making or other clinical use. You are responsible for liability that may arise in connection with any such uses. You shall offer the patients the option of using this Platform or another method;
04. The Platform is not intended to generate any automatic decision. NoBarrier shall not engage in any automatic decision-making (including, without limitation, profiling), or rely upon Results in isolation to make a decision, relating to any person, patient or decision, which has an effect on that person (including, health / medical effect). You acknowledge and agree that artificial intelligence and machine learning are rapidly evolving fields, and that, given the probabilistic nature of artificial intelligence and machine learning, use of the Platform may in some situations result in incorrect Results and/or the Results may not be unique across users and the Platform may generate the same or similar Results for different users of the Platform. You are solely responsible and liable for evaluating and verifying (including, without limitation, by human review) the Results as being suitable and appropriate for your use.
05. The Platform shall not be used for any illegal activities or any other activities that contravene legal statutes;
06. Market research intended for rival companies should not be carried out through access or usage of the Platform;
07. The uploading, posting or transmitting of Your Information on the Platform that infringes any copyright, trademark, publicity right, proprietary rights or any other rights (including, privacy rights) owned by another person or entity is forbidden. This also includes Your Information that promotes any Third-Party Website, service or product, or is defamatory, indecent, obscene, sexually explicit, invades other’s privacy, promotes violence, or constitutes hate speech. Sharing sensitive information about another person such as e-mail address, postal address, phone number, credit card information or any similar details is strictly prohibited;
08. Misrepresenting oneself by assuming false identities or affiliations with other entities is strictly prohibited;
09. Disassembling, deconstructing, or reverse engineering any software or procedures accessible through the Platform is not permissible;
10. Any activities that interfere or block safety features on the Platform are prohibited;
11. Skirting, removing, altering, degrading or defeating any of the Platform's protective measures is not allowed;
12. The usage of automated tools for data extraction or download from the Platform is forbidden;
13. Any action imposing (at our sole discretion) an unreasonable or disproportionately large load on the technical infrastructure is prohibited;
14. Interference or interruption of the Platform operations using any virus, device, software, or routine, or attempting to gain unauthorized access to any data, files, or passwords associated with the Platform through any means are prohibited;
15. NoBarrier retains absolute discretion to deny access to the Platform, or any part of it, without any prior notice.
## 8\. USAGE AGE LIMITATIONS.
The operation of the NoBarrier Platform is strictly limited to individuals who are 18 years old or above. If your age falls below this legal age threshold, we respectfully request you to refrain from accessing, operating and/or using the Platform. By accessing, operating or otherwise using the Platform, you confirm that you have attained the age of 18 or above, thus making a binding warranty of your age.
## **9\. DISCLAIMERS AND LIMITS ON LIABILITY.**
1. THE PLATFORM AND/OR THE RESULTS ARE PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, AND THOSE ARISING BY STATUTE OR FROM A COURSE OF DEALING OR USAGE OF TRADE. NOBARRIER DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE CONTENT AVAILABLE ON THE PLATFORM AND/OR THE RESULTS IS ACCURATE, COMPLETE, RELIABLE, CURRENT, OR ERROR-FREE.
2. NOBARRIER DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE PLATFORM AND/OR THE RESULTS WILL OPERATE ERROR-FREE, THAT THE PLATFORM AND/OR THE RESULTS IS FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL CODE OR THAT WE WILL CORRECT ANY ERRORS IN THE PLATFORM. YOU AGREE THAT NOBARRIER WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY CONSEQUENCES TO YOU OR ANY THIRD PARTY THAT MAY RESULT FROM TECHNICAL PROBLEMS, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, IN CONNECTION WITH THE INTERNET (SUCH AS SLOW CONNECTIONS, TRAFFIC CONGESTION OR OVERLOAD OF OUR OR OTHER SERVERS) OR ANY TELECOMMUNICATIONS OR INTERNET PROVIDERS. ANY DECISIONS OR ACTIONS YOU TAKE, BASED ON THE PLATFORM OR ITS RESULTS, ARE SOLELY AT YOUR RISK.
3. NOBARRIER DOES NOT MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION, WARRANTY, GUARANTEE OR CONDITION: (A) REGARDING THE EFFECTIVENESS, USEFULNESS, RELIABILITY, TIMELINESS, COMPLETENESS, OR QUALITY OF THE PLATFORM AND/OR THE RESULTS; (B) THAT YOUR USE OF THE PLATFORM WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, SECURE OR ERROR-FREE; (C) REGARDING THE OPERATION OF ANY CELLULAR NETWORKS, THE PASSING OR TRANSMISSION OF DATA VIA ANY NETWORKS OR THE CLOUD, OR ANY OTHER DATA CONNECTIVITY PROBLEMS; OR (D) REGARDING THE SATISFACTION OF, OR COMPLIANCE WITH, ANY LAWS, REGULATIONS, OR OTHER GOVERNMENT OR INDUSTRY RULES OR STANDARDS.
4. IF YOU HAVE A DISPUTE WITH ANY OTHER THIRD PARTY REGARDING THE PLATFORM AND/OR THE RESULTS (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, FROM THE PATIENT), YOU AGREE THAT NOBARRIER IS NOT LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIMS OR DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF, OR CONNECTED WITH, SUCH A DISPUTE. NOBARRIER RESERVES THE RIGHT BUT HAVE NO OBLIGATION TO MONITOR ANY SUCH DISPUTE. Applicable law may not allow the exclusion of certain warranties, so to that extent such exclusions may not apply.
5. THE PLATFORM, ITS CONTENT, AND ALL RELATED SERVICES OFFERED BY NOBARRIER ARE EXTENDED TO YOU ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" ARRANGEMENT. NOBARRIER AND ITS SUPPLIERS DO NOT OFFER ANY EXPLICIT, INFERRED, OR MANDATORY WARRANTIES RELATED TO THEM OR THIS AGREEMENT. NOBARRIER EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY WARRANTY OF NON-INFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY, SUITABILITY FOR A PARTICULAR OBJECTIVE, CONTINUOUS UNDISTURBED PROVISION, ERROR-FREE FUNCTIONING, OR ANY ASSURANCE ORIGINATING FROM TRADE PRACTICE, COURSE OF CONDUCT OR USAGE.
6. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, IN INSTANCES WHERE NOBARRIER AND ITS SUPPLIERS ARE NOT ALLOWED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW TO NEGATE ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY, THE DURATION AND SCOPE OF SUCH WARRANTY WILL BE LIMITED TO THE MOST MINOR PERMISSIBLE UNDER SUCH LAW. THE PLATFORM'S FUNCTION IS NOT TO DIAGNOSE, CURE, PREVENT, OR TREAT ANY HEALTH CONDITION OR AILMENT. YOU AND YOUR AUTHORIZED USERS BEAR FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY HEALTHCARE-RELATED CONCLUSIONS OR DECISIONS DRAWN FROM ANY RESULT GENERATED BY OR ACCESSIBLE VIA THE PLATFORM, INCLUDING, THE RESULTS. THE PLATFORM, ITS CONTENT, AND THE RESULTS, SHOULD NOT BE DEEMED AS A REPLACEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE OR DIAGNOSIS.
7. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, NOBARRIER DENIES ANY GUARANTEE OF SATISFACTORY QUALITY, FITNESS, OR PERFORMANCE OF THE PLATFORM OR ANY COMPONENTS OR THE RESULTS THEREOF. ANY RESULTANT HARM OR DAMAGES RELATED TO ANY USE OF THE PLATFORM AND/OR THE RESULTS FALLS UNDER NOBARRIER'S EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY. Applicable law may not allow the exclusion of certain warranties, so to that extent such exclusions may not apply.
8. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARTY AND TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, REGARDING ANY STATUTORY, CONTRACTUAL, OR TORTIOUS CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF WARRANTY ISSUES, NOBARRIER BEARS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOST PROFITS, OR DAMAGES DUE TO THE LOSS OF DATA OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION RESULTING FROM THE USE, MISUSE, OR INABILITY TO ACCESS AND UTILIZE THE PLATFORM OR ANY RELATED SERVICES (INCLUDING, THE RESULTS), EVEN IF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION. NOBARRIER'S TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY FOR ALL DAMAGES AND LOSSES THAT ARISE UNDER, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, OR RELATED TO, THIS AGREEMENTM SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE HIGHER OF ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100) OR THE CUMULATIVE FEES YOU PAID IN THE THREE (3) MONTH PERIOD IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE CLAIM AROSE.
## 10\. THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES.
The Platform may contain links to websites governed by third parties ("Third-Party Websites"). These links are offered for your benefit and convenience, and do not constitute an endorsement or approval by us of the content available on such Third-Party Websites. The content hosted on such Third-Party Websites is created and managed by other parties. If you have any concerns about these links or any content situated on such Third-Party Websites, you should connect directly with the site administrator or manager for those specific websites. NoBarrier does not hold accountable for the content of any Third-Party Websites and makes no assurances regarding the reliability or precision of Materials on such Third-Party Websites.
## 11\. CONFIDENTIALITY.
You may have access to certain non-public or proprietary information and Materials of NoBarrier and/or its affiliates, whether in tangible or intangible form ("Confidential Information"). You shall take commercially reasonable measures to protect NoBarrier’s Confidential Information within your possession or control, from misuse or disclosure to a third party. You shall use NoBarrer's Confidential Information solely for the purposes of performing under this Agreement. In the event that you are required to disclose NoBarrier’s Confidential Information pursuant to any law, regulation, or governmental or judicial order, you will (a) promptly notify NoBarrier in writing of such law, regulation or order or request, (b) reasonably cooperate with NoBarrier in opposing such disclosure, (c) in case that you are required to disclose Confidential Information, you shall only disclose the minimum required by such law, regulation or order (as the case may be).
## 12\. ASSURANCES AND GUARANTEES.
You hereby represent, warrant and covenant that you have: (i) all requisite rights and privileges that allow you to supply us with, or authorize our access and utilization of, Your Information, and (ii) procured all essential and appropriate approvals, permissions, and consents in compliance with any and all applicable laws and regulations relating to Your Information provided herein, including, but not limited to, approvals from patients, their parents and/or legal guardians.
## 13\. INDEMNIFICATION.
To the maximum extent permitted by law, you agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless NoBarrier or any associated entities, including shareholders, officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives from and against any and all damages, liabilities, obligations, fines, losses, costs, and expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees and expenses (altogether, "Losses") arising from, or related to, a claim, action, or proceeding (referred to as a "Claim"), including, without limitation, Claims associated with: (i) you or any Authorized User's breach or violation of this Agreement, including any failure to uphold claimed warranties; (ii) misuse of the Platform, the Result, and/or the Content; (iii) your or your Authorized User’s negligence, willful misconduct, fraud, misrepresentation or violation of applicable laws and regulations; (iv) any breach of any third-party rights such as copyright, Trademarks, property rights, or privacy rights. Without derogating from or excusing your obligations under this section, NoBarrier reserves the right (at your own expense), but is not under any obligation, to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter which is subject to an indemnification by you if you choose not to defend or settle it. You agree not to settle any matter subject to indemnification by you without first obtaining NoBarrier’s express approval.
## 14\. **ADHERENCE TO RELEVANT REGULATIONS.**
The Platform is intended to be used within the United States. To the maximum extent permitted by law, if you choose to utilize our Platform from a location outside the United States, it is essential to understand that you do so at your own risk. Regardless of your geographical location, whether it be within or beyond the United States, it is solely your responsibility to ensure your adherence to the legal rules of your particular jurisdiction. You agree to comply fully with all applicable export laws and regulations to ensure that neither the Platform nor any technical data related thereto are exported or re-exported directly or indirectly in violation of, or used for any purposes prohibited by, such laws and regulations.
## **15\. TERM AND TERMINATION.**
1. This Agreement is effective and will extend over the duration of the subscription package you selected at the time of registration (the " **Term**"). From this point onward, the Term will automatically continue for successive periods equivalent to the duration of your chosen subscription package, unless either of us informs the other not less than thirty (30) days in advance of the expiration of the on-going renewal period about the intention not to extend it.
2. NoBarrier reserves the right, at any time, to terminate this Agreement, your account and your use of the Platform, if you engage in any conduct or activities that NoBarrier determines, in NoBarrier’s sole discretion, violate this Agreement or the rights of NoBarrier or any third party, or is otherwise inappropriate, and, to the maximum extent permitted by law, NoBarrier shall not be liable to you or any third party for any of the foregoing. If you object to any term or condition of this Agreement or any subsequent modifications thereto, or become dissatisfied with the Platform in any way, your only recourse is to immediately discontinue use of the Platform.
3. NoBarrier retains the discretion to alter, pause, stop, or bring to an end your access and operation of the entire or any part of the Platform at any juncture in time without any prior warning or any accountability. This Section 15 (Term and Termination) and Sections 3 (Intellectual Property Rights), 4.3 (Your Information; User Statistics; Anonymized Data; Summary Data; and Results), 6 (Payment Obligation), 9 (Disclaimers and Limits on Liability), 11 (Confidentiality), 13 (Indemnification), 16 (Arbitration Proceedings), 17 (Class Action Limitation), 18 (Applicable Law) and 19 (Additional Terms) shall survive termination of this Agreement for any reason.
## 16\. ARBITRATION PROCEEDINGS.
1. All disputes arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, including any question regarding its existence, validity or termination, shall be finally settled by binding arbitration under the Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (“ICC Rules”) by one arbitrator appointed in accordance with the said ICC Rules, unless the parties agree in writing before the request for arbitration is filed to have the dispute decided by a panel of three arbitrators. In the latter case, each party shall nominate one arbitrator, the claimant in his request for arbitration and the respondent in his answer, for confirmation by the ICC. If a party fails to nominate an arbitrator, the selection and appointment of the arbitrator shall be made by the ICC. Both arbitrators shall agree on the third arbitrator within 30 days after their appointment. Should the two arbitrators fail to reach agreement on the third arbitrator within the 30 days period, the ICC shall select and appoint the third arbitrator. The place of arbitration shall be California. The language to be used in the arbitration proceeding shall be English. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT NEITHER PARTY SHALL BE ENTITLED TO PURSUE SUCH CLAIM IN COURT OR INITIATE A JURY TRIAL, EXCEPTING CASES WHERE EITHER PARTY CAN BANK ON THEIR LOCAL SMALL CLAIMS COURT, SUBJECT TO THE REQUIREMENTS AND JURISDICTION OF SAID SMALL CLAIMS COURT. IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT AN ARBITRATION DIFFERS FROM COURT PROCEEDINGS, AND ACCESS TO DISCOVERY AND APPEAL RIGHTS COULD BE LIMITED DURING ARBITRATION.
2. While this clause does not prevent parties from seeking provisional remedies in aid of arbitration from a suitable jurisdiction court, the arbitration procedure can be performed in person, via document submission, over a call, or online. Nothing in this Agreement shall restrict NoBarrier from seeking injunctive relief in any court with competent jurisdiction.
## 17\. CLASS ACTION LIMITATION.
1. To the maximum extent permitted by law:
- Any dispute or arbitration shall not be combined with any other dispute;
- You are not allowed to address any dispute on a group level or use any class-action methods;
- It is not permissible for any dispute to be put forward as a representative of the general public or any other people.
2. YOU CONSENT THAT ANY LEGAL ACTIONS YOU START AGAINST NOBARRIER MUST BE IN YOUR OWN PERSONAL CAPACITY, RATHER THAN AS PART OF A GROUP OR AS A CLASS MEMBER IN ANY SUPPOSED REPRESENTATIVE CAPACITY.
## 18\. **APPLICABLE LAW.**
This Agreement and performance by the parties hereunder shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the state of California, U.S.A., without regard to provisions on the conflicts of laws.
## 19\. ADDITIONAL TERMS.
This Agreement, and any other legal notices published by us in connection with the Platform, shall constitute the entire Agreement between you and NoBarrier concerning the Platform. In the event of a conflict between this Agreement and any such legal notices, the terms of the applicable notice shall prevail with respect to the subject matter of such notice. If any provision of this Agreement is deemed invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the invalidity of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect. No waiver of any term of this Agreement shall be deemed a further or continuing waiver of such term or any other term, and a party's failure to assert any right or provision under this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision. The headings of each section are just for easy reference and they have no legal value. This Agreement, and any rights and licenses granted hereunder, may not be transferred or assigned by you but may be assigned by NoBarrier without restriction or notification. We may from time to time provide updates or upgrades to the Platform (each a "Revision") but are not under any obligation to do so. Such Revisions will be supplied according to our then-current policies, which may include automatic updating or upgrading without any additional notice to you. You consent to any such automatic updating or upgrading of the Platform. All references herein to the Platform shall include Revisions. This Agreement shall govern any Revisions that replace or supplement the original Platform, unless the Revision is accompanied by a separate license agreement which will govern the Revision.
**Copyright 2025 No Barrier AI, Inc. All rights reserved.**
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## AI in Healthcare Interpretation
Results are in! AI vs professional medical interpreters,
[see our surprising study results →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/nobarrier-ai-outperforms-traditional-medical-interpreters-in-first-scientific-study)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
# Healthcare Language Access, Technology, and Beyond
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AllCost & EfficiencyIndustry Insights & TrendsLanguage & Dialect ChallengesCompliance & Risk (HIPAA, Legal, Safety)AI & Technology in Healthcare InterpretationCompany & Announcements
[**No Barrier Raises $2.7M to Remove Language Barriers in Healthcare** \\
\\
AI & Technology in Healthcare Interpretation\\
\\
November 18, 2025\\
\\
3\\
\\
min read\\
\\
No Barrier secures $2.7M to scale instant AI medical interpretation that strengthens safety. cuts costs. and improves patient communication.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[**What Clinicians Really Think About Interpreters (And What AI Can Fix)** \\
\\
AI & Technology in Healthcare Interpretation\\
\\
November 10, 2025\\
\\
6\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Clinicians across the U.S. share real frustrations with language barriers in care. AI interpretation offers faster, more accurate, and culturally sensitive solutions.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/what-clinicians-really-think-about-interpreters)
[**Haitian Creole in U.S. Health Care: Strategic Imperatives & Risks** \\
\\
Language & Dialect\\
\\
October 28, 2025\\
\\
7\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Haitian Creole’s linguistic complexity makes it one of the most challenging languages for both human and AI medical interpretation, demanding specialized training and contextual understanding.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/haitian-creole)
[**The Executive Checklist for Choosing Your Next AI Interpreter Vendor** \\
\\
Compliance & Risk (HIPAA, Legal, Safety)\\
\\
October 9, 2025\\
\\
7\\
\\
min read\\
\\
A concise, compliance-first checklist for healthcare leaders to evaluate AI interpreter vendors on HIPAA alignment, accuracy, ROI and patient experience before signing a contract.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-executive-checklist-for-choosing-your-next-ai-interpreter-vendor)
[**Frontline Emergency Care: How Teach-Back Prevents Language Errors in the ER** \\
\\
Language & Dialect\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
3\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Language barriers in the ER put patients and hospitals at risk. Teach-back which is asking patients to repeat instructions improves safety, reduces liability and strengthens HIPAA compliance.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/teach-back-prevents-errors)
[**Optimizing Patient Flow: ER Operations Win Minutes with Tech** \\
\\
Cost & Efficiency\\
\\
September 28, 2025\\
\\
6\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Crowding in the ER isn’t random; it’s governed by math. Little’s Law: patients in system = arrival rate × time. Reduce time in the system, reduce the queue.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/patient-flow-ops)
[**Is Google Translate HIPAA Compliant? What Every Hospital Needs to Know** \\
\\
Compliance & Risk (HIPAA, Legal, Safety)\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
2\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Google Translate is not HIPAA compliant. No BAAs, encryption or audit controls. Using it in healthcare creates compliance, safety and legal risks. \\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/google-translate-risks)
[**Slator 2025 Language AI 50 Under 50: No Barrier AI Recognized** \\
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Industry Insights & Trends\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
2\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Slator is a leading source for news, research and market intelligence across translation, localization, interpreting and language AI.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/2025-slator-language-ai-50-under-50)
[**3 Languages, Many Dialects: Stories Every Clinic Should Know** \\
\\
Language & Dialect Challenges\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
2\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Coming from our main article on language vs. dialect? You asked for real cases. Below are three short, true‑to‑life stories.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/three-languages-many-dialects)
[**Language vs. Dialect: Why the Difference Matters** \\
\\
Language & Dialect Challenges\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
2\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Inspired by Care Culture Talk podcast with Dr. Ilan Shapiro, MD – Executive Medical Leader.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/dialect-vs-language)
[**How to Solve the “One Patient, Multiple Interpreters” Challenge in Healthcare** \\
\\
Cost & Efficiency\\
\\
November 26, 2025\\
\\
2\\
\\
min read\\
\\
LEP patients face fragmented care. Integrated interpreter models create smoother, patient-centered communication.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-to-solve-the-one-patient-multiple-interpreters-challenge-in-healthcare)
[**Could Your Bilingual Staff Double as Certified Medical Interpreters? Answers to Your Questions** \\
\\
Compliance & Risk (HIPAA, Legal, Safety)\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
3\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Exploring practical considerations for healthcare organizations when certifying bilingual staff as medical interpreters.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/could-your-bilingual-staff-double-as-certified-medical-interpreters-answers-to-your-questions)
[**Complete Guide to AI Medical Interpreter Solutions** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
10\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Learn how to select the right AI medical interpreter for your healthcare facility with our comprehensive evaluation framework covering accuracy, compliance, integration, and ROI.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/complete-guide-evaluating-ai-medical-interpreter-solutions-for-healthcare-organizations)
[**6 Medical Translation Challenges Patients Face With Interpreters** \\
\\
Cost & Efficiency\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Language barriers make healthcare hard, but better interpreter services and clear communication can help patients get better care.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-medical-translation-challenges-patients-face-with-interpreters)
[**6 Big Problems in Medical Interpretation: What Healthcare Providers Tell Us** \\
\\
Cost & Efficiency\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
5\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Hospitals risk liability when medical translation fails. Gricelda Zamora’s case shows how missed interpretation can breach ACA 1557 making language access vital for safety and ROI.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-big-problems-in-medical-interpretation-what-healthcare-providers-tell-us)
[**AI in Medical Translation: Capabilities and Limitations** \\
\\
AI & Technology in Healthcare Interpretation\\
\\
October 9, 2025\\
\\
6\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Medical Translation in the AI Era: Understanding the Possibilities and Boundaries\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/ai-in-medical-translation-capabilities-and-limitations)
[**Best Practices for Treating Patients from Different Cultures** \\
\\
Industry Insights & Trends\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Cultural competence in healthcare improves trust and outcomes. Understanding cultural differences, using interpreters, respecting beliefs, and involving families ensures effective, inclusive care.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/best-practices-for-treating-patients-from-different-cultures)
[**Why We're Ending Per-Minute Pricing in Medical Interpretation** \\
\\
Cost & Efficiency\\
\\
November 7, 2025\\
\\
3\\
\\
min read\\
\\
The per-minute interpretation model isn't working for healthcare anymore. Here's why we're introducing a new pricing approach for organizations.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/why-were-ending-per-minute-pricing-in-medical-interpretation)
[**Medical Interpreter Underutilization: Understanding the Gap** \\
\\
Cost & Efficiency\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Medical interpretation has been underutilized for years, but there's now a path toward 100% utilization.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreter-underutilization-understanding-the-gap)
[**Basic Spanish Isn't Enough: Why Healthcare Providers Still Need Professional Language Services** \\
\\
Language & Dialect Challenges\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
3\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Even with basic Spanish skills, healthcare providers can't risk 'getting by' without professional language services - including AI interpretation - as the stakes for patient care are too high\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/basic-spanish-isnt-enough-why-healthcare-providers-still-need-professional-language-services)
[**How Spanish Dialects Impact Patient Care?** \\
\\
Language & Dialect Challenges\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
min read\\
\\
While Spanish may be the second most spoken language in U.S. healthcare settings, the vast differences between regional dialects create unexpected barriers to patient care - here's why it matters\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-spanish-dialects-impact-patient-care)
[**The Intersection of Low Health Literacy and Limited English Proficiency in Healthcare** \\
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Industry Insights & Trends\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
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4\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Low health literacy and limited English proficiency create major healthcare barriers for millions of Americans, requiring innovative solutions to improve patient understanding.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-intersection-of-low-health-literacy-and-limited-english-proficiency-in-healthcare)
[**The Role of Health Educators in Multilingual Healthcare Settings** \\
\\
Industry Insights & Trends\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Health educators serve as essential bridges in healthcare settings, helping patients – especially those with Limited English Proficiency – fully understand and engage with their medical care.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-role-of-health-educators-in-multilingual-healthcare-settings)
[**Value-Based Care and Communication Challenges for Patients with Limited English Proficiency** \\
\\
Industry Insights & Trends\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
3\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Discover how language barriers impact value-based care metrics and why addressing Limited English Proficiency patients' needs is crucial for healthcare organizations' success.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/value-based-care-and-communication-challenges-for-patients-with-limited-english-proficiency)
[**No Barrier AI Outperforms Traditional Medical Interpreters in First Study** \\
\\
AI & Technology in Healthcare Interpretation\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
3\\
\\
min read\\
\\
An independent evaluation of NoBarrier's AI technology demonstrates its medical interpreter surpasses professional human interpreters in accuracy\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/nobarrier-ai-outperforms-traditional-medical-interpreters-in-first-scientific-study)
[**Language as a Social Determinant of Health: Addressing Inequities for LEP Patients** \\
\\
Industry Insights & Trends\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Understanding the Impact of Language Barriers and Social Determinants of Health on LEP Individuals\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/language-as-a-social-determinant-of-health-addressing-inequities-for-lep-patients)
[**So, what is Techquity, and why does it matter?** \\
\\
Industry Insights & Trends\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
3\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Techquity unites technology and health equity. Discover how it's closing healthcare gaps and how No Barrier exemplifies this approach.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/so-what-is-techquity-and-why-does-it-matter)
[**Remote Interpreters Audio and Connectivity Challenges** \\
\\
Cost & Efficiency\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
3\\
\\
min read\\
\\
If you're using remote interpreters, you probably encounter poor audio quality and dropped calls from time to time. Read more about the reasons for these issues.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/remote-interpreters-audio-and-connectivity-challenges)
[**AI in Healthcare - Consider Starting Small** \\
\\
AI & Technology in Healthcare Interpretation\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
5\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Explore the benefits of implementing small-scale AI projects in healthcare to maximize value and minimize risks while laying the groundwork for digital transformation.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/ai-in-healthcare---consider-starting-small)
[**Deploy Human Interpreters Side by Side with AI Interpreters - The Hybrid Approach** \\
\\
Cost & Efficiency\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
3\\
\\
min read\\
\\
The hybrid human-machine model in medical interpretation effectively combines AI's efficiency and cost-effectiveness while preserving human interpreters for specific situations.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/organization-hybrid-approach---deploy-human-interpreters-side-by-side-with-ai-interpreters)
[**What’s Your Healthcare AI Strategy?** \\
\\
Industry Insights & Trends\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
min read\\
\\
When thinking about your healthcare AI strategy, it's smart to start with low-risk, high-reward initiatives. AI medical interpreters could be a great example - read why.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/whats-your-healthcare-ai-strategy)
[**What is Interpreting Directionality?** \\
\\
Language & Dialect\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
min read\\
\\
The L1<>L2 story and the impact of directionality on medical interpreting: human challenges and technological solutions\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/what-is-interpreting-directionality)
[**Medical Interpreter - Human vs AI: The Memory Aspect** \\
\\
AI & Technology in Healthcare Interpretation\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
2\\
\\
min read\\
\\
"Interpreter Wants You to Repeat" - AI medical interpreters outperform humans in storing medical terminology and processing long dialogues without repetition.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreter---human-vs-ai-the-memory-aspect)
[**Nurses and Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Patients** \\
\\
Cost & Efficiency\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Nurses are the frontline when it comes to patients with limited English proficiency - many times facing faster-paced micro encounters and under-utilization of medical interpreters\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/nurses-and-limited-english-proficiency-lep-patients)
[**Are Your Non-English Speaking Patients Following Up on Your Discharge Notes?** \\
\\
Compliance & Risk (HIPAA, Legal, Safety)\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
3\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Studies reveal many patients with limited English proficiency struggle to understand critical post-visit instructions, highlighting the need for accurate, accessible multilingual discharge notes.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/are-your-non-english-speaking-patients-following-up-on-your-discharge-notes)
[**How Private is a Medical Encounter with an Interpreter?** \\
\\
Compliance & Risk (HIPAA, Legal, Safety)\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
3\\
\\
min read\\
\\
The presence of interpreters for limited English proficiency patients in healthcare settings creates unique privacy challenges\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-private-is-a-medical-encounter-with-an-interpreter)
[**Generating New Revenue for Healthcare Organizations with Medical Interpreting Tech** \\
\\
AI & Technology in Healthcare Interpretation\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
2\\
\\
min read\\
\\
How healthcare organizations can transform language barriers into revenue opportunities.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/generating-new-revenue-for-healthcare-organizations-with-ai-medical-interpreting)
[**Are You Paying for Silence?** \\
\\
Cost & Efficiency\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Current remote medical interpreting services often include significant periods of silence during patient encounters, resulting in inefficient use of interpreter time and resources.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/are-you-paying-for-silence)
[**Planning Your 2025 Language Access Strategy with AI-Powered Oral Interpretation** \\
\\
Industry Insights & Trends\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
3\\
\\
min read\\
\\
AI-powered medical interpretation offers healthcare providers a transformative, cost-effective solution for their 2025 language access budgets\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/planning-your-2025-language-access-strategy-with-ai-powered-oral-interpretation)
[**Using No Barrier in the ER: An Inside Look** \\
\\
AI & Technology in Healthcare Interpretation\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
\\
min read\\
\\
An inside look at improving communication and outcomes for patients with Limited English Proficiency in high-stress medical environments - like the ER.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/using-no-barrier-in-the-er-an-inside-look)
[**Medical Interpreting - Reimbursement State** \\
\\
Compliance & Risk (HIPAA, Legal, Safety)\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
2\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Healthcare institutions must provide language services but face limited reimbursement options, driving a need for cost-effective solutions like AI-driven technologies.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreting-reimbursement-state)
[**Deploy Medical Interpreter - The Waiting Time Aspect** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
\\
min read\\
\\
The waiting time to deploy a professional medical interpreter remains a top challenge in healthcare settings for non-English speaking patients, often causing frustration for medical providers.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/deploy-medical-interpreter---the-waiting-time-aspect)
[**The Multiple Touchpoints Problem of Non-English Speaking Patients** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Patients with limited English proficiency navigate multiple healthcare touchpoints, each with varying levels of language support quality.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-multiple-touchpoints-problem-of-non-english-speaking-patients)
[**Bias vs Accuracy in AI Medical Interpreting Tech** \\
\\
AI & Technology in Healthcare Interpretation\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Healthcare AI, particularly GenAI, raises questions about system and model bias towards different patient groups. In medical interpreting, we believe the focus should be on accuracy rather than bias.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/bias-vs-accuracy-in-ai-medical-interpreting-tech)
[**How Many Mistakes Do Medical Interpreters Make?** \\
\\
Language & Dialect Challenges\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
3\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Medical interpreters are vital for effective communication with limited English proficiency patients. Since accuracy is highly important, the question arises - how accurate are they?\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-many-mistakes-do-medical-interpreters-make)
[**Where is the Interpreter iPad Cart?** \\
\\
Cost & Efficiency\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) rolling carts have been available for the last 10 years. We explored the reasons behind the shortage of these carts in healthcare institutions.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/where-is-the-interpreter-ipad-cart)
[**Provider - Do You Have LEP Burnout?** \\
\\
Compliance & Risk (HIPAA, Legal, Safety)\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Healthcare providers are well-acquainted with the phenomenon of burnout. However, one challenge often overlooked is the strain related to serving patients with Limited English Proficiency (LEP).\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/provider-do-you-have-lep-burnout)
[**When and When Not Using AI Medical Interpreter** \\
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Industry Insights & Trends\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
5\\
\\
min read\\
\\
While AI is emerging in the medical interpreting industry, there are various cases where the human touch is preferable.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/when-and-when-not-using-ai-medical-interpreter)
[**Relying on Bilingual Peers for Language Interpretation - A Cautionary Tale** \\
\\
Compliance & Risk (HIPAA, Legal, Safety)\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
\\
min read\\
\\
In healthcare, the reliance on bilingual peers for Limited English Proficiency (LEP) patients hints at a deeper complexity worth exploring.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/relying-on-bilingual-peers-for-language-interpretation--a-cautionary-tale)
[**Do You Have Micro Encounters with Limited English Proficiency Patients?** \\
\\
Industry Insights & Trends\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Brief interactions - when providers choose to skip formal interpretation\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/do-you-have-micro-encounters-with-limited-english-proficiency-patients)
[**So You're Using Google Translate as Medical Interpreter** \\
\\
Compliance & Risk (HIPAA, Legal, Safety)\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
5\\
\\
min read\\
\\
It is maybe the most common translation tool on earth, but is Google Translate good as medical interpreter?\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/so-youre-using-google-translate-as-medical-interpreter)
[**So You're Using Family Members as Medical Interpreters** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
7\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Providers commonly rely on family members as interpreters, yet numerous factors must be taken into account.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/so-youre-using-family-members-as-medical-interpreters)
## Featured Posts
[**Slator 2025 Language AI 50 Under 50: No Barrier AI Recognized** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
2\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Slator is a leading source for news, research and market intelligence across translation, localization, interpreting and language AI.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/2025-slator-language-ai-50-under-50)
[**Deploy Medical Interpreter - The Waiting Time Aspect** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
\\
min read\\
\\
The waiting time to deploy a professional medical interpreter remains a top challenge in healthcare settings for non-English speaking patients, often causing frustration for medical providers.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/deploy-medical-interpreter---the-waiting-time-aspect)
[**The Multiple Touchpoints Problem of Non-English Speaking Patients** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
\\
min read\\
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Patients with limited English proficiency navigate multiple healthcare touchpoints, each with varying levels of language support quality.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-multiple-touchpoints-problem-of-non-english-speaking-patients)
# Latest Posts
[**No Barrier Raises $2.7M to Remove Language Barriers in Healthcare** \\
\\
November 18, 2025\\
\\
3\\
\\
min read\\
\\
No Barrier secures $2.7M to scale instant AI medical interpretation that strengthens safety. cuts costs. and improves patient communication.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[**What Clinicians Really Think About Interpreters (And What AI Can Fix)** \\
\\
November 10, 2025\\
\\
6\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Clinicians across the U.S. share real frustrations with language barriers in care. AI interpretation offers faster, more accurate, and culturally sensitive solutions.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/what-clinicians-really-think-about-interpreters)
[**Haitian Creole in U.S. Health Care: Strategic Imperatives & Risks** \\
\\
October 28, 2025\\
\\
7\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Haitian Creole’s linguistic complexity makes it one of the most challenging languages for both human and AI medical interpretation, demanding specialized training and contextual understanding.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/haitian-creole)
[**The Executive Checklist for Choosing Your Next AI Interpreter Vendor** \\
\\
October 9, 2025\\
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7\\
\\
min read\\
\\
A concise, compliance-first checklist for healthcare leaders to evaluate AI interpreter vendors on HIPAA alignment, accuracy, ROI and patient experience before signing a contract.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-executive-checklist-for-choosing-your-next-ai-interpreter-vendor)
[**Frontline Emergency Care: How Teach-Back Prevents Language Errors in the ER** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
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3\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Language barriers in the ER put patients and hospitals at risk. Teach-back which is asking patients to repeat instructions improves safety, reduces liability and strengthens HIPAA compliance.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/teach-back-prevents-errors)
[**Optimizing Patient Flow: ER Operations Win Minutes with Tech** \\
\\
September 28, 2025\\
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6\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Crowding in the ER isn’t random; it’s governed by math. Little’s Law: patients in system = arrival rate × time. Reduce time in the system, reduce the queue.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/patient-flow-ops)
[**Is Google Translate HIPAA Compliant? What Every Hospital Needs to Know** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
2\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Google Translate is not HIPAA compliant. No BAAs, encryption or audit controls. Using it in healthcare creates compliance, safety and legal risks. \\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/google-translate-risks)
[**3 Languages, Many Dialects: Stories Every Clinic Should Know** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
2\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Coming from our main article on language vs. dialect? You asked for real cases. Below are three short, true‑to‑life stories.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/three-languages-many-dialects)
[**Language vs. Dialect: Why the Difference Matters** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
2\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Inspired by Care Culture Talk podcast with Dr. Ilan Shapiro, MD – Executive Medical Leader.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/dialect-vs-language)
[**How to Solve the “One Patient, Multiple Interpreters” Challenge in Healthcare** \\
\\
November 26, 2025\\
\\
2\\
\\
min read\\
\\
LEP patients face fragmented care. Integrated interpreter models create smoother, patient-centered communication.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-to-solve-the-one-patient-multiple-interpreters-challenge-in-healthcare)
[**Could Your Bilingual Staff Double as Certified Medical Interpreters? Answers to Your Questions** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
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3\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Exploring practical considerations for healthcare organizations when certifying bilingual staff as medical interpreters.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/could-your-bilingual-staff-double-as-certified-medical-interpreters-answers-to-your-questions)
[**Complete Guide to AI Medical Interpreter Solutions** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
10\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Learn how to select the right AI medical interpreter for your healthcare facility with our comprehensive evaluation framework covering accuracy, compliance, integration, and ROI.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/complete-guide-evaluating-ai-medical-interpreter-solutions-for-healthcare-organizations)
[**6 Medical Translation Challenges Patients Face With Interpreters** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Language barriers make healthcare hard, but better interpreter services and clear communication can help patients get better care.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-medical-translation-challenges-patients-face-with-interpreters)
[**6 Big Problems in Medical Interpretation: What Healthcare Providers Tell Us** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
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5\\
\\
min read\\
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Hospitals risk liability when medical translation fails. Gricelda Zamora’s case shows how missed interpretation can breach ACA 1557 making language access vital for safety and ROI.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-big-problems-in-medical-interpretation-what-healthcare-providers-tell-us)
[**AI in Medical Translation: Capabilities and Limitations** \\
\\
October 9, 2025\\
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6\\
\\
min read\\
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Medical Translation in the AI Era: Understanding the Possibilities and Boundaries\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/ai-in-medical-translation-capabilities-and-limitations)
[**Best Practices for Treating Patients from Different Cultures** \\
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October 17, 2025\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Cultural competence in healthcare improves trust and outcomes. Understanding cultural differences, using interpreters, respecting beliefs, and involving families ensures effective, inclusive care.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/best-practices-for-treating-patients-from-different-cultures)
[**Why We're Ending Per-Minute Pricing in Medical Interpretation** \\
\\
November 7, 2025\\
\\
3\\
\\
min read\\
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The per-minute interpretation model isn't working for healthcare anymore. Here's why we're introducing a new pricing approach for organizations.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/why-were-ending-per-minute-pricing-in-medical-interpretation)
[**Medical Interpreter Underutilization: Understanding the Gap** \\
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October 17, 2025\\
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4\\
\\
min read\\
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Medical interpretation has been underutilized for years, but there's now a path toward 100% utilization.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreter-underutilization-understanding-the-gap)
[**Basic Spanish Isn't Enough: Why Healthcare Providers Still Need Professional Language Services** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
3\\
\\
min read\\
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Even with basic Spanish skills, healthcare providers can't risk 'getting by' without professional language services - including AI interpretation - as the stakes for patient care are too high\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/basic-spanish-isnt-enough-why-healthcare-providers-still-need-professional-language-services)
[**How Spanish Dialects Impact Patient Care?** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
min read\\
\\
While Spanish may be the second most spoken language in U.S. healthcare settings, the vast differences between regional dialects create unexpected barriers to patient care - here's why it matters\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-spanish-dialects-impact-patient-care)
[**The Intersection of Low Health Literacy and Limited English Proficiency in Healthcare** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
\\
min read\\
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Low health literacy and limited English proficiency create major healthcare barriers for millions of Americans, requiring innovative solutions to improve patient understanding.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-intersection-of-low-health-literacy-and-limited-english-proficiency-in-healthcare)
[**The Role of Health Educators in Multilingual Healthcare Settings** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
\\
min read\\
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Health educators serve as essential bridges in healthcare settings, helping patients – especially those with Limited English Proficiency – fully understand and engage with their medical care.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-role-of-health-educators-in-multilingual-healthcare-settings)
[**Value-Based Care and Communication Challenges for Patients with Limited English Proficiency** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
3\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Discover how language barriers impact value-based care metrics and why addressing Limited English Proficiency patients' needs is crucial for healthcare organizations' success.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/value-based-care-and-communication-challenges-for-patients-with-limited-english-proficiency)
[**No Barrier AI Outperforms Traditional Medical Interpreters in First Study** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
3\\
\\
min read\\
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An independent evaluation of NoBarrier's AI technology demonstrates its medical interpreter surpasses professional human interpreters in accuracy\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/nobarrier-ai-outperforms-traditional-medical-interpreters-in-first-scientific-study)
[**Language as a Social Determinant of Health: Addressing Inequities for LEP Patients** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
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4\\
\\
min read\\
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Understanding the Impact of Language Barriers and Social Determinants of Health on LEP Individuals\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/language-as-a-social-determinant-of-health-addressing-inequities-for-lep-patients)
[**So, what is Techquity, and why does it matter?** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
3\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Techquity unites technology and health equity. Discover how it's closing healthcare gaps and how No Barrier exemplifies this approach.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/so-what-is-techquity-and-why-does-it-matter)
[**Remote Interpreters Audio and Connectivity Challenges** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
3\\
\\
min read\\
\\
If you're using remote interpreters, you probably encounter poor audio quality and dropped calls from time to time. Read more about the reasons for these issues.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/remote-interpreters-audio-and-connectivity-challenges)
[**AI in Healthcare - Consider Starting Small** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
5\\
\\
min read\\
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Explore the benefits of implementing small-scale AI projects in healthcare to maximize value and minimize risks while laying the groundwork for digital transformation.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/ai-in-healthcare---consider-starting-small)
[**Deploy Human Interpreters Side by Side with AI Interpreters - The Hybrid Approach** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
3\\
\\
min read\\
\\
The hybrid human-machine model in medical interpretation effectively combines AI's efficiency and cost-effectiveness while preserving human interpreters for specific situations.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/organization-hybrid-approach---deploy-human-interpreters-side-by-side-with-ai-interpreters)
[**What’s Your Healthcare AI Strategy?** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
min read\\
\\
When thinking about your healthcare AI strategy, it's smart to start with low-risk, high-reward initiatives. AI medical interpreters could be a great example - read why.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/whats-your-healthcare-ai-strategy)
[**What is Interpreting Directionality?** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
min read\\
\\
The L1<>L2 story and the impact of directionality on medical interpreting: human challenges and technological solutions\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/what-is-interpreting-directionality)
[**Medical Interpreter - Human vs AI: The Memory Aspect** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
2\\
\\
min read\\
\\
"Interpreter Wants You to Repeat" - AI medical interpreters outperform humans in storing medical terminology and processing long dialogues without repetition.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreter---human-vs-ai-the-memory-aspect)
[**Nurses and Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Patients** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Nurses are the frontline when it comes to patients with limited English proficiency - many times facing faster-paced micro encounters and under-utilization of medical interpreters\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/nurses-and-limited-english-proficiency-lep-patients)
[**Are Your Non-English Speaking Patients Following Up on Your Discharge Notes?** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
3\\
\\
min read\\
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Studies reveal many patients with limited English proficiency struggle to understand critical post-visit instructions, highlighting the need for accurate, accessible multilingual discharge notes.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/are-your-non-english-speaking-patients-following-up-on-your-discharge-notes)
[**How Private is a Medical Encounter with an Interpreter?** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
3\\
\\
min read\\
\\
The presence of interpreters for limited English proficiency patients in healthcare settings creates unique privacy challenges\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-private-is-a-medical-encounter-with-an-interpreter)
[**Generating New Revenue for Healthcare Organizations with Medical Interpreting Tech** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
2\\
\\
min read\\
\\
How healthcare organizations can transform language barriers into revenue opportunities.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/generating-new-revenue-for-healthcare-organizations-with-ai-medical-interpreting)
[**Are You Paying for Silence?** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Current remote medical interpreting services often include significant periods of silence during patient encounters, resulting in inefficient use of interpreter time and resources.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/are-you-paying-for-silence)
[**Planning Your 2025 Language Access Strategy with AI-Powered Oral Interpretation** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
3\\
\\
min read\\
\\
AI-powered medical interpretation offers healthcare providers a transformative, cost-effective solution for their 2025 language access budgets\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/planning-your-2025-language-access-strategy-with-ai-powered-oral-interpretation)
[**Using No Barrier in the ER: An Inside Look** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
\\
min read\\
\\
An inside look at improving communication and outcomes for patients with Limited English Proficiency in high-stress medical environments - like the ER.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/using-no-barrier-in-the-er-an-inside-look)
[**Medical Interpreting - Reimbursement State** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
2\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Healthcare institutions must provide language services but face limited reimbursement options, driving a need for cost-effective solutions like AI-driven technologies.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreting-reimbursement-state)
[**Bias vs Accuracy in AI Medical Interpreting Tech** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Healthcare AI, particularly GenAI, raises questions about system and model bias towards different patient groups. In medical interpreting, we believe the focus should be on accuracy rather than bias.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/bias-vs-accuracy-in-ai-medical-interpreting-tech)
[**How Many Mistakes Do Medical Interpreters Make?** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
3\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Medical interpreters are vital for effective communication with limited English proficiency patients. Since accuracy is highly important, the question arises - how accurate are they?\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-many-mistakes-do-medical-interpreters-make)
[**Where is the Interpreter iPad Cart?** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) rolling carts have been available for the last 10 years. We explored the reasons behind the shortage of these carts in healthcare institutions.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/where-is-the-interpreter-ipad-cart)
[**Provider - Do You Have LEP Burnout?** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Healthcare providers are well-acquainted with the phenomenon of burnout. However, one challenge often overlooked is the strain related to serving patients with Limited English Proficiency (LEP).\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/provider-do-you-have-lep-burnout)
[**When and When Not Using AI Medical Interpreter** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
5\\
\\
min read\\
\\
While AI is emerging in the medical interpreting industry, there are various cases where the human touch is preferable.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/when-and-when-not-using-ai-medical-interpreter)
[**Relying on Bilingual Peers for Language Interpretation - A Cautionary Tale** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
\\
min read\\
\\
In healthcare, the reliance on bilingual peers for Limited English Proficiency (LEP) patients hints at a deeper complexity worth exploring.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/relying-on-bilingual-peers-for-language-interpretation--a-cautionary-tale)
[**Do You Have Micro Encounters with Limited English Proficiency Patients?** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Brief interactions - when providers choose to skip formal interpretation\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/do-you-have-micro-encounters-with-limited-english-proficiency-patients)
[**So You're Using Google Translate as Medical Interpreter** \\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
5\\
\\
min read\\
\\
It is maybe the most common translation tool on earth, but is Google Translate good as medical interpreter?\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/so-youre-using-google-translate-as-medical-interpreter)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## AI Medical Interpreter
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## FAQs
### **What is an AI medical interpreter?**
An AI medical interpreter is an advanced software solution that leverages artificial intelligence technology to provide real-time interpretation specifically designed for healthcare providers.
### **How does the AI medical interpreter work?**
Our AI medical interpreter utilizes state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms to analyze and interpret spoken language, accurately translating it in real-time. This helps bridge the language barrier between healthcare providers and limited English proficiency patients.
### **What languages are supported?**
We offer different languages, including Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Tagalog, French, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Korean, Ukrainian, Arabic, Russian, Nepali, German, Greek, Italian, and more.
### Do you offer different Spanish dialects?
Yes, we currently support Spanish from the US, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic, with plans to expand to more variants.
### **Is the AI medical interpreter HIPAA compliant?**
Yes, we prioritize the security and confidentiality of patient information. Our AI medical interpreter adheres to strict HIPAA compliance standards, ensuring the privacy of patient data. Read more about our [HIPAA](https://www.nobarrier.ai/hipaa) and [Privacy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) policies.
### **How can I access the AI medical interpreter?**
Our AI medical interpreter is available as a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution. You can access it through a secure web portal [here](https://app.nobarrier.ai/)
### **Does the AI medical interpreter assist with specialized medical terminology?**
Absolutely! Our AI medical interpreter is focused on medical vocabulary and terminology, enabling accurate interpretation of complex medical conversations with precision.
### **What is your data retention policy?**
All encounter content, including PHI (Protected Health Information), is retained for only 7 days and used solely for troubleshooting and service purposes. Read more in our Terms of Service [here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service).
### **Can the AI medical interpreter be used during telemedicine consultations?**
Yes, our AI medical interpreter can analyze conversations sounds - please put your phone \ video on speaker mode
### **How accurate is AI compared to professional interpreters?**
Our AI delivers over 90% accuracy for all released language pairs through rigorous internal testing. Based on our comparative study, our AI technology consistently outperforms traditional phone interpreters in accuracy tests. Read our study results [here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/nobarrier-ai-outperforms-traditional-medical-interpreters-in-first-scientific-study).
### **How reliable is the AI medical interpreter's accuracy?**
Although it is highly reliable, it is important to note that AI technology may have limitations, and occasional errors or misinterpretations can occur. On the other side - human interpreters can also make errors - see [here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-many-mistakes-do-medical-interpreters-make).
### **Is technical support available for the AI medical interpreter?**
Yes, we provide comprehensive technical support to ensure a seamless user experience. Our dedicated support team is available to assist with any questions or issues you may encounter at support@nobarrier.ai
### **How can I get started with the AI medical interpreter for my medical practice?**
Getting started is simple! You can reach out to our team through our website, and we'll guide you through the process of integrating our AI medical interpreter into your practice, tailoring it to meet your specific needs.
## No Barrier blog
[**All articles…**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
[**So You're Using Family Members as Medical Interpreters** \\
\\
Providers commonly rely on family members as interpreters, yet numerous factors must be taken into account.\\
\\
Read More](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/so-youre-using-family-members-as-medical-interpreters)
[**Deploy Medical Interpreter - The Waiting Time Aspect** \\
\\
The waiting time to deploy a professional medical interpreter remains a top challenge in healthcare settings for non-English speaking patients, often causing frustration for medical providers.\\
\\
Read More](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/deploy-medical-interpreter---the-waiting-time-aspect)
[**The Multiple Touchpoints Problem of Non-English Speaking Patients** \\
\\
Patients with limited English proficiency navigate multiple healthcare touchpoints, each with varying levels of language support quality.\\
\\
Read More](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-multiple-touchpoints-problem-of-non-english-speaking-patients)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## AI Medical Interpretation Services
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
# LanguageLine Alternatives: Discover No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Exploring alternatives to LanguageLine? Welcome to No Barrier, where we provide AI-powered medical interpretation services.
## **Why Choose No Barrier?**
Our AI-powered platform provides:
- Instant accessibility
- Consistent AI performance
- Fixed-rate pricing
- Advanced digital features
### Service Comparison\*
**LANGUAGE**
**LINE**
**NO BARRIER**
**LANGUAGE LINE**
**NO BARRIER**
Interpretation Method
Human interpreters
AI-powered technology
Availability
24/7
24/7
Connection Time
Varies by availability
Instant (0 seconds)
Pricing Model
Various pricing options available
Fixed-rate packages
Real-time Textual Transcription
Not mentioned in public materials
Included with every interpretation
Performance
May vary between interpreters
Uniform performance across all interactions
Patient Privacy
Third-party interpreter present
No third party involved
HIPAA
Compatible
Compatible
Language Coverage
240+ languages
Top 20 most requested languages
Spanish Dialects
Not mentioned
Spanish US, Mexican, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Dominican Republic
\*This comparison is based on publicly available information as of \[November 2024\]. Information about LanguageLine is sourced from their publicly available materials and website. Service features, pricing models, and offerings may vary by customer and change over time. We encourage potential customers to contact providers directly for their most current offerings, specific pricing, and detailed service information.
\*\*AI and human interpretation represent different approaches to language services. While AI technology offers specific advantages like instant availability and consistent performance, human interpreters bring unique capabilities to complex situations. Each approach may be suitable for different healthcare scenarios based on specific needs. Healthcare providers should evaluate their specific requirements when choosing interpretation services.
### Key Advantages of No Barrier
1. **Instant Access**: No waiting time - our AI is ready when you are
2. **Consistent Quality**: Uniform AI performance across all medical specialties
3. **Cost-Effective**: Save up to 70% compared to per-minute pricing models.
4. **Advanced Features**: Real-time transcription and multi-device compatibility
5. **Privacy-Focused**: End-to-end encryption and HIPAA compliance without third-party interpreters.
### Real-World Impact
Dr. Sam Frenkel, MD, from California, shares:
_“The No Barrier AI app has been a game changer for me. No more waiting for an iPad interpreter._
_Not being unsure what is being said between the interpreter and the patient when they go back and forth. It’s fast, easy... families have also given great feedback at the end of encounters.”_
### When to Choose No Barrier
No Barrier excels in scenarios such as:
- High-volume clinics seeking cost-effective solutions
- Emergency room interactions requiring immediate interpretation
- Situations where patient privacy is paramount
### Good to Know
**Accuracy**: Our AI technology is adapted to medical jargon and achieves above 90% accuracy rate in internal benchmarks (read more about human interpretation accuracy [here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-many-mistakes-do-medical-interpreters-make)).
**Language Limitations**: While we currently offer the top 20 most requested languages, covering over 95% of interpretation needs, we're constantly expanding our language offerings.
**Cultural Nuances**: Our technology is adapted to different contexts like gender, age, formality, dialects within its supported languages.
**Technical Requirements**: No Barrier works on any connected device like mobile, iPad and laptops. Platform is super simple and self explained
- The comparison provided above is for general informational purposes only.
- Service offerings and features may vary by customer and provider.
- We recommend verifying current services and pricing directly with each provider.
- No Barrier continually updates its technology and services to better serve healthcare providers.
### Ready to Experience the Future of Medical Interpretation?
If you're looking to modernize your medical interpretation services and improve efficiency without compromising on quality, No Barrier could be the perfect solution for your healthcare facility.
Contact us today for a free demo and see how No Barrier - can transform your patient communication experience.
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Book Consultation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/no-barrier-vs-languageline#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## AI Medical Interpretation Services
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
# AMN Language Services Alternatives: Discover No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
.png)
Exploring alternatives to LanguageLine? Welcome to No Barrier, where we provide AI-powered medical interpretation services.
## **Why Choose No Barrier?**
Our AI-powered platform provides:
- Instant accessibility
- Consistent AI performance
- Fixed-rate pricing
- Advanced digital features
### Service Comparison\*
**AMN**
**NO BARRIER**
**AMN**
**NO BARRIER**
Interpretation Method
Human interpreters
AI-powered technology
Availability
24/7
24/7
Connection Time
Varies by availability
Instant (0 seconds)
Pricing Model
Various pricing options available
Fixed-rate packages
Real-time Textual Transcription
Not mentioned in public materials
Included with every interpretation
Consistency, Quality, Accuracy
May vary between interpreters
Uniform performance across all interactions
Patient Privacy
Third-party interpreter present
No third party involved
HIPAA
Compatible
Compatible
Language Coverage
175+ languages
Top 20 most requested languages
Spanish Dialects
Not mentioned
Spanish US, Mexican, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Dominican Republic
_\*This comparison is based on publicly available information as of \[November 2024\]. Information about LanguageLine is sourced from their publicly available materials and website. Service features, pricing models, and offerings may vary by customer and change over time. We encourage potential customers to contact providers directly for their most current offerings, specific pricing, and detailed service information._
_\*\*AI and human interpretation represent different approaches to language services. While AI technology offers specific advantages like instant availability and consistent performance, human interpreters bring unique capabilities to complex situations. Each approach may be suitable for different healthcare scenarios based on specific needs. Healthcare providers should evaluate their specific requirements when choosing interpretation services._
### Key Advantages of No Barrier
1. **Instant Access**: No more waiting for an interpreter to join the call. No Barrier is ready when you are.
2. **Consistent Quality**: No Barrier maintains high accuracy across all medical specialties and interactions.
3. **Cost-Effective**: Save up to 70% compared to traditional per-minute pricing models.
4. **Advanced Features**: Enjoy real-time transcription and multi-device compatibility.
5. **Privacy-Focused**: End-to-end encryption and HIPAA compliance without third-party interpreters.
### Real-World Impact
Dr. Sam Frenkel, MD, from California, shares:
_“The No Barrier AI app has been a game changer for me. No more waiting for an iPad interpreter._
_Not being unsure what is being said between the interpreter and the patient when they go back and forth. It’s fast, easy... families have also given great feedback at the end of encounters.”_
### When to Choose No Barrier
No Barrier excels in scenarios such as:
- High-volume clinics seeking cost-effective solutions
- Emergency room interactions requiring immediate interpretation
- Situations where patient privacy is paramount
### Good to Know
**Accuracy**: Our AI technology is adapted to medical jargon and achieves above 90% accuracy rate in internal benchmarks (read more about human interpretation accuracy [here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-many-mistakes-do-medical-interpreters-make)).
**Language Limitations**: While we currently offer the top 20 most requested languages, covering over 95% of interpretation needs, we're constantly expanding our language offerings.
**Cultural Nuances**: Our technology is adapted to different contexts like gender, age, formality, dialects within its supported languages.
**Technical Requirements**: No Barrier works on any connected device like mobile, iPad and laptops. Platform is super simple and self explained
- The comparison provided above is for general informational purposes only.
- Service offerings and features may vary by customer and provider.
- We recommend verifying current services and pricing directly with each provider.
- No Barrier continually updates its technology and services to better serve healthcare providers.
### Ready to Experience the Future of Medical Interpretation?
If you're looking to modernize your medical interpretation services and improve efficiency without compromising on quality, No Barrier could be the perfect solution for your healthcare facility.
Contact us today for a free demo and see how No Barrier - can transform your patient communication experience.
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Book Consultation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/no-barrier-vs-amn-language-services#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## AI Medical Interpretation Services
Results are in! AI vs professional medical interpreters,
[see our surprising study results →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/no-barrier-vs-cyracom#)
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
# CyraCom Alternatives: Discover No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Exploring alternatives to CyraCom? Welcome to No Barrier, where we provide AI-powered medical interpretation services.
## **Why Choose No Barrier?**
Our AI-powered platform provides:
- Instant accessibility
- Consistent AI performance
- Fixed-rate pricing
- Advanced digital features
### Service Comparison\*
**CyraCom**
**NO BARRIER**
**CYRACOM**
**NO BARRIER**
Interpretation Method
Human interpreters
AI-powered technology
Availability
24/7
24/7
Connection Time
Varies by availability
Instant (0 seconds)
Pricing Model
Various pricing options available
Fixed-rate packages
Real-time Textual Transcription
Not mentioned in public materials
Included with every interpretation
Consistency, Quality, Accuracy
Professional interpreter standards
AI-powered consistency with verified performance standards
Patient Privacy
Third party interpreter present
No third party involved
HIPAA
Compliant
Compliant
Language Coverage
250+ languages
Top 20 most requested languages
Spanish Dialects
Not mentioned
Spanish US, Mexican, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Dominican Republic
_\*This comparison is based on publicly available information as of \[November 2024\]. Information about CyraCom is sourced from their publicly available materials and website. Service features, pricing models, and offerings may vary by customer and change over time. We encourage potential customers to contact providers directly for their most current offerings, specific pricing, and detailed service information._
_\*\*AI and human interpretation represent different approaches to language services. While AI technology offers specific advantages like instant availability and consistent performance, human interpreters bring unique capabilities to complex situations. Each approach may be suitable for different healthcare scenarios based on specific needs. Healthcare providers should evaluate their specific requirements when choosing interpretation services._
### Key Advantages of No Barrier
1. **Instant Access**: No more waiting for an interpreter to join the call. No Barrier is ready when you are.
2. **Consistent Quality**: No Barrier maintains high accuracy across all medical specialties and interactions.
3. **Cost-Effective**: Save up to 70% compared to traditional per-minute pricing models.
4. **Advanced Features**: Enjoy real-time transcription and multi-device compatibility.
5. **Privacy-Focused**: End-to-end encryption and HIPAA compliance without third-party interpreters.
### Real-World Impact
Dr. Sam Frenkel, MD, from California, shares:
_“The No Barrier AI app has been a game changer for me. No more waiting for an iPad interpreter._
_Not being unsure what is being said between the interpreter and the patient when they go back and forth. It’s fast, easy... families have also given great feedback at the end of encounters.”_
### When to Choose No Barrier
No Barrier excels in scenarios such as:
- High-volume clinics seeking cost-effective solutions
- Emergency room interactions requiring immediate interpretation
- Situations where patient privacy is paramount
### Good to Know
**Accuracy**: Our AI technology is adapted to medical jargon and achieves above 90% accuracy rate, based on internal testing.
**Language Limitations**: While we currently offer the top 20 most requested languages, covering over 95% of interpretation needs, we're constantly expanding our language offerings.
**Cultural Nuances**: Our technology is adapted to different contexts like gender, age, formality, dialects within its supported languages.
**Technical Requirements**: No Barrier works on any connected device like mobile, iPad and laptops. Platform is super simple and self explained
- The comparison provided above is for general informational purposes only.
- Service offerings and features may vary by customer and provider.
- We recommend verifying current services and pricing directly with each provider.
- No Barrier continually updates its technology and services to better serve healthcare providers.
### Ready to Experience the Future of Medical Interpretation?
If you're looking to modernize your medical interpretation services and improve efficiency without compromising on quality, No Barrier could be the perfect solution for your healthcare facility.
Contact us today for a free demo and see how No Barrier - can transform your patient communication experience.
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Book Consultation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/no-barrier-vs-cyracom#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## AI Medical Interpretation Services
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
# Lionbridge Alternatives: Discover No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
**Exploring alternatives to Lionbridge's medical interpretation services? Welcome to No Barrier, where we provide AI-powered medical interpretation services.**
## **Why Choose No Barrier?**
Our AI-powered platform provides:
- Instant accessibility
- Consistent AI performance
- Fixed-rate pricing
- Advanced digital features
### Service Comparison\*
**LIONBRIDGE**
**NO BARRIER**
**LIONBRIDGE**
**NO BARRIER**
Interpretation Method
Human interpreters
AI-powered technology
Availability
24/7
24/7
Connection Time
Varies by availability
Instant (0 seconds)
Pricing Model
Per minute
Fixed-rate packages
Real-time Textual Transcription
Not mentioned in public materials
Included with every interpretation
Consistency, Quality, Accuracy
May vary between interpreters
Uniform performance across all interactions
Patient Privacy
Third-party interpreter present
No third party involved
HIPAA
Compatible
Compatible
Language Coverage
380+ languages
Top 20 most requested languages
_\*This comparison is based on publicly available information as of \[November 2024\]. Information about_ **_Lionbridge's medical interpretation services_** _is sourced from their publicly available materials and website. Service features, pricing models, and offerings may vary by customer and change over time. We encourage potential customers to contact providers directly for their most current offerings, specific pricing, and detailed service information._
_\*\*AI and human interpretation represent different approaches to language services. While AI technology offers specific advantages like instant availability and consistent performance, human interpreters bring unique capabilities to complex situations. Each approach may be suitable for different healthcare scenarios based on specific needs. Healthcare providers should evaluate their specific requirements when choosing interpretation services._
### Key Advantages of No Barrier
1. **Instant Access**: No more waiting for an interpreter to join the call. No Barrier is ready when you are.
2. **Consistent Quality**: No Barrier maintains high accuracy across all medical specialties and interactions.
3. **Cost-Effective**: Save up to 70% compared to traditional per-minute pricing models.
4. **Advanced Features**: Enjoy real-time transcription and multi-device compatibility.
5. **Privacy-Focused**: End-to-end encryption and HIPAA compliance without third-party interpreters.
### Real-World Impact
Dr. Sam Frenkel, MD, from California, shares:
_“The No Barrier AI app has been a game changer for me. No more waiting for an iPad interpreter._
_Not being unsure what is being said between the interpreter and the patient when they go back and forth. It’s fast, easy... families have also given great feedback at the end of encounters.”_
### When to Choose No Barrier
No Barrier excels in scenarios such as:
- High-volume clinics seeking cost-effective solutions
- Emergency room interactions requiring immediate interpretation
- Situations where patient privacy is paramount
### Good to Know
**Accuracy**: Our AI technology is adapted to medical jargon and achieves above 90% accuracy rate in internal benchmarks (read more about human interpretation accuracy [here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-many-mistakes-do-medical-interpreters-make)).
**Language Limitations**: While we currently offer the top 20 most requested languages, covering over 95% of interpretation needs, we're constantly expanding our language offerings.
**Cultural Nuances**: Our technology is adapted to different contexts like gender, age, formality, dialects within its supported languages.
**Technical Requirements**: No Barrier works on any connected device like mobile, iPad and laptops. Platform is super simple and self explained
- The comparison provided above is for general informational purposes only.
- Service offerings and features may vary by customer and provider.
- We recommend verifying current services and pricing directly with each provider.
- No Barrier continually updates its technology and services to better serve healthcare providers.
### Ready to Experience the Future of Medical Interpretation?
If you're looking to modernize your medical interpretation services and improve efficiency without compromising on quality, No Barrier could be the perfect solution for your healthcare facility.
Contact us today for a free demo and see how No Barrier - can transform your patient communication experience.
_This comparison is provided for informational purposes only based on publicly available information. All features, services, and prices are subject to change. We encourage prospects to verify all information directly with each provider when making a decision_
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Book Consultation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/no-barrier-vs-lionbridge#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## AI Medical Interpretation
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
# Propio Alternatives: Discover No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Exploring alternatives to Propio? Welcome to No Barrier, where we provide AI-powered medical interpretation services.
## **Why Choose No Barrier?**
Our AI-powered platform provides:
- Instant accessibility
- Consistent AI performance
- Fixed-rate pricing
- Advanced digital features
### Service Comparison\*
**PROPIO**
**NO BARRIER**
**PROPIO**
**NO BARRIER**
Interpretation Method
Human interpreters
AI-powered technology
Availability
24/7
24/7
Connection Time
Varies by availability
Instant (0 seconds)
Pricing Model
Various pricing options available
Fixed-rate packages
Real-time Textual Transcription
Not mentioned in public materials
Included with every interpretation
Consistency, Quality, Accuracy
May vary between interpreters
Uniform performance across all interactions
Patient Privacy
Third-party interpreter present
No third party involved
HIPAA
Compatible
Compatible
Language Coverage
300+ languages
Top 20 most requested languages
Spanish Dialects
Not mentioned
Spanish US, Mexican, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Dominican Republic
_\*This comparison is based on publicly available information as of \[November 2024\]. Information about Propio is sourced from their publicly available materials and website. Service features, pricing models, and offerings may vary by customer and change over time. We encourage potential customers to contact providers directly for their most current offerings, specific pricing, and detailed service information._
_\*\*AI and human interpretation represent different approaches to language services. While AI technology offers specific advantages like instant availability and consistent performance, human interpreters bring unique capabilities to complex situations. Each approach may be suitable for different healthcare scenarios based on specific needs. Healthcare providers should evaluate their specific requirements when choosing interpretation services._
### Key Advantages of No Barrier
1. **Instant Access**: No more waiting for an interpreter to join the call. No Barrier is ready when you are.
2. **Consistent Quality**: No Barrier maintains high accuracy across all medical specialties and interactions.
3. **Cost-Effective**: Save up to 70% compared to traditional per-minute pricing models.
4. **Advanced Features**: Enjoy real-time transcription and multi-device compatibility.
5. **Privacy-Focused**: End-to-end encryption and HIPAA compliance without third-party interpreters.
### Real-World Impact
Dr. Sam Frenkel, MD, from California, shares:
_“The No Barrier AI app has been a game changer for me. No more waiting for an iPad interpreter._
_Not being unsure what is being said between the interpreter and the patient when they go back and forth. It’s fast, easy... families have also given great feedback at the end of encounters.”_
### When to Choose No Barrier
No Barrier excels in scenarios such as:
- High-volume clinics seeking cost-effective solutions
- Emergency room interactions requiring immediate interpretation
- Situations where patient privacy is paramount
### Good to Know
**Accuracy**: Our AI technology is adapted to medical jargon and achieves above 90% accuracy rate in internal benchmarks (read more about human interpretation accuracy [here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-many-mistakes-do-medical-interpreters-make)).
**Language Limitations**: While we currently offer the top 20 most requested languages, covering over 95% of interpretation needs, we're constantly expanding our language offerings.
**Cultural Nuances**: Our technology is adapted to different contexts like gender, age, formality, dialects within its supported languages.
**Technical Requirements**: No Barrier works on any connected device like mobile, iPad and laptops. Platform is super simple and self explained
- The comparison provided above is for general informational purposes only.
- Service offerings and features may vary by customer and provider.
- We recommend verifying current services and pricing directly with each provider.
- No Barrier continually updates its technology and services to better serve healthcare providers.
### Ready to Experience the Future of Medical Interpretation?
If you're looking to modernize your medical interpretation services and improve efficiency without compromising on quality, No Barrier could be the perfect solution for your healthcare facility.
Contact us today for a free demo and see how No Barrier - can transform your patient communication experience.
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Book Consultation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/no-barrier-vs-propio#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## AI Medical Interpretation Services
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
# GLOBO Alternatives: Discover No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Exploring alternatives to GLOBO? Welcome to No Barrier, where we provide AI-powered medical interpretation services.
## **Why Choose No Barrier?**
Our AI-powered platform provides:
- Instant accessibility
- Consistent AI performance
- Fixed-rate pricing
- Advanced digital features
### Service Comparison\*
GLOBO
**NO BARRIER**
**GLOBO**
**NO BARRIER**
Interpretation Method
Human interpreters
AI-powered technology
Availability
24/7
24/7
Connection Time
Professional interpreter connection
Immediate connection
Pricing Model
Per minute
Fixed-rate packages
Real-time Textual Transcription
Not mentioned in public materials
Included with every interpretation
Consistency, Quality, Accuracy
Standardized professional interpretation
AI powered consistent delivery
HIPAA
Compatible
Compatible
Language Coverage
430+ languages
Top 20 most requested languages
Spanish Dialects
Comprehensive Spanish dialects supported
Spanish US, Mexican, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Dominican Republic
_\*This comparison is based on publicly available information as of \[November 2024\]. Information about GLOBO is sourced from their publicly available materials and website. Service features, pricing models, and offerings may vary by customer and change over time. We encourage potential customers to contact providers directly for their most current offerings, specific pricing, and detailed service information._
_\*\*AI and human interpretation represent different approaches to language services. While AI technology offers specific advantages like instant availability and consistent performance, human interpreters bring unique capabilities to complex situations. Each approach may be suitable for different healthcare scenarios based on specific needs. Healthcare providers should evaluate their specific requirements when choosing interpretation services._
### Key Advantages of No Barrier
1. **Instant Access**: No Barrier is ready when you are.
2. **Consistent Quality**: No Barrier maintains high accuracy across all medical specialties and interactions.
3. **Cost-Effective**: Fixed-rate packages offer predictable pricing for your budget.
4. **Advanced Features**: Enjoy real-time transcription and multi-device compatibility.
### Real-World Impact
Dr. Sam Frenkel, MD, from California, shares:
_“The No Barrier AI app has been a game changer for me. No more waiting for an iPad interpreter._
_Not being unsure what is being said between the interpreter and the patient when they go back and forth. It’s fast, easy... families have also given great feedback at the end of encounters.”_
### When to Choose No Barrier
No Barrier excels in scenarios such as:
- High-volume clinics seeking cost-effective solutions
- Emergency room interactions requiring immediate interpretation
### Good to Know
**Accuracy**: Our AI technology is adapted to medical jargon and achieves above 90% accuracy rate in internal benchmarks.
**Language Limitations**: While we currently offer the top 20 most requested languages, covering over 95% of interpretation needs, we're constantly expanding our language offerings.
**Cultural Nuances**: Our technology is adapted to different contexts like gender, age, formality, dialects within its supported languages.
**Technical Requirements**: No Barrier works on any connected device like mobile, iPad and laptops. Platform is super simple and self explained
- The comparison provided above is for general informational purposes only.
- Service offerings and features may vary by customer and provider.
- We recommend verifying current services and pricing directly with each provider.
- No Barrier continually updates its technology and services to better serve healthcare providers.
### Ready to Experience the Future of Medical Interpretation?
If you're looking to modernize your medical interpretation services and improve efficiency without compromising on quality, No Barrier could be the perfect solution for your healthcare facility.
Contact us today for a free demo and see how No Barrier - can transform your patient communication experience.
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Book Consultation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/no-barrier-vs-globo#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## HIPAA Compliance Overview
No Barrier - HIPAA & Privacy.pdf - Google Drive
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{"id": "1fGy0sEY8XiVAnj\_ISjSg3\_J\_F6D\_hXBU", "title": "No Barrier - HIPAA \\x26 Privacy.pdf", "mimeType": "application\\/pdf"}
[https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/index.html](https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/index.html)[https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/security/index.html](https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/security/index.html)[https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/breach-notification/index.html](https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/breach-notification/index.html)[mailto:support@nobarrier.ai](mailto:support@nobarrier.ai)[mailto:support@nobarrier.ai](mailto:support@nobarrier.ai)
## Page 1 of 1
HIPAA and Privacy
No Barrier AI, Inc (“No Barrier”, “we”, or “our”) is committed to protecting your and your patients’ privacy
and data.
The United States, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 ("HIPAA") provides federal
protections for patient Protected Health Information ("PHI") held by covered entities (health plans, health
clearinghouses or healthcare providers) and business associates (entities collecting or accessing PHI on
behalf of Covered Entities) and give patients some rights with respect to such PHI. This suite of regulations
includes the Privacy Rule, which protects the privacy of individually identifiable health information; the
Security Rule, which sets national standards for the security of electronic Protected Health Information
(ePHI); and the Breach Notification Rule, which requires Covered Entities and business associates to
provide notification following a breach of unsecured PHI (all together, “HIPAA Rules”). Business associates
must comply with the HIPAA Security Rule and Breach Notification Rule as well as certain provisions of the
HIPAA Privacy Rule.
If HIPAA applies to your company (either as a business associate or as a covered entity), we recommend
that you conduct internal due diligence to map your specific PHI collection practices. And, as a part of that,
to consider what personal data and/or PHI you are sharing, storing, processing or using on our services
and, if required, reach out to support@nobarrier.ai to execute our Business Associate Agreement.
What is No Barrier doing in order to comply with HIPAA?
1\. We built an internal taskforce with members of different departments to implement the HIPAA
compliance plan internally.
2\. We involved senior management in the supervision of our implementation plan.
3\. We held different discussions and conversations in order to understand what PHI is used in
connection with our services, to distinguish where it is hosted and implemented measures to
help our customers comply with their HIPAA obligations.
4\. We signed business associate agreements with all of our vendors and service providers who
could be exposed to PHI.
5\. We have a security incident and personal data breach notification policy to guide how we would
respond in the event of a HIPAA related breach.
6\. We regularly provide training and awareness among our employees about key HIPAA
requirements.
7\. We have a HIPAA compliance officer charged with overseeing our HIPAA compliance.
8\. We utilize and host our platform in secure US-based data centers of AWS services. We have
signed a Business Associate Agreement (“BAA”) with AWS.
9\. Data Security & Retention
a) We use a combination of technical, administrative, and physical controls to keep user
data secure. Data is always transmitted via secure channels. Data is encrypted in transit
and at rest using the industry best practice encryption standards (e.g. AES-256).
b) We have a data retention and deletion policy in place to avoid storing data perpetually.
c) For more information, please see our privacy policy available on our website.
I have more questions. Who should I contact? If you have any additional questions about our
implementation of the HIPAA Rules, you are welcome to contact us at support@nobarrier.ai.
Disclaimer: The information in this document may not be construed or used as legal advice about the
content, interpretation or application of any law, regulation or regulatory guideline. Customers and
prospective customers must seek their own legal counsel to understand the applicability of any law or
regulation on their processing of personal data.
Last time updated: February 26, 2024.
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## Affordable Medical Interpretation
Results are in! AI vs professional medical interpreters,
[see our surprising study results →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/nobarrier-ai-outperforms-traditional-medical-interpreters-in-first-scientific-study)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
# Let’sEnd
Per-Minute
Costs
Switch to fixed annual pricing on interpretation, save 70%, and have unlimited access. 14 days free trial
Book a Demo
Average Cost Savings
.png)
Unlimited Usage
Cost Predictability
[Start Your Free Trial](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing#)
Start Your Free Trial
## Pricing Card
Fixed Annual Subscription
No per-minute charges
.png)
Predictable annual budget
.png)
Unlimited encounters
Zero-wait access to care
.png)
Enterprise-grade security
.png)
All major languages supported
They've made
it effective for us, efficient for us, cost-effective for us,
to really provide care to a lot of different people.
Sarah Joyce
R.N. Heritage Family Medicine
[Read the story behind our pricing model **→**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/why-were-ending-per-minute-pricing-in-medical-interpretation)
[Start Your Free Trial](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing#)
Start Your Free Trial
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Language Support in Healthcare
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
# Supported Languages
Our AI-powered platform breaks down language barriers in real-time, enabling seamless healthcare communication across multiple languages and regional variants. We're continuously expanding our language support to serve more communities and improve access to care. Experience the future of healthcare communication with our cutting-edge AI technology.
# Supported Languages
We're continuously expanding our language support to serve more communities and improve access to care.
Latin America
Spanish (US)
Spanish (Mexican)
Spanish (Puerto Rico)
Spanish (Cuba)
Spanish (Dominican Republic)
Portuguese ( **Brazil**)
European Languages
Portuguese
Russian
Ukrainian
Greek
Polish
German
Italian
Albanian
Armenian
Romanian
**Georgian**
French Variants
French
French (Belgian)
French (Canadian)
Asian Languages
Tagalog
Mandarin
Cantonese
Japanese
Korean
Vietnamese
Nepali
Hindi
Bengali
Urdu
Burmese
Khmer (Coming Soon)
Middle Eastern & African
Arabic United Arab Emirates
Arabic Saudi Arabia
Arabic Egypt
Arabic Syria
Arabic Iraq
Arabic Morocco
.png)
Pashto
Hebrew
Persian
Dari
Swahili
**Turkish**
Amharic (Coming Soon)
Somali (Coming Soon)
Caribbean Languages
Haitian Creole
Spanish Variants
Spanish (US)
Spanish (Mexican)
Spanish (Puerto Rico)
Spanish (Cuba)
Spanish (Dominican Republic)
Asian Languages
Tagalog
Mandarin
Cantonese
Korean
Vietnamese
Nepali
Hindi (Coming Soon)
Bengali (Coming Soon)
European Languages
Portuguese
Russian
Ukrainian
Greek
Polish
German
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
Arabic
Amharic (Coming Soon)
Somali (Coming Soon)
Caribbean Languages
Haitian Creole (Coming Soon)
French Variants
French
French (Belgian)
French (Canadian)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Care Culture Talks Podcast
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Play this episode
# Care Culture Talks
Hosted by Eyal Heldenberg, CEO of No Barrier
Conversations with healthcare leaders and innovators breaking language barriers in care delivery.
[Listen to Latest Episode](https://www.nobarrier.ai/podcast#list-episode)
Listen on
[%201.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/il/podcast/care-culture-talks/id1795321107) [](https://open.spotify.com/show/0S6caDDwKGFosQgR8sBflH) [%201.svg)](https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfgBFbG3gvgaw0NUP_nPryL38fZi-Ze16)
## Care Culture in Healthcare
Language shapes care quality. In the _Care Culture Talks_ series, medical leaders share real-world strategies for delivering culturally competent care across diverse communities. From language access and patient communication to health equity, inclusion and staff burn out, each episode provides firsthand insight from clinicians driving change in their institutions.
You’ll discover how experts like Dr. Gezzer Ortega, Dr. Stevensen Chery and others are redefining communication practices in hospitals and clinics to make care safer, faster and more human. These conversations reveal how cultural and linguistic awareness transform patient relationships and clinical outcomes.
Featured
[](https://youtube.com/watch?v=RqBv7lIKRxg&feature=youtu.be)[.svg.png)](https://www.nobarrier.ai/podcast#)[](https://open.spotify.com/episode/2D7zN0mlnP4ThggfOoTJ0V)
### **Learning from Dr. Gezzer Ortega: Building a Culture of Culturally Competent Care**
Dr. Gezzer Ortega on Cultural Competency in Surgery
Dr. Gezzer Ortega, Assistant Professor of Surgery at Mass General Brigham, has developed a practical framework for integrating cultural competence into surgical practice. His work illustrates how a medical institution can train its staff to better understand and communicate with patients from diverse linguistic, social and cultural backgrounds.
**Why it matters:** Dr. Ortega’s approach shows that when clinical teams communicate clearly across cultures, patient care becomes safer, faster and more human.
**🎧 _Explore how Dr. Ortega led this cultural shift within his hospital._**
**Listen to the full episode (24:41)** on Youtube, Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
### **Learning from Dr. Gezzer Ortega: Building a Culture of Culturally Competent Care**
[](https://youtube.com/watch?v=RqBv7lIKRxg&feature=youtu.be)[.svg.png)](https://www.nobarrier.ai/podcast#)[](https://open.spotify.com/episode/2D7zN0mlnP4ThggfOoTJ0V)
Dr. Gezzer Ortega, Assistant Professor of Surgery at Mass General Brigham, has developed a practical framework for integrating cultural competence into surgical practice. His work illustrates how a medical institution can train its staff to better understand and communicate with patients from diverse linguistic, social and cultural backgrounds.
**Why it matters:** Dr. Ortega’s approach shows that when clinical teams communicate clearly across cultures, patient care becomes safer, faster and more human.
🎧 _Explore how Dr. Ortega led this cultural shift within his hospital._
**Listen to the full episode (24:41)** on Youtube, Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
## Episode Library
Filter by
TopicCulture Competent CareSpanish cultureHaitian CreoleComplianceMedical InterpretationTechnologyCommunity Health CenterEmergency CareAI interpretationCare equityPatient ExperienceDuration25 min60 min90 minGuest NameDr. Gezzer OrtegaDr. Sam FrenkelLouis D. SimmonsDr. Ilan ShapiroDr. Adam WeiserMatias SaenzDiana EraniDr. Deborah GilboaDr. Jeffrey ChenDr. Stevensen CheryYear2025
[%20(14).png)\\
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**Speaking Your Patient's Language: Dr. Gezzer Ortega on Cultural Competency in Medicine** \\
Dr. Ortega explores challenges and solutions for healthcare language barriers, including AI's role in supporting human interpreters.\\
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25 min\\
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Dr. Gezzer Ortega\\
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Spanish culture\\
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2025](https://www.nobarrier.ai/episodes/speaking-your-patients-language-dr-gezzer-ortega-on-cultural-competency-in-medicine)
[%20(13).jpg)\\
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Dr. Sam Frenkel\\
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Eyal Heldenberg\\
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**Seconds Count: Dr. Sam Frenkel's Frontline Perspectives on Language Barriers in Emergency Medicine** \\
In this episode of "Care Culture Talks," host Eyal Heldenberg speaks with Dr. Sam Frenkel about the unique challenges of providing emergency care across language barriers. Dr. Frenkel, who has worked in emergency departments from coast to coast, reveals how the high-pressure, time-sensitive nature of emergency medicine magnifies the impact of communication barriers.\\
The conversation explores the practical realities emergency physicians face: from competing for scarce interpreter resources to recognizing crucial cultural decision-making dynamics that aren't taught in medical school. Dr. Frenkel shares personal stories of cultural missteps and hard-won insights, including his "teach-back" technique to ensure patient understanding across language divides.\\
This episode provides essential insights for healthcare providers, administrators, and anyone interested in improving emergency care for diverse populations in fast-paced settings where minutes—and clear communication—can make all the difference.\\
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May 19, 2025\\
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31:34\\
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60 min\\
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Dr. Sam Frenkel\\
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Medical Interpretation\\
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Emergency Care\\
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2025](https://www.nobarrier.ai/episodes/seconds-count-dr-sam-frenkels-frontline-perspectives-on-language-barriers-in-emergency-medicine)
[\\
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Guest:\\
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Louis D. Simmons\\
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Host: \\
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Eyal Heldenberg\\
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**Language Access in Community Centers: Improving Care With Medical Translation with Louis D. Simmons** \\
In this insightful conversation, host Eyal Heldenberg speaks with Louis D. Simmons about the critical importance of language accessibility in healthcare settings, particularly in Community Health Centers. With over 15 years of healthcare leadership experience, Simmons shares valuable perspectives on how community health centers serve diverse populations and the unique challenges these centers face.\\
The episode explores how Community Health Centers operate as essential safety net providers, delivering care to medically underserved communities through integrated service models. Simmons delves into the impact of language barriers on healthcare delivery and patient outcomes, emphasizing the importance of certified medical translators versus relying on family members for translation services.\\
The conversation covers the evolution of interpretation technology in healthcare—from in-person translators to video and telephonic solutions—and how these advancements have improved accessibility, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Simmons provides actionable advice for healthcare leaders looking to address language barriers in their organizations, including evaluating patient demographics, developing staff capabilities, and creating advocacy positions for culturally competent care.\\
Louis D. Simmons, a healthcare leader with extensive experience in both acute care and physician group settings, discusses how language barriers impact patient care in community health centers and shares strategies for providing culturally competent care to diverse patient populations. This episode offers valuable insights for healthcare professionals seeking to better serve diverse communities and ensure equitable access to quality healthcare regardless of language or cultural background.\\
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Release Date:\\
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April 30, 2025\\
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44:56\\
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90 min\\
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Louis D. Simmons\\
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Culture Competent Care\\
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Care equity\\
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Compliance\\
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2025](https://www.nobarrier.ai/episodes/language-access-in-community-centers-improving-care-with-medical-translation-with-louis-d-simmons)
[\\
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Guest:\\
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Dr. Ilan Shapiro\\
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Host: \\
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Eyal Heldenberg\\
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**Medical Interpretation for Latino/LEP Patients: Dr. Shapiro's Insights on Cultural Healthcare Access** \\
In this episode of "Care Culture Talks," host Eyal Heldenberg (CEO of No Barrier) talks with Dr. Ilan Shapiro about helping Spanish-speaking patients get better healthcare. Having grown up in Mexico City, Dr. Shapiro shares real-world tips on talking with Latino patients and others who struggle with English.\\
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Release Date:\\
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April 21, 2025\\
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Duration:\\
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20:43\\
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90 min\\
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Dr. Ilan Shapiro\\
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Spanish culture\\
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Care equity\\
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Emergency Care\\
\\
2025](https://www.nobarrier.ai/episodes/medical-interpretation-for-latino-lep-patients-dr-shapiros-insights-on-cultural-healthcare-access)
[%20(7).jpg)\\
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Guest:\\
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Dr. Adam Weiser\\
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Host: \\
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Eyal Heldenberg\\
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**Cultural Barriers in Urology: How Dr. Weiser Navigates Sensitive Conversations Across Languages** \\
Dr. Adam Weiser, a urologist from Columbus, shares how to care for patients from different cultures when discussing sensitive health topics.\\
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Release Date:\\
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April 8, 2025\\
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Duration:\\
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24:28\\
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90 min\\
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Dr. Adam Weiser\\
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Technology\\
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Patient Experience\\
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Compliance\\
\\
2025](https://www.nobarrier.ai/episodes/cultural-barriers-in-urology-how-dr-weiser-navigates-sensitive-conversations-across-languages)
[%20(11).jpg)\\
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Guest:\\
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Matias Saenz\\
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Host: \\
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Eyal Heldenberg\\
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**Beyond Words: The Art of Medical Interpretation with Matias Saenz** \\
In this episode, Ecuadorian Spanish medical interpreter Matias Saenz shares his journey from training to becoming a certified nationwide interpreter. He discusses the daily life of a medical interpreter, from guiding patients through hospital facilities to navigating cultural misunderstandings between patients and providers. Through powerful stories—including potentially dangerous translation errors, delivering difficult news, and creating meaningful connections with patients—Matias reveals how medical interpreters serve as cultural bridges in healthcare settings while highlighting both the emotional challenges and rewarding aspects of this essential role.\\
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Release Date:\\
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March 8, 2025\\
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Duration:\\
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27:35\\
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90 min\\
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Matias Saenz\\
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Medical Interpretation\\
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Spanish culture\\
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2025](https://www.nobarrier.ai/episodes/beyond-words-the-art-of-medical-interpretation-with-matias-saenz)
[%20(10).png)\\
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Guest:\\
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Diana Erani\\
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Host: \\
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Eyal Heldenberg \\
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**Community Health Centers: Culturally Competent Care for All with Diana Erani** \\
In this enlightening episode of Care Culture Talks, host Eyal Heldenberg sits down with Diana Erani, Chief Operating Officer at the National Association of Community Health Centers. Diana shares her impressive journey from working with Healthcare for the Homeless in Houston to her current national role overseeing 1,500 community health centers serving 32.5 million Americans. She explains the unique model of community health centers—where 51% of board members are patients—and how these centers achieve better clinical outcomes at lower costs by prioritizing cultural competence. Diana offers valuable insights on language access challenges in healthcare settings, the importance of certified medical interpreters, and shares her vision for the future where community health centers might serve one in three Americans instead of the current one in ten. This conversation illuminates how community-driven healthcare can bridge cultural and linguistic gaps to provide truly accessible care for diverse populations.\\
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Release Date:\\
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February 27, 2025\\
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Duration:\\
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20:21\\
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90 min\\
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Diana Erani\\
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Community Health Center\\
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Care equity\\
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Medical Interpretation\\
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2025](https://www.nobarrier.ai/episodes/community-health-centers-culturally-competent-care-for-all-with-diana-erani)
[%20(9).png)\\
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Guest:\\
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Dr. Deborah Gilboa\\
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Host: \\
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Eyal Heldenberg\\
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**Navigating Cultural Communication in Healthcare - Dr. Deborah Gilboa** \\
Dr. Deborah Gilboa shares her 25 years of experience navigating cross-cultural healthcare communication at a federally qualified health center serving patients from over 100 countries. From sign language interpretation to understanding cultural beliefs around treatment, Dr. Gilboa provides practical insights on building trust across language and cultural barriers in medical settings.\\
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Release Date:\\
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January 28, 2025\\
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Duration:\\
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42:10\\
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90 min\\
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Dr. Deborah Gilboa\\
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Medical Interpretation\\
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Care equity\\
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Community Health Center\\
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2025](https://www.nobarrier.ai/episodes/beyond-translation-a-doctors-guide-to-cultural-healthcare-communication)
[%20(8).png)\\
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Guest:\\
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Dr. Jeffrey Chen\\
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Host: \\
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Eyal Heldenberg\\
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**Emergency Care Across Languages: A Conversation with Dr. Jeffrey Chen** \\
Dr. Jeffrey Chen shares his unique perspective as an emergency medicine physician at Mills Peninsula Hospital near San Francisco International Airport, where he regularly treats patients speaking dozens of languages. From his early days as a medical student managing interpreter phones to becoming trilingual himself, Dr. Chen discusses the challenges and opportunities in providing culturally competent emergency care. He offers insights into various interpretation methods - from family members to professional services - while highlighting the evolving role of AI in medical interpretation.\\
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Release Date:\\
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February 1, 2025\\
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Duration:\\
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27:53\\
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90 min\\
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Dr. Jeffrey Chen\\
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Emergency Care\\
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Medical Interpretation\\
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2025](https://www.nobarrier.ai/episodes/emergency-care-across-languages-a-conversation-with-dr-jeffrey-chen)
[Load More](https://www.nobarrier.ai/podcast#)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/podcast#)[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/podcast#)[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/podcast#)
### Showcasing Stevensen’s Episode
Dr. Stevensen Chery, MD, MAT on Cultural Competency and Haitian Creole in U.S. Healthcare
Listen to the full episode - 24:41
## Why language access matters
25.7 million people with LEP in the United States
Source: MACPAC USA
Millions of patients struggle to get care because of language barriers, while healthcare staff face growing stress and burnout trying to fill those gaps without enough support. Through real stories, the Care Culture Talks podcast explores both sides of this challenge and shows how human expertise and AI can come together to build more inclusive, sustainable healthcare.
## Frequently Asked Questions
### 01\. What is medical interpretation in healthcare?
Yes. Medical interpretation is an essential part of patient care. It ensures that every patient, regardless of language, can understand their diagnosis, treatment and rights. Without it, quality care and safety are at risk.
### 02\. Can language barriers cause medical staff burn out?
Yes. When staff have to act as ad-hoc interpreters or repeat information through confusion, it adds emotional strain, slows care and increases burnout. Medical staff that was questioned in the Care Culture Talk for No Barrier testified they the mental charge is heavy not to be able to perform care due to language barrier. Clear communication helps protect both patients and providers.
### 03\. How does AI assist interpreters in real-time?
AI now supports encounters with instant, secure translations that let patients communicate naturally during care. It saves time while keeping accuracy and empathy in the conversation. Human escalation is also offered by No Barrier.
### 04\. Is AI assist already live and tested by doctors and nurse practitioners?
Yes. Healthcare teams are already using AI-assisted interpretation in real clinics and hospitals. See Case Study here in the Federal Community Clinic. Early adopters report faster triage, reduced stress for staff and stronger patient trust.
## Ready to make every patient conversation count?
See how No Barrier supports healthcare teams.
[\\
Request a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/podcast#)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/podcast#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## AI Healthcare Interpretation
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
# The Team Behind No Barrier
Blend of healthcare professionals and Voice AI experts - Meet the dedicated professionals working to revolutionize healthcare communication and bridge language gaps between providers and patients.
## Our Mission
No Barrier is dedicated to revolutionizing healthcare communication by providing an AI-driven medical interpreter designed to bridge language and cultural gaps between healthcare providers and patients with limited English proficiency (LEP). We aim to enhance patient care by offering immediate, accurate, and secure interpretation services, eliminating delays and improving overall healthcare experiences.
## Meet Our Team
## Eyal Heldenberg
Chief Executive Officer
With 15+ years leading voice AI innovation, Eyal has pioneered speech recognition solutions that transformed communication for millions of users across multiple industries before founding No Barrier to tackle healthcare's language challenges.
[](https://www.linkedin.com/in/eyal-heldenberg-4171a24/)
## Moe Abramovitch
Chief Operating Officer
AI leader who scaled speech analytics products reaching millions of users for industry-leading brands. Moshe brings operational excellence to No Barrier's mission of breaking down language barriers in critical healthcare conversations.
[](https://www.linkedin.com/in/moe-abramovitch/)
## Tomer Baum
Chief Technology Officer
Technology visionary with proven success building and leading teams that developed breakthrough voice AI solutions deployed by industry leaders like Verint, LogMeIn & Aircall. At No Barrier, Tomer drives the technical innovation making real-time medical interpretation possible.
[](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomerbaum/)
## Dr. Jeffrey Chen, MD
Head of Medical Affairs
Emergency Physician at Mills-Peninsula with distinguished training at Harvard, UCSF, and Princeton, Dr. Chen guides No Barrier's clinical strategy to ensure our technology delivers meaningful health equity improvements for limited English
proficiency patients.
[](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-chen-md/)
## Advisory
## Dr. Ilan Shapiro
Chief Health Correspondent and Medical Affairs Officer at AltaMed Health Services, Dr. Shapiro is a distinguished healthcare leader and passionate advocate for Latino communities across Los Angeles and California. His expertise in culturally competent care guides No Barrier's approach to AI-powered medical interpretation.
[](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanshapiromd/)
## Dr. Aurelio Muzaurieta
Emergency Medicine Resident at Stanford pioneering technology for multilingual healthcare. Fluent in Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Mandarin Chinese from his Harvard education, Aurelio combines clinical expertise with entrepreneurial vision from his MD/MBA. His research across Brazil, China, and the US brings invaluable perspective to No Barrier's mission of breaking language barriers in critical care settings.
[](https://www.linkedin.com/in/aurelio-muzaurieta/)
## Investors
## Technology Partners
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Healthcare Security Solutions
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
# Privacy & Security at No Barrier
Your trust and safety are our top priority. At No Barrier, we take protecting your medical and personal information seriously. Privacy and security are built into everything we do.
## Industry-Leading **Security** Standards
### Enterprise Security
Our platform runs on robust, high-availability cloud infrastructure with all data stored in secure US data centers. All protected health information (PHI) is encrypted at rest with AES-256 and in transit with TLS 1.3 protocols
### Automatic Data Deletion
Every encounter's content is automatically deleted after 7 days - no exceptions, no backups, no archives. We never train on, repurpose, or sell your data, giving you and your patients complete peace of mind.
### Compliance & Certification
We adhere to and exceed industry standards, including HIPAA and SOC2 Type 1 & 2. Our systems are regularly audited and monitored to maintain the highest levels of compliance.
### AI Privacy by Design
Our AI models process data in secure, isolated environments with zero retention for training purposes. Your healthcare conversations remain private
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/security#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## AI Medical Interpretation
Results are in! AI vs professional medical interpreters,
[see our surprising study results →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/nobarrier-ai-outperforms-traditional-medical-interpreters-in-first-scientific-study)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
# Get answers on AI interpretation. Pricing, compliance, or a live demo.
Whether you have a quick question or want to explore AI-powered interpretation in your medical institution, ask anything and get
a human reply in under one business day.
< 1 business-day reply.
HIPAA compliant. BAA available.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
## Compliance & Benefits
#### 70% Cost reduction
compared to traditional services
#### 20% More accurate
on average than professional interpreters
#### 0 Waiting time
to start medical encounter
#### 70% Cost reduction
compared to traditional services
#### 20% More accurate
on average than professional interpreters
#### 0 Waiting time
to start medical encounter
## 24/7 medical interpreter service
Top questions, clear answers
Last update: 08.2025
Is the AI interpreter specialized for healthcare?
Last update: 08.2025
Yes. It’s trained on medical terminology and clinician-patient dialog and supports consent/diagnostic conversations. The No Barrier AI Interpreter is HIPAA-compliant and secure for PHI.
Is pricing pay-per-minute?
Last update: 08.2025
No. We offer flat monthly fee for predictable costs. All languages and updates included.
How much does a Medical Interpreter cost with AI-based services?
Last update: 08.2025
AI medical interpreter pricing typically uses per-minute (on-demand) or per-session (scheduled) models, with enterprise tiers for volume. Costs at No Barrier AI are just a fixed fee. No per-minute models. Comfortable to implement. Budget wisely handled.
How is the integration: do we need heavy IT?
Last update: 08.2025
Light setup. Use the web app, no on-prem hardware. Most teams complete basic integration in under a few hours.
Why NoBarrier AI as a medical interpreter?
Last update: 08.2025
Mainly because instant speech-to-speech interpreting with <30s connect and 24/7 availability. Visual education aids (anatomy, pain, conditions) improve understanding while eliminating scheduling delays; making it a reliable medical interpreter service for hospitals and clinics.
Still unsure? Ask us [here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact#contactFormLink)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Language Solutions in Healthcare
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/new-footer#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## HIPAA Compliance Overview
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [HIPAA](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
# NoBarrier AI HIPAA
Last Time Updated: 26/02/2024
No Barrier AI, Inc (“ **No Barrier**”, “ **we**”, or “ **our**”) is committed to protecting your and your patients’ privacy and data.
The United States, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (" **HIPAA**") provides federal protections for patient Protected Health Information (" **PHI**") held by covered entities (health plans, health clearinghouses or healthcare providers) and business associates (entities collecting or accessing PHI on behalf of Covered Entities) and give patients some rights with respect to such PHI. This suite of regulations includes the [Privacy Rule](https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/index.html), which protects the privacy of individually identifiable health information; the [Security Rule](https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/security/index.html), which sets national standards for the security of electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI); and the [Breach Notification Rule](https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/breach-notification/index.html), which requires Covered Entities and business associates to provide notification following a breach of unsecured PHI (all together, “HIPAA Rules”). Business associates must comply with the HIPAA Security Rule and Breach Notification Rule as well as certain provisions of the HIPAA Privacy Rule.
If HIPAA applies to your company (either as a business associate or as a covered entity), we recommend that you conduct internal due diligence to map your specific PHI collection practices. And, as a part of that, to consider what personal data and/or PHI you are sharing, storing, processing or using on our services and, if required, reach out to [support@nobarrier.ai](mailto:support@nobarrier.ai) to execute our Business Associate Agreement.
## What is No Barrier doing in order to comply with HIPAA?
1. We built an internal taskforce with members of different departments to implement the HIPAA compliance plan internally.
2. We involved senior management in the supervision of our implementation plan.
3. We held different discussions and conversations in order to understand what PHI is used in connection with our services, to distinguish where it is hosted and implemented measures to help our customers comply with their HIPAA obligations.
4. We signed business associate agreements with all of our vendors and service providers who could be exposed to PHI.
5. We have a security incident and personal data breach notification policy to guide how we would respond in the event of a HIPAA related breach.
6. We regularly provide training and awareness among our employees about key HIPAA requirements.
7. We have a HIPAA compliance officer charged with overseeing our HIPAA compliance.
8. We utilize and host our platform in secure US-based data centers of AWS services. We have signed a Business Associate Agreement (“ **BAA**”) with AWS.
9. Data Security & Retention
- We use a combination of technical, administrative, and physical controls to keep user data secure. Data is always transmitted via secure channels. Data is encrypted in transit and at rest using the industry best practice encryption standards (e.g. AES-256).
- We have a data retention and deletion policy in place to avoid storing data perpetually.
- For more information, please see our privacy policy available on our website.
**I have more questions. Who should I contact?** If you have any additional questions about our implementation of the HIPAA Rules, you are welcome to contact us at [support@nobarrier.ai](mailto:support@nobarrier.ai).
**Disclaimer:** The information in this document may not be construed or used as legal advice about the content, interpretation or application of any law, regulation or regulatory guideline. Customers and prospective customers must seek their own legal counsel to understand the applicability of any law or regulation on their processing of personal data.
Last time updated: February 26, 2024.
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Cantonese Interpreter Services
Results are in! AI vs professional medical interpreters,
[see our surprising study results →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/nobarrier-ai-outperforms-traditional-medical-interpreters-in-first-scientific-study)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
# Cantonese Medical Interpreter Services
Instant, accurate, HIPAA-compliant Cantonese translation. No scheduling, no delays.
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/cantonese-interpreters#)
Access 40+ AI languages and dialects.
Instantly, in just one click.
## No Barrier benefits for your medical organization
Unlike other tools, the No Barrier Interpreter works instantly, no scheduling, no cost per minute and covers Cantonese dialect nuances.
## 24/7
### Instant Availability
Available 24/7 with zero wait time.
No more delayed treatments or emergency situations compromised
by interpreter unavailability.
## 100%
### Interpretation Consistency
Same high-quality interpretation every time. No variability in skill level, fatigue, or personal interpretation styles.
## 70%
### Cost Reduction
Reduce interpretation costs by up to 70% while improving patient throughput and satisfaction scores.
## How No Barrier's AI Cantonese Interpreter Works
[\\
Read the 10-min case study.](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
### Works on any Connected Device
Use the tablets or any connected device you already have. No Barrier integrates in minutes. Quick to deploy. Easy to use. Instant interpretation.
### Real-Time Processing
Our AI processes Cantonese speech instantly, providing immediate interpretation without delays that could impact patient care. No waiting, no scheduling conflicts.
### Specialized Medical Database
Trained on thousands of Cantonese medical terms, including anatomy, symptoms, medications, procedures, and cultural health concepts.
### Medical Context Understanding
The system distinguishes between similar-sounding words based on medical context, ensuring accurate interpretation of symptoms, procedures, and treatment plans.
### HIPAA Compliant Security
All interpretations are processed securely with full HIPAA compliance, protecting patient privacy and sensitive medical information.
## How No Barrier's AI Cantonese Interpreter Works
[\\
Read the 10-min case study.](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federal-community-clinic-old)
### Works on Tablet
Use the tablets or any connected device you already have. No Barrier integrates in minutes. Quick to deploy. Easy to use. Instant interpretation.
### Real-Time Processing
Our AI processes Cantonese speech instantly, providing immediate interpretation without delays that could impact patient care. No waiting, no scheduling conflicts.
### Specialized Medical Database
Trained on thousands of Cantonese medical terms, including anatomy, symptoms, medications, procedures, and cultural health concepts.
### Medical Context Understanding
The system distinguishes between similar-sounding words based on medical context, ensuring accurate interpretation of symptoms, procedures, and treatment plans.
### HIPAA Compliant Security
All interpretations are processed securely with full HIPAA compliance, protecting patient privacy and sensitive medical information.
## Sarah is a Registered Nurse and shares her experience with the No Barrier AI Interpreter
## Heading
Heritage Family Medicine on No Barrier AI Medical Interpreter from No Barrier on Vimeo
Playing in picture-in-picture
Like
Add to Watch Later
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00:00
03:17
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[Watch on Vimeo](https://vimeo.com/1027217426?fl=pl&fe=vl)
[\\
\\
](https://www.nobarrier.ai/cantonese-interpreters#)
## Data you can audit: methods & metrics
### <1 sec
connect
### No scheduling
needed
### Cost-effective
for clinic & patient
"We find the No Barrier AI Interpreter quick and timely. Super accessible and easy to use. There’s no need to plan in advance or hunt for availability; it’s in hand. It’s cost-effective for the clinic and for patients and conversations are better. (no third party)"
- Instant speech-to-speech
- Always available; zero handoffs
- Visual education for anatomy, pain & conditions
Sarah Joyce, RN
Registered Nurse at Heritage Family Medicine
[Start AI Medical Interpreter](https://www.nobarrier.ai/cantonese-interpreters#)
This content is informational for clinical operations teams,
This content is informational for clinical operations teams,
## Security & Trust, built in
We process PHI with healthcare-grade controls. Data stays in the U.S., inside a private VPC.
### PHI scope & flow
Auto-deletion after 7 days (admin-configurable). No Barrier does not
store PHI.
### Encryption & logging
Encryption in place; audit logs for all access.
### Access
Role-based permissions.
### Model training
PHI is not used to train models.
### Human oversight
Human quality control applied.
### Compliance
SOC 2 Type II (2025), audited by [decrypt.cpa](https://decrypt.cpa/). Report available under NDA.
### PHI scope & flow
Auto-deletion after 7 days (admin-configurable). No Barrier does not
store PHI.
### Encryption & logging
Encryption in place; audit logs for all access.
### Access
Role-based permissions.
### Model training
PHI is not used to train models.
### Human oversight
Human quality control applied.
### Compliance
SOC 2 Type II (2025), audited by [decrypt.cpa](https://decrypt.cpa/). Report available under NDA.
[Visit Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [Request BAA](https://www.nobarrier.ai/cantonese-interpreters#) [Request SOC2 Report](https://www.nobarrier.ai/cantonese-interpreters#)
[Visit Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/)
## Purpose-built for healthcare.
The No Barrier AI Interpreter is designed exclusively for clinical workflows. We continuously assess and improve our controls (monitoring) so hospitals and health-system leaders can adopt the AI Interpreter with confidence.
Last updated: Sep 2025
## Dialect Recognition
Handles Toisan, Hong Kong, and Guangdong Cantonese dialects automatically. Recognizes regional variations that human interpreters often struggle with.
## Cultural Context
Understands traditional Chinese medicine concepts, cultural health beliefs, and respectful communication patterns specific to Cantonese-speaking communities.
## About Cantonese (quick guide)
### Language family
Cantonese is a Yue variety of Chinese and is not mutually intelligible with Mandarin.
### Tones
Modern Cantonese has six phonemic tones (often described as nine tone categories when “checked/entering” tones are counted). Minimal pair example: si1 詩 (poem), si2 史 (history), si3 試 (to try), si4 時 (time), si5 市 (city/market), si6 是 (to be).
### Dialects
Hospital encounters may include Hong Kong/Guangzhou Cantonese and Taishanese (Toisan/Hoisan), a related Yue variety with low mutual intelligibility.
### Writing
& romanization
Clinical materials typically use Traditional Chinese. Jyutping and Yale romanizations are common; Pinyin is Mandarin-specific and can mislead.
### U.S. care settings
Common encounter hubs include California (Bay Area, Los Angeles), New York, Massachusetts, and Nevada.
## About **Cantonese** (quick guide)
### Language family
Cantonese is a Yue variety of Chinese and is not mutually intelligible with Mandarin.
### Tones
Modern Cantonese has six phonemic tones (often described as nine tone categories when “checked/entering” tones are counted). Minimal pair example: si1 詩 (poem), si2 史 (history), si3 試 (to try), si4 時 (time), si5 市 (city/market), si6 是 (to be).
### Dialects
Hospital encounters may include Hong Kong/Guangzhou Cantonese and Taishanese (Toisan/Hoisan), a related Yue variety with low mutual intelligibility.
### Writing
& romanization
Clinical materials typically use Traditional Chinese. Jyutping and Yale romanizations are common; Pinyin is Mandarin-specific and can mislead.
### U.S. care settings
Common encounter hubs include California (Bay Area, Los Angeles), New York, Massachusetts, and Nevada.
## Available Nationwide with **24/7** Coverage
Our AI Cantonese medical interpreter serves healthcare providers across the United States, with the highest demand in these major Cantonese-speaking communities:
### Los Angeles, CA
Chinatown, Monterey Park, San Gabriel Valley
There are approximately
### 146,500 people
### San Francisco, CA
Chinatown, Richmond District, Sunset District
There are approximately
### 91,000 people
### New York City, NY
Manhattan Chinatown, Flushing, Brooklyn
There are approximately
### 224,800 people
### Boston, MA
Chinatown, Quincy,
Malden
There are approximately
### 21,300 people
### Houston, TX
Southwest Houston,
Bellaire
There are approximately
### 24,000 people
### Seattle, WA
International District, Bellevue
There are approximately
### 17,100 people
### Chicago, IL
Chinatown, Uptown
There are approximately
### 26,250 people
### Las Vegas, NV
Chinatown, Spring
Valley
There are approximately
### 8,100 people
Serving healthcare providers in all 50 states with instant AI interpretation
## Essential Cantonese Medical Terms for Healthcare Providers
Use this comprehensive English to Cantonese medical translation guide to communicate effectively with your Cantonese-speaking patients. Our AI interpreter handles these terms with perfect pronunciation and cultural context.
English
Cantonese (Traditional)
Pronunciation
Context
Emergency & Assessment
Take this medication
食呢隻藥
sik ni jek yeuk
Medication instructions
Twice daily
一日兩次
yat yat leung chi
Dosage frequency
Before meals
飯前
faan chin
Timing instructions
After meals
飯後
faan hau
Timing instructions
Rest and drink water
休息同飲水
yau sik tung yam seui
General care
Come back if symptoms worsen
如果嚴重啲就返嚟
yu gwo yim jung di jau faan lai
Follow-up instructions
Apply ice
敷冰
fu bing
Treatment instruction
Symptoms & Pain Description
Take this medication
食呢隻藥
sik ni jek yeuk
Medication instructions
Twice daily
一日兩次
yat yat leung chi
Dosage frequency
Before meals
飯前
faan chin
Timing instructions
After meals
飯後
faan hau
Timing instructions
Rest and drink water
休息同飲水
yau sik tung yam seui
General care
Come back if symptoms worsen
如果嚴重啲就返嚟
yu gwo yim jung di jau faan lai
Follow-up instructions
Apply ice
敷冰
fu bing
Treatment instruction
Body Parts & Anatomy
Take this medication
食呢隻藥
sik ni jek yeuk
Medication instructions
Twice daily
一日兩次
yat yat leung chi
Dosage frequency
Before meals
飯前
faan chin
Timing instructions
After meals
飯後
faan hau
Timing instructions
Rest and drink water
休息同飲水
yau sik tung yam seui
General care
Come back if symptoms worsen
如果嚴重啲就返嚟
yu gwo yim jung di jau faan lai
Follow-up instructions
Apply ice
敷冰
fu bing
Treatment instruction
Treatment & Medication Instructions
Take this medication
食呢隻藥
sik ni jek yeuk
Medication instructions
Twice daily
一日兩次
yat yat leung chi
Dosage frequency
Before meals
飯前
faan chin
Timing instructions
After meals
飯後
faan hau
Timing instructions
Rest and drink water
休息同飲水
yau sik tung yam seui
General care
Come back if symptoms worsen
如果嚴重啲就返嚟
yu gwo yim jung di jau faan lai
Follow-up instructions
Apply ice
敷冰
fu bing
Treatment instruction
Common Medical Procedures
Take this medication
食呢隻藥
sik ni jek yeuk
Medication instructions
Twice daily
一日兩次
yat yat leung chi
Dosage frequency
Before meals
飯前
faan chin
Timing instructions
After meals
飯後
faan hau
Timing instructions
Rest and drink water
休息同飲水
yau sik tung yam seui
General care
Come back if symptoms worsen
如果嚴重啲就返嚟
yu gwo yim jung di jau faan lai
Follow-up instructions
Apply ice
敷冰
fu bing
Treatment instruction
Perfect pronunciation guaranteed: Our AI interpreter handles all these terms with native-level accuracy, including proper tones and regional variations.
## Cantonese Medical Interpreting: **FAQs** for Clinicians
Can your Cantonese interpreter handle different dialects and accents?
Yes, our AI interpreter recognizes major Cantonese variations including Hong Kong Cantonese, Guangdong Cantonese, and overseas Cantonese dialects commonly spoken in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
How quickly can I access
a Cantonese medical interpreter?
Our AI interpreter is available 24/7 with instant connection. There's no waiting time or scheduling required, making it perfect for emergency situations.
Is AI Cantonese medical interpretation as accurate as
human interpreters?
Our system provides consistent, specialized medical interpretation with accuracy rates comparable to certified human interpreters, while offering immediate availability and lower costs.
Do you provide Cantonese interpretation for telemedicine appointments?
Currently, we focus on face-to-face encounters in healthcare settings to ensure the highest quality interpretation experience. Telemedicine integration is on our roadmap for future development.
What makes Cantonese medical interpretation different from Mandarin?
Cantonese has different grammar structures, vocabulary, and cultural contexts than Mandarin. Medical terms often differ significantly, and our system is specifically trained for Cantonese medical interpretation.
## Let’s Make Cantonese Language Access **Instant**
No Barrier AI, USA. 24/7 support.
< 1 business-day reply.
HIPAA compliant. BAA available.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
## Ready to Improve Communication with Cantonese-Speaking Patients?
Join hundreds of healthcare providers using No Barrier's AI medical interpreter for better patient care and reduced communication barriers.
[Contact Us Today](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai) [](https://www.nobarrier.ai/cantonese-interpreters#) [HIPAA policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/cantonese-interpreters#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## AI Medical Interpretation
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
# Medical Interpreter Services for Healthcare
HIPAA medical compliance.
On‑demand coverage.
<1 sec
connect
99.95%
uptime
40+
AI languages
[AI Medical Interpretation Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation#)
24/7 HIPAA-compliant AI
Recognized by Slator for AI language
### These language barriers, at the end of the day, actually takes a toll on the physician, the nurse practitioner, the practitioner that is actually in front of the patient.
## Reviewed by Dr. Ilan Shapiro,
MD, MBA, FAAP, FACHE — Executive Medical Leader; TEDx Speaker; Adjunct Professor (USC)
## What We Offer: Instant interpretation
Our AI medical interpreter service delivers real-time speech-to-speech built for healthcare.
### Authoredby No Barrier AI Product Team
Updated Aug 2025
## ED, Inpatient & Clinics: built for compliance
- On-demand access across ED, inpatient units, and clinics.
- Supports consent, diagnosis explanation, and
care coordination.
- Aligned with Section 1557/Title VI workflows.
Designed for safe care without extra headcount. Instant interpretation along the entire patient journey.
## What “instant” means in practice
- First facts exchanged in seconds, not minutes.
- Removes delays from language ID, routing and availability.
- Keeps triage, orders and consent moving.
Skip the wait and restarts, the AI interpreter is ready
on your tablet the moment the patient arrives.
## Intake & first conversation: start in the patient’s language
- LEP identified on arrival; patient selects preferred language.
- Speech-to-speech AI begins immediately (audio).
- No scheduling or handoffs required.
Open the tablet, choose the language, and start right away, in what the patient understands best.
## End-to-end care & documentation
- Interpretation available at every step of care.
- Encounters linked to records for consistent documentation.
- Reduces risk while improving patient experience.
Designed for safe care without extra headcount. Instant interpretation along the entire patient journey.
## What you get with our AI Medical Interpreter:
### 24/7
instant interpretation with AI right on all your connected devices
### 40+
AI languages and nuance dialects
### HIPAA
medical compliance, designed for healthcare
## AI Medical Interpreter:
integration and workflows
### Instant by design
Seconds-level start to first exchange;
along the patient journey
### Compliance you can defend
HIPAA-aligned workflows with Title VI / Section 1557 language-access coverage
### Swift workflows
Smart onboarding on your current table, constant support with our technical team
### Operational fit
Works in the ED, inpatient units,
outpatient clinics
### Instant by design
Seconds-level start to first exchange;
along the patient journey
### Compliance you can defend
HIPAA-aligned workflows with Title VI / Section 1557 language-access coverage
### Swift workflows
Smart onboarding on your current table, constant support with our technical team
### Operational fit
Works in the ED, inpatient units,
outpatient clinics
This content is informational for clinical operations teams,
## Security & Trust, built in
We process PHI with healthcare-grade controls. Data stays in the U.S., inside a private VPC.
### PHI scope & flow
Auto-deletion after 7 days (admin-configurable). No Barrier does not
store PHI.
### Encryption & logging
Encryption in place; audit logs for all access.
### Access
Role-based permissions.
### Model training
PHI is not used to train models.
### Human oversight
Human quality control applied.
### Compliance
SOC 2 Type II (2025), audited by [decrypt.cpa](https://decrypt.cpa/). Report available under NDA.
### PHI scope & flow
Auto-deletion after 7 days (admin-configurable). No Barrier does not
store PHI.
### Encryption & logging
Encryption in place; audit logs for all access.
### Access
Role-based permissions.
### Model training
PHI is not used to train models.
### Human oversight
Human quality control applied.
### Compliance
SOC 2 Type II (2025), audited by [decrypt.cpa](https://decrypt.cpa/). Report available under NDA.
[Visit Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [Request BAA](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation#) [Request SOC2 Report](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation#)
[Visit Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/)
## Proven outcomes: Medical Interpreter Service case studies
Real-world results from clinic teams using No Barrier
## Heading
Heritage Family Medicine on No Barrier AI Medical Interpreter from No Barrier on Vimeo
Playing in picture-in-picture
Like
Add to Watch Later
Share
Play
00:00
03:17
Settings
QualityAuto
SpeedNormal
Picture-in-PictureFullscreen
[Watch on Vimeo](https://vimeo.com/1027217426?fl=pl&fe=vl)
[\\
\\
](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation#)
## Data you can audit: methods & metrics
### <1 sec
connect
### No scheduling
needed
### Cost-effective
for clinic & patient
"We find the No Barrier AI Interpreter quick and timely. Super accessible and easy to use. There’s no need to plan in advance or hunt for availability; it’s in hand. It’s cost-effective for the clinic and for patients and conversations are better. (no third party)"
- Instant speech-to-speech
- Always available; zero handoffs
- Visual education for anatomy, pain & conditions
Sarah Joyce, RN
Registered Nurse at Heritage Family Medicine
[Start AI Medical Interpreter](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation#)
## 2025 Recognition in Slator
Leading source of research and market intelligence for translation and interpretation
CMOs need a medical interpretation service that is instant, HIPAA-aligned and designed for LEP patients. Today, Modern Language AI can scale speech in real time while escalating high-risk moments to credentialed medical operators. Recognized in Slator’s 2025 Language AI 50 Under 50, NoBarrier is a trusted partner delivering AI-powered interpretation and translation already proven in healthcare settings.
[More about Slator’s recognition](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/2025-slator-language-ai-50-under-50)
## 24/7 medical interpreter service
Top questions, clear answers
What is a Medical Interpreter and how does an AI Medical Interpreter work?
A medical interpreter enables accurate, two-way communication between clinicians and limited-English-proficient (LEP) patients. An AI medical interpreter converts speech-to-speech in real time, preserving clinical terminology and intent; policies may still require a qualified human interpreter for certain high-risk encounters or consents.
Is an AI Medical Interpreter HIPAA-compliant and secure for PHI?
Compliance depends on the provider. No Barrier is built for HIPAA-compliant workflows with encryption in transit/at rest, access controls, audit logging and reporting; a BAA can be provided upon request and integrations can be scoped to your EHR security posture.
How much does a Medical Interpreter cost with AI-based services?
AI medical interpreter pricing typically uses per-minute (on-demand) or per-session (scheduled) models, with enterprise tiers for volume. Costs at No Barrier are just a fixed fee. No per-minute models. Comfortable to implement. Budget wisely handled.
What is a certified medical interpreter?
A certified medical interpreter is a human professional credentialed by bodies like CCHI or NBCMI, trained in clinical terminology, ethics and confidentiality. While an AI interpreter like No Barrier operates with HIPAA-aligned controls, a BAA, encryption, audit logs and SOC 2 (Type II), level security to protect PHI. See Security & Compliance for details.
Why choosing No Barrier as
a medical interpreter?
Mainly because instant speech-to-speech interpreting with <1s connect and 24/7 availability. Visual education aids (anatomy, pain, conditions) improve understanding while eliminating scheduling delays; making it a reliable medical interpreter service for hospitals and clinics.
## See it in action. Schedule a 30-minute review of your language-access needs and discover the No Barrier Instant Interpreter in action.
[\\
Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation#)
[\\
\\
Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation#)
Last-reviewed date: Aug 2025
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## AI in Healthcare
Results are in! AI vs professional medical interpreters,
[see our surprising study results →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/nobarrier-ai-outperforms-traditional-medical-interpreters-in-first-scientific-study)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
# Community Clinic NWA saved 63% on Interpretation Cost.
Sept 2025
When language barriers began driving up costs, slowing appointments, and creating safety risks for patients, Judd Semingson knew his clinics needed a better solution. His team partnered with No Barrier to integrate real-time AI interpretation directly into clinical workflows, making communication instant, reliable and equitable for every patient.
Today, with No Barrier in place, the organization has cut interpretation costs by 63%, improved patient throughput and ensured satisfaction at every encounter.
How a Federally Qualified Health Center Uses AI to Break Language Barriers for 70,000 Patients - YouTube
[Photo image of No Barrier](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA5zFOhL0ub5nu-jvaCCbJg?embeds_widget_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nobarrier.ai%2F&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.embedly.com%2F&embeds_referring_origin=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.embedly.com)
No Barrier
131 subscribers
[How a Federally Qualified Health Center Uses AI to Break Language Barriers for 70,000 Patients](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFNJmwYdGoE)
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•
## About Community Clinic NWA: a large Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC)
Judd Semingson, CEO Community Clinic NWA A Proven Leader in Healthcare Transformation
Community Clinic NWA operates 27 locations across Northwest Arkansas, where a team of 300 healthcare professionals provides care to more than 70,000 patients each year under the leadership of Judd Semingson.
In recent years, interpretation costs have risen sharply, creating frustration among both patients and care teams.
By integrating No Barrier, Community Clinic has advanced the clinic’s mission to improve access, reduce inefficiencies, and strengthen health equity in every patient encounter.
%201.png)
Every day, healthcare leaders face the same challenge: balancing cost, efficiency and equity without compromising patient safety. Yet language barriers continue to slow care delivery, frustrate clinicians and expose organizations to compliance and liability risks.
This Community Clinic network needed more than another vendor; they needed a true partner who understood the complexities of healthcare workflows from front desk intake to discharge. With No Barrier, they found a tailored solution that fit their ecosystem end-to-end: seamless integration, responsive support and a fixed-cost model that eliminated per-minute billing stress.
Now, interpretation is instant, compliant and cost-predictable, allowing staff to stay focused on care instead of coordination or translation.
### Today, it is much more facilitative to be able to bring in that technology to be able to engage with that patient in real time, not having to wait, not having to connect, not having to pull team members unnecessarily.
Judd Semingson
CEO of Community Clinic NWA
## 70K
patient annually
## 63%
cost reduction
## 1.5 min
average time saved
## 70K
patients annually
## 63%
cost reduction
## 1.5 min
avg. time saved per patient
Language and Dialects Community Clinic uses most:Spanish US - Spanish Mexican - Burmese
## Why it matters
### Lower costs, stable workflows, consistent translations relying on a compliant vendor.
## 1\. Tremendous Savings on Translations
Across the U.S., the number of patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) continues to grow and this trend is also shown at Community Clinic NWA which implies, increasing demand for consistent, affordable language access. Yet traditional, human-only interpretation models have become unsustainable driving up costs through per-minute billing, night-shift surcharges and unpredictable overtime fees that strain clinic budgets and challenge equitable care.
So integrating No Barrier showed an immediate 63% cost reduction in interpretation.
## 2\. Teams and Patients’ Satisfaction
Patients often ended up waiting even longer at the hospital because of poor coordination and the lack of proper tools for interpretation, which extended overall wait times and affected their experience. (vs Patients, too, often waited one to two extra hours for language support, leading to dissatisfaction and delayed care.)
With No Barrier’s instant AI translation, the clinics achieved a measurable turnaround. Staff stayed focused on their clinical duties, patients received timely communication in their preferred language and overall satisfaction improved across both sides of the care experience.
## 3\. Instant interpretation
With the previous human-only vendor, staff often faced long connection times, unexpected disconnections and inconsistent interpreter quality. These disruptions slowed down clinical encounters and created frustration across care teams.
No Barrier restored efficiency and reliability, providing instant, stable connections and consistent support for the entire Community Clinic team. The result: faster interpretation access, smoother patient flow and renewed confidence in every interaction.
### The No Barrier AI Interpreter brought back this connectivity that we had lost because of the other mechanisms that we were deploying. So No Barrier has been a great partner for us and, being able tocontinue our connections with patients and meeting them where they are.
Judd Semingson
CEO of Community Clinic NWA
### No Barrier offers:
### Instant
availability
### HIPAA-
compliant
### 40+
AI languages
### NO
per minute fee
### Human
back up when needed
### Instant
availability
### HIPAA-
compliant
### 40+
languages
### NO
per minute fee
### Human
back up when needed
## Transforming Care for a network of health centers that take care of 70,000 Patients
- Serving 70,000 patients annually without delays.
- Achieved a 63% cost reduction compared to traditional interpreter services.
- Faster patient encounters save staff time and boost team satisfaction.
- Patient satisfaction scores have improved among non-English-speaking populations, with many patients appreciating the one to two hours saved in their own schedules.
Judd Semingson, CEO Community Clinic NWA A Proven Leader in Healthcare Transformation
## FAQs from Health Systems Using No Barrier to Overcome Language Barriers
How is No Barrier different from general translation tools?
Free tools are nice but not specifically trained in medical settings and cannot guarantee HIPAA compliance or clinical accuracy. No Barrier is exclusively built for healthcare with medical vocabulary and workflows.
Is patient data secure and HIPAA compliant?
Yes. No Barrier provides a Business Associate Agreement (BAA), does not store any patients' data and ensures automatic PHI deletion within 7 days or per your policy.
How does this integrate into existing workflows?
The AI interpreter integrates in your ipads/tablets, actually any connected device (iPads, desktops, mobile). Staff can launch interpretation directly within their daily tools without adding extra steps and the interpreter is hand free!
What happens if the AI interpreter cannot handle a complex medical discussion?
The system can escalates to a live human interpreter, ensuring coverage across 30+ AI languages.
How quickly can staff be trained?
Most teams are onboarded in less than a day with simple workflows. No Barrier provides training resources as well as a video call for all the medical staff, help desk support and ongoing updates.
What is the pricing model?
Options include subscription and usage-based pricing. Leaders can forecast costs easily, avoiding hidden fees for extra languages or integrations.
What outcomes can we expect
for patients and staff?
Clients report reduced delays in care, fewer staff workflow interruptions and stronger patient trust and satisfaction scores. Listen to Judd Semingson's testimonial who shares is experience implementing No Barrier in his medical centers.
How is No Barrier different from general translation tools?
Consumer tools like Google Translate are nice but not specifically trained in medical settings and cannot guarantee HIPAA compliance or clinical accuracy. No Barrier is exclusively built for healthcare with medical vocabulary and workflows.
Is patient data secure and HIPAA compliant?
Yes. No Barrier provides a Business Associate Agreement (BAA), does not store any patients' data and ensures automatic PHI deletion within 7 days or per your policy.
How does this integrate into existing workflows?
The AI interpreter works on any connected device including iPads, tablets, desktops and mobile. Staff can launch interpretation directly from their daily tools without adding extra steps and the interpreter stays hands free.
What happens if the AI interpreter cannot handle a complex medical discussion?
In some situations like sensitive diagnostics or end of life conversations a human interpreter is essential. The system connects a human interpreter into the discussion to ensure the right level of support during these critical moments.
How quickly can staff be trained?
Most teams are onboarded in less than a day with simple workflows. No Barrier provides training resources as well as a video call for all the medical staff, help desk support and ongoing updates.
What is the pricing model?
No Barrier ends cost per minute fees. Clients share their average monthly minutes and we set a fixed cost. There are no extra charges for night shifts or extended hours. Teams can use the system with confidence. Leaders can forecast expenses easily and the budget becomes fully predictable.
What outcomes can we expect
for patients and staff?
Clients report reduced delays in care, fewer staff workflow interruptions and stronger patient trust and satisfaction scores. [Listen to Judd Semingson's testimonial](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center#case-study-testimonial) who shares his experience implementing No Barrier in his medical centers.
## Ready to Remove Language Barriers in Your Organization?
[Talk to Our Team](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## No Barrier Healthcare Solutions
# Discover why healthcare organizations choose No Barrier
Compare it to your current language service provider and see how it delivers faster, more accessible patient care.
## <1sec
connection
## 70%
cost reduction
## 1.5 min
avg time saved per patient
No Barrier’s five most interpreted and in-demand languages among medical centers are Spanish (US and Mexican), Mandarin, Tagalog, Arabic and Haitian Creole.
## Compare No Barrier with other medical translation vendors
[No Barrier vs Languageline](https://www.nobarrier.ai/no-barrier-vs-languageline) [No Barrier vs Amn Language](https://www.nobarrier.ai/no-barrier-vs-amn-language-services) [No Barrier vs Cyracom](https://www.nobarrier.ai/no-barrier-vs-cyracom)
[No Barrier vs Lionbridge](https://www.nobarrier.ai/no-barrier-vs-lionbridge) [No Barrier vs Propio](https://www.nobarrier.ai/no-barrier-vs-propio) [No Barrier vs Globo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/no-barrier-vs-globo)
## No Barrier Alternatives FAQ
How reliable is No Barrier’s real-time translation and interpretation?
No Barrier delivers highly reliable, real-time translations and interpretations designed for clinical accuracy.
- Built on advanced AI trained for medical terminology
- Continuously improved through real-world feedback from healthcare providers
- Proven to reduce miscommunication and speed up patient encounters
Is No Barrier compliant with HIPAA and other patient privacy regulations?
Yes. No Barrier complies with HIPAA and follows strict data protection standards.
- All communications are encrypted end-to-end
- No patient data is stored or shared without authorization
What makes No Barrier different from other interpretation and communication tools?
- Instant, on-demand translation without scheduling delays
- Designed specifically for healthcare workflows and medical accuracy
- Integrates seamlessly into clinical environments on all your connected devices (tablets, ipads, smartphones…)
- Delivers measurable time and cost savings
Who uses No Barrier in healthcare settings?
- Community health centers and multi site speciality clinics
- Hospitals and specialty care providers
- Nurses, physicians, and administrative staff
- Healthcare organizations committed to improving access and equity
## Let’s Make Languages Access **Instant**
No Barrier, USA. 24/7 support.
< 1 business-day reply.
HIPAA compliant. BAA available.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## AI Interpreting for Healthcare
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
# AI‑Interpreting for Healthcare: Compliance, Clarity & Care
Machine interpreter services powered by AI for routine, low-risk conversations driving patient safety, ROI and operational efficiency.
.avif)
## The Hidden Cost of Language Barriers & Manual Interpreter Workflows
Healthcare organisations continue to face three converging risks:
### Compliance & liability
Patients with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) face higher risk of adverse events when communication fails.
### Operational drag
Interpreter delays, scheduling mismatches and inefficient workflows increase wait times and clinician idle time.
### Financial leakage
Poor language access undermines throughput, increases readmissions,
and weakens ROI metrics.
Stat Call‑out: professional interpreter services improve communication and reduce adverse events in linguistically‑diverse patient populations.
Without a scalable, tech‑enabled solution, these gaps persist — impacting patient experience, regulatory risk and bottom‑line performance.
## How Our AI‑Interpreting
Platform Responds
Our platform is designed for healthcare settings and delivers a three‑layer solution:
Real‑time AI‑assisted interpreting access
Instant access to 30+ AI languages and dialects, speech recognition, reducing wait times from minutes to seconds.
Compliance‑by‑
design
Built for HIPAA and SOC2 compliance.
Operational &
financial impact
Enables faster throughput, fewer interpreter “hunting” minutes, improved patient satisfaction and reduces
cost by 70%.
Human
escalation
Connected with your
current provider when
human translation
is needed.
## Evidence. Compliance. Trusted.
### 24/7
instant interpretation
with AI right on your tablet
### 40+
language and
nuance dialects
### <30 sec
no wait time, direct access to medical interpretation
### 25K+
certified human interpreters available for escalations
## Proven outcomes: AI Medical Interpreter Service case studies
Real-world results from clinic teams using No Barrier AI
[\\
\\
](https://www.nobarrier.ai/ai-interpreting#)
## Data you can audit: methods & metrics
### <1 sec
connect
### No scheduling
needed
### Cost-effective
for clinic & patient
"We find the No Barrier AI Interpreter quick and timely. Super accessible and easy to use. There’s no need to plan in advance or hunt for availability; it’s in hand. It’s cost-effective for the clinic and for patients and conversations are better. (no third party)"
- Instant speech-to-speech
- Always available; zero handoffs
- Visual education for anatomy, pain & conditions
Sarah Joyce, RN
Registered Nurse at Heritage Family Medicine
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/ai-interpreting#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## No Barrier AI Funding
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
Industry Insights & Trends
# Slator 2025 Language AI 50 Under 50: No Barrier AI Recognized
Our recognition is more than an honor; it’s validation that you can trust us as your AI interpreter partner.
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
August 13, 2025
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
2
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h2\\
\\
Honored to Be Named in Slator’s 2025 Language AI “50 Under 50”](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/2025-slator-language-ai-50-under-50#honored-to-be-named-in-slators-2025-language-ai-50-under-50)
[h3\\
\\
What this Slator recognition means for AI interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/2025-slator-language-ai-50-under-50#what-this-slator-recognition-means-for-ai-interpretation)
[h3\\
\\
Interpretation in healthcare: the problem we’re fixing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/2025-slator-language-ai-50-under-50#interpretation-in-healthcare-the-problem-were-fixing)
[h2\\
\\
What No Barrier AI is recognised for](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/2025-slator-language-ai-50-under-50#what-no-barrier-ai-is-recognised-for)
[h2\\
\\
Why Slator’s feature matters to Decision Makers’ in Healthcare](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/2025-slator-language-ai-50-under-50#why-slators-feature-matters-to-decision-makers-in-healthcare)
[h2\\
\\
See it live](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/2025-slator-language-ai-50-under-50#see-it-live)
## **Honored to Be Named in Slator’s 2025 Language AI “50 Under 50”**
### **What this Slator recognition means for AI interpretation**
Slator is a leading source for news, research and market intelligence across translation, localization, interpreting and language AI. Their analysts track the sector through reports and indexes (like the Language Service Provider Index and data dashboards), so their shortlists carry real industry weight. ( [slator.com](https://slator.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
The **Slator Language AI 50 Under 50** spotlights innovative, fast-growing companies shaping the next wave of language technology. Teams tackling real leaders’ needs such as instant interpretation, cost reduction and workflow optimization. We’re excited (and grateful) that **No Barrier AI** is in the 2025 cohort. ( [slator.com](https://slator.com/2025-slator-language-ai-50-under-50/?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
### **Interpretation in healthcare: the problem we’re fixing**
More than **1 in 5** people in the U.S. speak a language other than English at home. That creates a vast communication surface area for hospitals and clinics. ( [Census.gov](https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2025/2017-2021-acs-language-use-tables.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
## **What No Barrier AI is recognised for**
We build **healthcare-specific, dialect-aware interpreting** so frontline teams can communicate clearly, quickly and safely with patients.
- **Real-time speech-to-speech:** on-demand interpreting wherever care happens (ED, bedside).
- **Dialect detection:** recognizes regional speech (e.g., Cantonese vs. Mandarin; Puerto Rican vs. Mexican Spanish) and adapts terminology.
- **Privacy-first:** secure deployments designed for HIPAA-aligned workflows and data minimization.
- **Coverage:** 30+ languages with expanding dialect sets.
## **Why Slator’s feature matters to Decision Makers’ in Healthcare**
- **Independent validation** that our approach is category-relevant (healthcare) not just another interpretation generic model.
- **Signals durability:** Slator tracks the market long-term (indexes, research, deal coverage) so inclusion is a marker that our solution fits where the industry is headed. ( [slator.com](https://slator.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
## **See it live**
Curious how dialect-aware AI feels in a real workflow? **Book a short demo** and we’ll run through common scenarios: AI interpretation in ED triage, consent and discharge.
## FAQs
### Can AI interpretation support complex medical conversations?
Yes. Healthcare-trained AI interpreters are designed for **clinical accuracy**, handling advanced medical terminology, diagnostic discussions and consent processes. Unlike generic models, these systems adapt to clinical workflows, ensuring both safety and liability protection.
### How does No Barrier AI’s speech-to-speech technology support clinical workflows?
Our **real-time, speech-to-speech interpretation** eliminates the need for staff to press buttons or navigate menus. In environments like ED triage or bedside discharge, this **hands-free design reduces friction**, speeds up communication and minimizes clinical errors tied to language gaps. The patient and encounter speak freely and the AI interpreter instantly interprets.
### What makes No Barrier AI different from generic AI interpreters?
We are built **for healthcare, not just language services**. Core differentiators include:
- **Dialect detection** for regional accuracy (Puerto Rican vs. Mexican Spanish).
- **HIPAA-aligned, privacy-first deployments** to protect PHI: no data retention.
- **30+ medical-grade languages and dialects** with AI with expanding coverage.
- **Workflow fit**: designed for real-time use in EDs, clinics and inpatient care.
### Why is this Slator recognition important?
Slator follows the language AI industry closely. Being named in their “50 Under 50” list shows that our work is making a real impact in interpretation, not just in tech. It’s independent confirmation that our solution is built to deliver the expected interpretation results, especially in healthcare.
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
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[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# Slator 2025 Language AI 50 Under 50: No Barrier AI Recognized
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
August 13, 2025
2
Minute Read
## **Honored to Be Named in Slator’s 2025 Language AI “50 Under 50”**
### **What this Slator recognition means for AI interpretation**
Slator is a leading source for news, research and market intelligence across translation, localization, interpreting and language AI. Their analysts track the sector through reports and indexes (like the Language Service Provider Index and data dashboards), so their shortlists carry real industry weight. ( [slator.com](https://slator.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
The **Slator Language AI 50 Under 50** spotlights innovative, fast-growing companies shaping the next wave of language technology. Teams tackling real leaders’ needs such as instant interpretation, cost reduction and workflow optimization. We’re excited (and grateful) that **No Barrier AI** is in the 2025 cohort. ( [slator.com](https://slator.com/2025-slator-language-ai-50-under-50/?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
### **Interpretation in healthcare: the problem we’re fixing**
More than **1 in 5** people in the U.S. speak a language other than English at home. That creates a vast communication surface area for hospitals and clinics. ( [Census.gov](https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2025/2017-2021-acs-language-use-tables.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
## **What No Barrier AI is recognised for**
We build **healthcare-specific, dialect-aware interpreting** so frontline teams can communicate clearly, quickly and safely with patients.
- **Real-time speech-to-speech:** on-demand interpreting wherever care happens (ED, bedside).
- **Dialect detection:** recognizes regional speech (e.g., Cantonese vs. Mandarin; Puerto Rican vs. Mexican Spanish) and adapts terminology.
- **Privacy-first:** secure deployments designed for HIPAA-aligned workflows and data minimization.
- **Coverage:** 30+ languages with expanding dialect sets.
## **Why Slator’s feature matters to Decision Makers’ in Healthcare**
- **Independent validation** that our approach is category-relevant (healthcare) not just another interpretation generic model.
- **Signals durability:** Slator tracks the market long-term (indexes, research, deal coverage) so inclusion is a marker that our solution fits where the industry is headed. ( [slator.com](https://slator.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
## **See it live**
Curious how dialect-aware AI feels in a real workflow? **Book a short demo** and we’ll run through common scenarios: AI interpretation in ED triage, consent and discharge.
## You’d also be interested in…
[**Best Practices for Treating Patients from Different Cultures** \\
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Industry Insights & Trends\\
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October 17, 2025\\
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min read\\
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Cultural competence in healthcare improves trust and outcomes. Understanding cultural differences, using interpreters, respecting beliefs, and involving families ensures effective, inclusive care.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/best-practices-for-treating-patients-from-different-cultures)
[**The Intersection of Low Health Literacy and Limited English Proficiency in Healthcare** \\
\\
Industry Insights & Trends\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
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Low health literacy and limited English proficiency create major healthcare barriers for millions of Americans, requiring innovative solutions to improve patient understanding.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-intersection-of-low-health-literacy-and-limited-english-proficiency-in-healthcare)
[**The Role of Health Educators in Multilingual Healthcare Settings** \\
\\
Industry Insights & Trends\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
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min read\\
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Health educators serve as essential bridges in healthcare settings, helping patients – especially those with Limited English Proficiency – fully understand and engage with their medical care.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-role-of-health-educators-in-multilingual-healthcare-settings)
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/2025-slator-language-ai-50-under-50#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Medical Interpretation Challenges
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
Cost & Efficiency
# 6 Big Problems in Medical Interpretation: What Healthcare Providers Tell Us
Bridge every language gap safely. No Barrier AI delivers HIPAA-compliant, real-time medical interpretation for even the most critical conversations protecting patients, clinicians and your organization.
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
March 28, 2025
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
5
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h3\\
\\
Executive Summary](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-big-problems-in-medical-interpretation-what-healthcare-providers-tell-us#executive-summary)
[h2\\
\\
A Tragic Case That Defines the Stakes](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-big-problems-in-medical-interpretation-what-healthcare-providers-tell-us#a-tragic-case-that-defines-the-stakes)
[h2\\
\\
Why Medical Translators Matter](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-big-problems-in-medical-interpretation-what-healthcare-providers-tell-us#why-medical-translators-matter)
[h2\\
\\
1\. The Waiting Game Disrupts Care](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-big-problems-in-medical-interpretation-what-healthcare-providers-tell-us#1-the-waiting-game-disrupts-care)
[h2\\
\\
2\. Language Barriers Complicate Documentation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-big-problems-in-medical-interpretation-what-healthcare-providers-tell-us#2-language-barriers-complicate-documentation)
[h2\\
\\
3\. Translated Conversations Feel Choppy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-big-problems-in-medical-interpretation-what-healthcare-providers-tell-us#3-translated-conversations-feel-choppy)
[h2\\
\\
4\. Technical Issues Undermine Communication](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-big-problems-in-medical-interpretation-what-healthcare-providers-tell-us#4-technical-issues-undermine-communication)
[h2\\
\\
5\. Inconsistent Translator Quality Creates Uncertainty](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-big-problems-in-medical-interpretation-what-healthcare-providers-tell-us#5-inconsistent-translator-quality-creates-uncertainty)
[h2\\
\\
6\. The Human Connection Suffers](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-big-problems-in-medical-interpretation-what-healthcare-providers-tell-us#6-the-human-connection-suffers)
[h2\\
\\
Moving Forward: Fixing the Language Access Gap](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-big-problems-in-medical-interpretation-what-healthcare-providers-tell-us#moving-forward-fixing-the-language-access-gap)
[h3\\
\\
Reducing Wait Times](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-big-problems-in-medical-interpretation-what-healthcare-providers-tell-us#reducing-wait-times)
[h3\\
\\
Improving Documentation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-big-problems-in-medical-interpretation-what-healthcare-providers-tell-us#improving-documentation)
[h3\\
\\
Enhancing Communication Flow](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-big-problems-in-medical-interpretation-what-healthcare-providers-tell-us#enhancing-communication-flow)
[h3\\
\\
Addressing Technical Challenges](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-big-problems-in-medical-interpretation-what-healthcare-providers-tell-us#addressing-technical-challenges)
[h3\\
\\
Improving Interpreter Quality](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-big-problems-in-medical-interpretation-what-healthcare-providers-tell-us#improving-interpreter-quality)
[h3\\
\\
Maintaining the Human Connection](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-big-problems-in-medical-interpretation-what-healthcare-providers-tell-us#maintaining-the-human-connection)
[h2\\
\\
Integrating AI Interpretation: The Next Step](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-big-problems-in-medical-interpretation-what-healthcare-providers-tell-us#integrating-ai-interpretation-the-next-step)
[h2\\
\\
Key Takeaways for CMOs and Nurse Leaders](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-big-problems-in-medical-interpretation-what-healthcare-providers-tell-us#key-takeaways-for-cmos-and-nurse-leaders)
### **Executive Summary**
- **Language barriers can kill.** The tragic death of 13-year-old Gricelda Zamora underscores what’s at stake when interpretation fails.
- **Compliance alone isn’t enough.** Section 1557 mandates qualified interpreters, yet hospitals still struggle with workflow, delays, and documentation gaps.
- **Better systems save lives.** Structured scheduling, multilingual documentation, and clinically validated tools like No Barrier AI can restore safety, empathy, and efficiency.
## **A Tragic Case That Defines the Stakes**
Thirteen-year-old **Gricelda Zamora** was, like many children of limited-English families, her parents’ voice in the healthcare system. When she fell seriously ill, her parents rushed her to the hospital.
But Gricelda was too sick to translate—and no interpreter was provided.
Without language support, her parents misunderstood discharge instructions. Doctors had said to **return immediately if she worsened**, but the family believed they should **wait three days**.
Two days later, as her condition deteriorated, they returned to the hospital—too late. Gricelda’s appendix had ruptured, and she died within hours.
This tragedy isn’t an isolated story. It reveals how **language access failures directly endanger patients and expose hospitals to legal, operational, and ethical risk**.
## **Why Medical Translators Matter**
When a patient and clinician don’t share a language, quality care must adapt—not pause. Yet, while **medical translators are legally required under the Affordable Care Act (ACA)**, healthcare leaders face persistent challenges delivering consistent, timely, and high-quality interpretation at scale.
After speaking with physicians nationwide, six recurring pain points emerge.
## **1\. The Waiting Game Disrupts Care**
A doctor with a 15-minute appointment calls the translation line—and waits.
“They’re not always available, so we may be on hold for a while,”
— _Periodontist, California_
Delays of 10–20 minutes per patient multiply into hours of lost clinician time each day. The result: **reduced efficiency, rushed visits, and diminished care quality.**
## **2\. Language Barriers Complicate Documentation**
Providers must record interpreter IDs, languages used, and document compliance. Yet discharge materials often remain **in English only**.
“We explain in their language, but send them home with English paperwork.”
— _Family Physician, Oregon_
This gap between spoken and written communication fuels **medication errors, readmissions, and misunderstandings**.
## **3\. Translated Conversations Feel Choppy**
Frequent pauses for interpretation disrupt conversational flow, making interactions feel mechanical. Emotional cues and trust-building moments are lost.
The consequence: **patients disengage, clinicians lose rapport, and understanding drops**—especially in emotionally sensitive contexts.
## **4\. Technical Issues Undermine Communication**
“We’ll be in the middle of explaining a diagnosis and the call drops.”
— _Oncologist, Michigan_
Dropped calls, low-quality audio, and device failures delay care and heighten patient anxiety. Without reliable infrastructure, interpretation becomes a **barrier itself**.
## **5\. Inconsistent Translator Quality Creates Uncertainty**
“We’ve had interpreters make up words.”
— _Cardiologist, Texas_
Translation accuracy varies dramatically by interpreter. This inconsistency forces clinicians to simplify explanations—risking oversimplification of critical details.
The absence of **standardized medical language validation** exposes both patients and providers to harm.
## **6\. The Human Connection Suffers**
Translation intermediates the most human moments in care. Tablets, speakerphones, and video screens can unintentionally erode empathy.
“You lose some of that patient-to-provider connection.”
— _Neurologist, Michigan_
The result: **a colder, more transactional experience**—at odds with the compassion patients expect and clinicians want to deliver.
## **Moving Forward: Fixing the Language Access Gap**
Language access doesn’t need to remain a compliance burden. With structured workflows and emerging AI interpretation tools, hospitals can dramatically improve efficiency, safety, and connection.
### **Reducing Wait Times**
- Pre-schedule interpreters for known LEP patients.
- Implement **language clustering**—group patients by language for scheduled days.
- Designate **always-on interpreter hours** for high-volume clinics.
### **Improving Documentation**
- Use **multilingual EHR templates** for instructions and consents.
- Provide **pre-translated discharge materials** for common languages.
### **Enhancing Communication Flow**
- Train clinicians in **interpreter collaboration best practices**.
- Pre-brief interpreters to clarify tone and intent.
- Extend appointment slots for LEP patients from 15 to 30 minutes.
### **Addressing Technical Challenges**
- Audit Wi-Fi strength and device readiness daily.
- Maintain **backup telephonic systems** for redundancy.
- Provide **quick troubleshooting guides** in each room.
### **Improving Interpreter Quality**
- Develop **feedback loops** and **medical terminology glossaries** by specialty.
- Standardize quality assessments across interpreter vendors.
- Offer **culture competency sheets** for common patient populations.
### **Maintaining the Human Connection**
- Use **video interpretation at eye level** to preserve empathy.
- Learn simple greetings in patients’ languages.
- Reinforce connection through visual aids and attentive body language.
## **Integrating AI Interpretation: The Next Step**
AI-assisted interpretation when clinically validated can close critical access gaps.
Solutions like **No Barrier AI** extend interpreter coverage, reduce delays and maintain compliance while safeguarding context and tone.
- **HIPAA-compliant and auditable**
- **Accurate in critical conversations** through medical term training
- **Human-in-the-loop oversight** for continuous accuracy checks
- **EHR-integrated documentation** for transparency and compliance
Hospitals using AI-augmented interpretation report **15–20% faster response times**, **improved clinician satisfaction** and **stronger patient understanding** in both routine and critical encounters.
## **Key Takeaways for CMOs and Nurse Leaders**
- **Language access is a clinical safety issue, not just compliance.**
- **Structured interpreter workflows reduce delays and legal risk.**
- **AI interpretation expands access** without sacrificing empathy or accuracy.
- **No Barrier AI enables compliant, real-time translation** even in critical care discussions.
## FAQs
### 1\. What’s the most common point of failure in hospital language access programs?
Breakdowns typically occur in **workflow execution**, not policy. Even compliant hospitals lose ground when interpreter scheduling isn’t integrated with the EHR or when bedside teams lack real-time visibility into interpreter availability.
### 2\. What operational models minimize interpreter-related delays in clinical care?
Leading systems use **hybrid language access models** combining on-demand human interpreters for sensitive care with embedded AI interpretation for high-volume service lines (OB/GYN, cardiology). This balance reduces wait times and clinician frustration.
### 3\. Are AI interpreters compliant with HIPAA and Section 1557?
Only **HIPAA-compliant, auditable AI platforms** with **human-in-the-loop review** meet compliance standards. CMOs should demand **vendor transparency** in data storage, encryption and bias testing before implementation.
### 4\. Can AI interpretation be used for critical clinical conversations?
Yes. **No Barrier AI** is among the few AI interpretation platforms designed and validated for **high-stakes, clinical use**, including diagnosis discussions, informed consent, and treatment planning.
### 5\. What are early adopters seeing from AI-assisted interpretation?
Hospitals piloting HIPAA-compliant AI interpretation report:
- **15–20% reduction in interpreter wait times**
- **Improved nurse efficiency during intake**
- **Higher satisfaction among multilingual staff** who no longer need to “fill in” as ad hoc translators
- **70% cost reduction** in interpretation
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
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[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# 6 Big Problems in Medical Interpretation: What Healthcare Providers Tell Us
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
March 28, 2025
5
Minute Read
### **Executive Summary**
- **Language barriers can kill.** The tragic death of 13-year-old Gricelda Zamora underscores what’s at stake when interpretation fails.
- **Compliance alone isn’t enough.** Section 1557 mandates qualified interpreters, yet hospitals still struggle with workflow, delays, and documentation gaps.
- **Better systems save lives.** Structured scheduling, multilingual documentation, and clinically validated tools like No Barrier AI can restore safety, empathy, and efficiency.
## **A Tragic Case That Defines the Stakes**
Thirteen-year-old **Gricelda Zamora** was, like many children of limited-English families, her parents’ voice in the healthcare system. When she fell seriously ill, her parents rushed her to the hospital.
But Gricelda was too sick to translate—and no interpreter was provided.
Without language support, her parents misunderstood discharge instructions. Doctors had said to **return immediately if she worsened**, but the family believed they should **wait three days**.
Two days later, as her condition deteriorated, they returned to the hospital—too late. Gricelda’s appendix had ruptured, and she died within hours.
This tragedy isn’t an isolated story. It reveals how **language access failures directly endanger patients and expose hospitals to legal, operational, and ethical risk**.
## **Why Medical Translators Matter**
When a patient and clinician don’t share a language, quality care must adapt—not pause. Yet, while **medical translators are legally required under the Affordable Care Act (ACA)**, healthcare leaders face persistent challenges delivering consistent, timely, and high-quality interpretation at scale.
After speaking with physicians nationwide, six recurring pain points emerge.
## **1\. The Waiting Game Disrupts Care**
A doctor with a 15-minute appointment calls the translation line—and waits.
“They’re not always available, so we may be on hold for a while,”
— _Periodontist, California_
Delays of 10–20 minutes per patient multiply into hours of lost clinician time each day. The result: **reduced efficiency, rushed visits, and diminished care quality.**
## **2\. Language Barriers Complicate Documentation**
Providers must record interpreter IDs, languages used, and document compliance. Yet discharge materials often remain **in English only**.
“We explain in their language, but send them home with English paperwork.”
— _Family Physician, Oregon_
This gap between spoken and written communication fuels **medication errors, readmissions, and misunderstandings**.
## **3\. Translated Conversations Feel Choppy**
Frequent pauses for interpretation disrupt conversational flow, making interactions feel mechanical. Emotional cues and trust-building moments are lost.
The consequence: **patients disengage, clinicians lose rapport, and understanding drops**—especially in emotionally sensitive contexts.
## **4\. Technical Issues Undermine Communication**
“We’ll be in the middle of explaining a diagnosis and the call drops.”
— _Oncologist, Michigan_
Dropped calls, low-quality audio, and device failures delay care and heighten patient anxiety. Without reliable infrastructure, interpretation becomes a **barrier itself**.
## **5\. Inconsistent Translator Quality Creates Uncertainty**
“We’ve had interpreters make up words.”
— _Cardiologist, Texas_
Translation accuracy varies dramatically by interpreter. This inconsistency forces clinicians to simplify explanations—risking oversimplification of critical details.
The absence of **standardized medical language validation** exposes both patients and providers to harm.
## **6\. The Human Connection Suffers**
Translation intermediates the most human moments in care. Tablets, speakerphones, and video screens can unintentionally erode empathy.
“You lose some of that patient-to-provider connection.”
— _Neurologist, Michigan_
The result: **a colder, more transactional experience**—at odds with the compassion patients expect and clinicians want to deliver.
## **Moving Forward: Fixing the Language Access Gap**
Language access doesn’t need to remain a compliance burden. With structured workflows and emerging AI interpretation tools, hospitals can dramatically improve efficiency, safety, and connection.
### **Reducing Wait Times**
- Pre-schedule interpreters for known LEP patients.
- Implement **language clustering**—group patients by language for scheduled days.
- Designate **always-on interpreter hours** for high-volume clinics.
### **Improving Documentation**
- Use **multilingual EHR templates** for instructions and consents.
- Provide **pre-translated discharge materials** for common languages.
### **Enhancing Communication Flow**
- Train clinicians in **interpreter collaboration best practices**.
- Pre-brief interpreters to clarify tone and intent.
- Extend appointment slots for LEP patients from 15 to 30 minutes.
### **Addressing Technical Challenges**
- Audit Wi-Fi strength and device readiness daily.
- Maintain **backup telephonic systems** for redundancy.
- Provide **quick troubleshooting guides** in each room.
### **Improving Interpreter Quality**
- Develop **feedback loops** and **medical terminology glossaries** by specialty.
- Standardize quality assessments across interpreter vendors.
- Offer **culture competency sheets** for common patient populations.
### **Maintaining the Human Connection**
- Use **video interpretation at eye level** to preserve empathy.
- Learn simple greetings in patients’ languages.
- Reinforce connection through visual aids and attentive body language.
## **Integrating AI Interpretation: The Next Step**
AI-assisted interpretation when clinically validated can close critical access gaps.
Solutions like **No Barrier AI** extend interpreter coverage, reduce delays and maintain compliance while safeguarding context and tone.
- **HIPAA-compliant and auditable**
- **Accurate in critical conversations** through medical term training
- **Human-in-the-loop oversight** for continuous accuracy checks
- **EHR-integrated documentation** for transparency and compliance
Hospitals using AI-augmented interpretation report **15–20% faster response times**, **improved clinician satisfaction** and **stronger patient understanding** in both routine and critical encounters.
## **Key Takeaways for CMOs and Nurse Leaders**
- **Language access is a clinical safety issue, not just compliance.**
- **Structured interpreter workflows reduce delays and legal risk.**
- **AI interpretation expands access** without sacrificing empathy or accuracy.
- **No Barrier AI enables compliant, real-time translation** even in critical care discussions.
## You’d also be interested in…
[**Optimizing Patient Flow: ER Operations Win Minutes with Tech** \\
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Crowding in the ER isn’t random; it’s governed by math. Little’s Law: patients in system = arrival rate × time. Reduce time in the system, reduce the queue.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/patient-flow-ops)
[**How to Solve the “One Patient, Multiple Interpreters” Challenge in Healthcare** \\
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Cost & Efficiency\\
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November 26, 2025\\
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LEP patients face fragmented care. Integrated interpreter models create smoother, patient-centered communication.\\
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**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-to-solve-the-one-patient-multiple-interpreters-challenge-in-healthcare)
[**6 Medical Translation Challenges Patients Face With Interpreters** \\
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Cost & Efficiency\\
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October 17, 2025\\
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4\\
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min read\\
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Language barriers make healthcare hard, but better interpreter services and clear communication can help patients get better care.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-medical-translation-challenges-patients-face-with-interpreters)
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-big-problems-in-medical-interpretation-what-healthcare-providers-tell-us#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Medical Translation Challenges
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
Cost & Efficiency
# 6 Medical Translation Challenges Patients Face With Interpreters
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
April 7, 2025
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
4
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h2\\
\\
The Patient Journey: Six Real Challenges](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-medical-translation-challenges-patients-face-with-interpreters#the-patient-journey-six-real-challenges)
[h3\\
\\
1\. The Waiting Game](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-medical-translation-challenges-patients-face-with-interpreters#1-the-waiting-game)
[h3\\
\\
2\. Lost in Translation: Medical Terms](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-medical-translation-challenges-patients-face-with-interpreters#2-lost-in-translation-medical-terms)
[h3\\
\\
3\. Navigating the Technology Divide](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-medical-translation-challenges-patients-face-with-interpreters#3-navigating-the-technology-divide)
[h3\\
\\
4\. When Language Has Layers](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-medical-translation-challenges-patients-face-with-interpreters#4-when-language-has-layers)
[h3\\
\\
5\. The Trust Factor](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-medical-translation-challenges-patients-face-with-interpreters#5-the-trust-factor)
[h3\\
\\
6\. The Family Interpreter Dilemma](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-medical-translation-challenges-patients-face-with-interpreters#6-the-family-interpreter-dilemma)
[h2\\
\\
Looking Forward](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-medical-translation-challenges-patients-face-with-interpreters#looking-forward)
When patients and doctors don't speak the same language, healthcare gets tricky. We've talked with many patients who struggle to get care because English isn't their first language. They tell us that while interpreters help, how providers use these services really matters.
Research shows this too. A study by Diamond and colleagues in 2019 found that patients who don't speak English well face more medical errors, follow treatment plans less often, and feel less satisfied when translation services aren't set up properly.
Here's what we've learned from real patients.
## **The Patient Journey: Six Real Challenges**
### **1\. The Waiting Game**
.jpg)
Maria's story stands out to us. A Spanish speaker from Ecuador, she told us: "I checked in at urgent care with severe pain but couldn't explain my symptoms until an interpreter arrived two hours later."
This happens too often. Patients wait without being able to explain what hurts or understand what's happening next. Meanwhile, they worry and their health problems might get worse.
**Practical Approaches That Make a Difference:** Having a tablet ready for video interpretation at check-in can cut wait times. Even a simple translated welcome card makes patients feel seen while waiting. Asking about language needs when making appointments gives everyone time to prepare. When staff wear badges with interpreter contact info, they can get help faster when needed.
### **2\. Lost in Translation: Medical Terms**
"The interpreter used a word for my condition I didn't understand," Carlos told us after his cardiology appointment. "In my country, we use a different term. I nodded yes because I felt embarrassed to ask again."
Medical words are tough even for native English speakers. When translated, these terms can become even more confusing. Many patients tell us they pretend to understand rather than asking for clearer explanations.
**Practical Approaches That Make a Difference:** Using everyday words instead of medical jargon makes a big difference. Drawing simple pictures often shows what words can't explain. Having patients repeat back what they understood gives everyone a chance to fix misunderstandings. A simple guide with common medical terms and their plain-language alternatives helps providers explain complex conditions clearly.
### **3\. Navigating the Technology Divide**
.jpg)
Many hospitals now use video or tablets for interpretation. This creates a new problem: some patients don't know how to use the technology.
We recently spoke with Elena, an elderly Russian speaker, who shared: "The nurse handed me this tablet with a person on the screen. I didn't know how to use it or even that I was supposed to speak to them. I kept trying to touch the screen to make it work."
Older patients or those who haven't used much technology can feel confused by these new tools, especially when they're already stressed about their health.
**Practical Approaches That Make a Difference:** Training staff to properly introduce video interpretation systems to patients helps prevent confusion. Creating clear protocols for who is responsible for setting up interpretation technology ensures it happens consistently. Establishing backup phone interpretation procedures gives options when video systems aren't working well.
### **4\. When Language Has Layers**
"The interpreter spoke Spanish, but not my Spanish," Juanita from rural Guatemala told us. "I left more confused than when I arrived."
Spanish in Mexico differs from Spanish in Argentina. Arabic has many different forms. When interpreters speak the wrong version of a language, patients may become confused about their diagnosis, medicine instructions, or treatment plans.
**Practical Approaches That Make a Difference:** Asking "What country are you from?" helps match patients with the right dialect. Speaking in shorter sentences with pauses gives the interpreter time to translate accurately. Writing down dialect preferences in patient charts helps provide insight for the interpreter to translate effectively. Letting patients know they can request a different interpreter if they're struggling to understand gives them control over their care.
### **5\. The Trust Factor**
Ibrahim noticed something concerning: "The doctor would speak for two minutes, but the interpreter would translate in just a few seconds. I knew I wasn't getting the full message."
Patients worry they're missing important details, that medical terms aren't being explained right, or that interpreters are adding their own thoughts.
**Practical Approaches That Make a Difference:** Starting with "I'll pause after each important point" sets clear expectations. Watching facial expressions helps catch confusion early. Visual aids bridge gaps when words aren't enough. Writing down key numbers and medication names creates a reference point everyone can understand. Asking interpreters to translate everything rather than summarize ensures nothing gets lost.
### **6\. The Family Interpreter Dilemma**
We often hear of family members – even young children – being asked to interpret complex medical information. While it might seem easier, this causes serious problems.
Children don't know medical terms in either language. Family relationships change when children become information gatekeepers. Patients often hide sensitive information to protect family members. Both the patient and family member can feel upset by difficult medical news.
**Practical Approaches That Make a Difference:** Having a ready phrase like "We always use professional interpreters for medical information" helps staff politely decline family offers to interpret. For sensitive appointments, scheduling during quieter times helps maintain privacy.
## **Looking Forward**
These solutions hint at the impact and importance healthcare providers place on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (2020) guidelines on Section 1557 Nondiscrimination Protections, which emphasize healthcare providers' responsibility to ensure meaningful access to care for patients with limited English proficiency. By addressing these six challenges, providers can get closer to aligning their care with the ideal of every patient getting the same quality no matter what language they speak.
We'd love to hear what's worked in your hospital or clinic!
**References**
Diamond, L. C., Jacobs, E. A., & Karliner, L. S. (2019). Systematic review of the impact of patient-provider language barriers on healthcare outcomes. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 34(8), 1591-1606. [Link](https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-019-04847-5)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2020). HHS Finalizes Rule on Section 1557 Nondiscrimination Protections under the Affordable Care Act. Retrieved from [Link](https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2020/06/12/hhs-finalizes-rule-section-1557-protecting-civil-rights-healthcare.html)
**About the Author**
Eyal Heldenberg brings 15 years of experience in speech recognition, AI, and B2B solutions to healthcare communication challenges. As an engineering and product leader focused on language accessibility in healthcare, he works to bridge communication gaps and improve outcomes for all patients, regardless of language background.Eyal was recently involved in research on how technology can improve medical translation accuracy and has facilitated discussions with doctors and healthcare providers across the United States to better understand real-world interpretation challenges. His work aligns with current healthcare regulations and is informed by the latest research on patient-provider language barriers.
## FAQs
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
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[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# 6 Medical Translation Challenges Patients Face With Interpreters
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
April 7, 2025
4
Minute Read
When patients and doctors don't speak the same language, healthcare gets tricky. We've talked with many patients who struggle to get care because English isn't their first language. They tell us that while interpreters help, how providers use these services really matters.
Research shows this too. A study by Diamond and colleagues in 2019 found that patients who don't speak English well face more medical errors, follow treatment plans less often, and feel less satisfied when translation services aren't set up properly.
Here's what we've learned from real patients.
## **The Patient Journey: Six Real Challenges**
### **1\. The Waiting Game**
.jpg)
Maria's story stands out to us. A Spanish speaker from Ecuador, she told us: "I checked in at urgent care with severe pain but couldn't explain my symptoms until an interpreter arrived two hours later."
This happens too often. Patients wait without being able to explain what hurts or understand what's happening next. Meanwhile, they worry and their health problems might get worse.
**Practical Approaches That Make a Difference:** Having a tablet ready for video interpretation at check-in can cut wait times. Even a simple translated welcome card makes patients feel seen while waiting. Asking about language needs when making appointments gives everyone time to prepare. When staff wear badges with interpreter contact info, they can get help faster when needed.
### **2\. Lost in Translation: Medical Terms**
"The interpreter used a word for my condition I didn't understand," Carlos told us after his cardiology appointment. "In my country, we use a different term. I nodded yes because I felt embarrassed to ask again."
Medical words are tough even for native English speakers. When translated, these terms can become even more confusing. Many patients tell us they pretend to understand rather than asking for clearer explanations.
**Practical Approaches That Make a Difference:** Using everyday words instead of medical jargon makes a big difference. Drawing simple pictures often shows what words can't explain. Having patients repeat back what they understood gives everyone a chance to fix misunderstandings. A simple guide with common medical terms and their plain-language alternatives helps providers explain complex conditions clearly.
### **3\. Navigating the Technology Divide**
.jpg)
Many hospitals now use video or tablets for interpretation. This creates a new problem: some patients don't know how to use the technology.
We recently spoke with Elena, an elderly Russian speaker, who shared: "The nurse handed me this tablet with a person on the screen. I didn't know how to use it or even that I was supposed to speak to them. I kept trying to touch the screen to make it work."
Older patients or those who haven't used much technology can feel confused by these new tools, especially when they're already stressed about their health.
**Practical Approaches That Make a Difference:** Training staff to properly introduce video interpretation systems to patients helps prevent confusion. Creating clear protocols for who is responsible for setting up interpretation technology ensures it happens consistently. Establishing backup phone interpretation procedures gives options when video systems aren't working well.
### **4\. When Language Has Layers**
"The interpreter spoke Spanish, but not my Spanish," Juanita from rural Guatemala told us. "I left more confused than when I arrived."
Spanish in Mexico differs from Spanish in Argentina. Arabic has many different forms. When interpreters speak the wrong version of a language, patients may become confused about their diagnosis, medicine instructions, or treatment plans.
**Practical Approaches That Make a Difference:** Asking "What country are you from?" helps match patients with the right dialect. Speaking in shorter sentences with pauses gives the interpreter time to translate accurately. Writing down dialect preferences in patient charts helps provide insight for the interpreter to translate effectively. Letting patients know they can request a different interpreter if they're struggling to understand gives them control over their care.
### **5\. The Trust Factor**
Ibrahim noticed something concerning: "The doctor would speak for two minutes, but the interpreter would translate in just a few seconds. I knew I wasn't getting the full message."
Patients worry they're missing important details, that medical terms aren't being explained right, or that interpreters are adding their own thoughts.
**Practical Approaches That Make a Difference:** Starting with "I'll pause after each important point" sets clear expectations. Watching facial expressions helps catch confusion early. Visual aids bridge gaps when words aren't enough. Writing down key numbers and medication names creates a reference point everyone can understand. Asking interpreters to translate everything rather than summarize ensures nothing gets lost.
### **6\. The Family Interpreter Dilemma**
We often hear of family members – even young children – being asked to interpret complex medical information. While it might seem easier, this causes serious problems.
Children don't know medical terms in either language. Family relationships change when children become information gatekeepers. Patients often hide sensitive information to protect family members. Both the patient and family member can feel upset by difficult medical news.
**Practical Approaches That Make a Difference:** Having a ready phrase like "We always use professional interpreters for medical information" helps staff politely decline family offers to interpret. For sensitive appointments, scheduling during quieter times helps maintain privacy.
## **Looking Forward**
These solutions hint at the impact and importance healthcare providers place on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (2020) guidelines on Section 1557 Nondiscrimination Protections, which emphasize healthcare providers' responsibility to ensure meaningful access to care for patients with limited English proficiency. By addressing these six challenges, providers can get closer to aligning their care with the ideal of every patient getting the same quality no matter what language they speak.
We'd love to hear what's worked in your hospital or clinic!
**References**
Diamond, L. C., Jacobs, E. A., & Karliner, L. S. (2019). Systematic review of the impact of patient-provider language barriers on healthcare outcomes. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 34(8), 1591-1606. [Link](https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-019-04847-5)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2020). HHS Finalizes Rule on Section 1557 Nondiscrimination Protections under the Affordable Care Act. Retrieved from [Link](https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2020/06/12/hhs-finalizes-rule-section-1557-protecting-civil-rights-healthcare.html)
**About the Author**
Eyal Heldenberg brings 15 years of experience in speech recognition, AI, and B2B solutions to healthcare communication challenges. As an engineering and product leader focused on language accessibility in healthcare, he works to bridge communication gaps and improve outcomes for all patients, regardless of language background.Eyal was recently involved in research on how technology can improve medical translation accuracy and has facilitated discussions with doctors and healthcare providers across the United States to better understand real-world interpretation challenges. His work aligns with current healthcare regulations and is informed by the latest research on patient-provider language barriers.
## You’d also be interested in…
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**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-big-problems-in-medical-interpretation-what-healthcare-providers-tell-us)
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-medical-translation-challenges-patients-face-with-interpreters#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## AI in Healthcare Insights
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
AI & Technology in Healthcare Interpretation
# AI in Healthcare - Consider Starting Small
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
October 10, 2024
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
5
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h3\\
\\
The Case for Starting Small](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/ai-in-healthcare---consider-starting-small#the-case-for-starting-small)
[h3\\
\\
Characteristics of an Ideal Starter AI Project](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/ai-in-healthcare---consider-starting-small#characteristics-of-an-ideal-starter-ai-project)
[h3\\
\\
Example: No Barrier’s AI Medical Interpreter](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/ai-in-healthcare---consider-starting-small#example-no-barriers-ai-medical-interpreter)
It is no longer news that with the technological advancement in the health sector, there has been a strong push for the practice of artificial intelligence (AI) in assisting patient care, improving efficiency, as well as minimizing costs within organizations.
There is a huge promise of the AI revolution when you look at its application in the health care sector. Understanding how to implement it can be a very difficult journey.
This article discusses how it may be useful to first undertake more limited AI initiatives while forming the opinion of how it can be useful in the digital transformation of clinical practices. Naturally it is heavily dependent on organizations goals, priorities and resources.
### The Case for Starting Small
Among the reasons one may get for desperation to engage in large scale AI systems is the upside of doing so, however there are great benefits derived from the beginning of low hanging fruits:
1. **Reduced Complexity**: Smaller projects typically have fewer stakeholders and are less likely to heavily disrupt existing procedures since they are almost self-contained, this makes them easy to execute as well as oversee.
2. **Lower Risk**: Since the investment is minimal and the scope limited, the potential risk of failure in undertaking the project is less likely to occur.
3. **High Impact:** Projects that can make a big impact in patient care and provider wellness and efficiency.
4. **Faster Implementation**: Projects can be implemented and completed up in lesser time, enabling the organization to reap the benefits and acquire the needed expertise.
5. **Easier Adoption**: Change is required but may not be such major ones and therefore most staff will be willing to make the change as there is reduced resistance and negatively impacting the success chances.
6. **Learning Opportunities**: small trials allow experimenting with different aspects of AI including implementation, management of data and also change management with low risks and costs.
7. **Time to Value**: simple AI projects are usually valuable at the beginning of use and so there is realization of value right from the start. Thus confidence in the use of AI technology is also built.
### Characteristics of an Ideal Starter AI Project
For potential conduct during your first AI project, try to look for such solutions that have the following traits.
1. **Non-clinical Focus:** Tools used within the medical field that do not contribute directly to clinical decision making.
2. **Software-Based**: Limiting the use of hardware can ease the implementation and minimize the expenditure.
3. **Device Flexibility**: Measures that are applicable on the already existing devices eliminate the need for additional infrastructure.
4. **Standalone Functionality**: There are certain projects where no extensive modifications to the current dubbed systems such as EMRs are necessary. These projects tend to be implemented faster.
5. **Privacy-Preserving**: In addition, tools that do not keep personal information shall assist in limiting privacy issues.
6. **User Friendly Interface**: A keystroke friendly design lessens the time of training to increase the acceptance.
7. **Alignment With Current Processes**: Features that add to current work systems rather than create new work systems are more likely to gain wider acceptance.
8. **Minimum Training Required**: The lesser the time taken for training the more effective the execution is.
9. **Time to Value:** Changes that will be beneficial on the first use will advocate for more heavy investment in the works for AI.
### Example: No Barrier’s AI Medical Interpreter
No Barrier has designed an AI medical interpreter for healthcare providers, which is a perfect illustration of an AI project with a well-defined focus. This is an example of the advantages of building something in phases.
1. **Not A Clinical Decision Support System**: It facilitates interaction, but has no direct effect on clinical decision making.
2. **Software Only**: There is no need to purchase any amplifiers and hence reduces the effort.
3. **Device Independence**: It is possible to use the application on any connected device, for example on the mobile phones of the providers.
4. **No Need For Integration**: There is no need for integration with EMR systems.
5. **Data Protection**: As a processor application, sensitive data does not reside on the system.
6. **Use Of Simple Interface**: The ease of use permits any team member to utilize the application.
7. **The Process Fills Gaps:** It operates as part of the already existing demand for interpreters.
8. **Minimal Training**: It is possible to onboard providers within a couple of minutes.
9. **Time to Value**: From the very first minute when the system is employed, the advantages become available as improvement of providers and patients interaction takes place straight away.
In summary, starting small with AI in healthcare offers numerous advantages, including reduced risk, faster implementation, and easier adoption. By focusing on non-clinical, software-based solutions that align with existing processes, organizations can gain valuable experience and immediate benefits. This approach, exemplified by projects like No Barrier's AI Medical Interpreter, allows healthcare providers to build confidence in AI technology while paving the way for broader digital transformation in the future.
## FAQs
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
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[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# AI in Healthcare - Consider Starting Small
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
October 10, 2024
5
Minute Read
It is no longer news that with the technological advancement in the health sector, there has been a strong push for the practice of artificial intelligence (AI) in assisting patient care, improving efficiency, as well as minimizing costs within organizations.
There is a huge promise of the AI revolution when you look at its application in the health care sector. Understanding how to implement it can be a very difficult journey.
This article discusses how it may be useful to first undertake more limited AI initiatives while forming the opinion of how it can be useful in the digital transformation of clinical practices. Naturally it is heavily dependent on organizations goals, priorities and resources.
### The Case for Starting Small
Among the reasons one may get for desperation to engage in large scale AI systems is the upside of doing so, however there are great benefits derived from the beginning of low hanging fruits:
1. **Reduced Complexity**: Smaller projects typically have fewer stakeholders and are less likely to heavily disrupt existing procedures since they are almost self-contained, this makes them easy to execute as well as oversee.
2. **Lower Risk**: Since the investment is minimal and the scope limited, the potential risk of failure in undertaking the project is less likely to occur.
3. **High Impact:** Projects that can make a big impact in patient care and provider wellness and efficiency.
4. **Faster Implementation**: Projects can be implemented and completed up in lesser time, enabling the organization to reap the benefits and acquire the needed expertise.
5. **Easier Adoption**: Change is required but may not be such major ones and therefore most staff will be willing to make the change as there is reduced resistance and negatively impacting the success chances.
6. **Learning Opportunities**: small trials allow experimenting with different aspects of AI including implementation, management of data and also change management with low risks and costs.
7. **Time to Value**: simple AI projects are usually valuable at the beginning of use and so there is realization of value right from the start. Thus confidence in the use of AI technology is also built.
### Characteristics of an Ideal Starter AI Project
For potential conduct during your first AI project, try to look for such solutions that have the following traits.
1. **Non-clinical Focus:** Tools used within the medical field that do not contribute directly to clinical decision making.
2. **Software-Based**: Limiting the use of hardware can ease the implementation and minimize the expenditure.
3. **Device Flexibility**: Measures that are applicable on the already existing devices eliminate the need for additional infrastructure.
4. **Standalone Functionality**: There are certain projects where no extensive modifications to the current dubbed systems such as EMRs are necessary. These projects tend to be implemented faster.
5. **Privacy-Preserving**: In addition, tools that do not keep personal information shall assist in limiting privacy issues.
6. **User Friendly Interface**: A keystroke friendly design lessens the time of training to increase the acceptance.
7. **Alignment With Current Processes**: Features that add to current work systems rather than create new work systems are more likely to gain wider acceptance.
8. **Minimum Training Required**: The lesser the time taken for training the more effective the execution is.
9. **Time to Value:** Changes that will be beneficial on the first use will advocate for more heavy investment in the works for AI.
### Example: No Barrier’s AI Medical Interpreter
No Barrier has designed an AI medical interpreter for healthcare providers, which is a perfect illustration of an AI project with a well-defined focus. This is an example of the advantages of building something in phases.
1. **Not A Clinical Decision Support System**: It facilitates interaction, but has no direct effect on clinical decision making.
2. **Software Only**: There is no need to purchase any amplifiers and hence reduces the effort.
3. **Device Independence**: It is possible to use the application on any connected device, for example on the mobile phones of the providers.
4. **No Need For Integration**: There is no need for integration with EMR systems.
5. **Data Protection**: As a processor application, sensitive data does not reside on the system.
6. **Use Of Simple Interface**: The ease of use permits any team member to utilize the application.
7. **The Process Fills Gaps:** It operates as part of the already existing demand for interpreters.
8. **Minimal Training**: It is possible to onboard providers within a couple of minutes.
9. **Time to Value**: From the very first minute when the system is employed, the advantages become available as improvement of providers and patients interaction takes place straight away.
In summary, starting small with AI in healthcare offers numerous advantages, including reduced risk, faster implementation, and easier adoption. By focusing on non-clinical, software-based solutions that align with existing processes, organizations can gain valuable experience and immediate benefits. This approach, exemplified by projects like No Barrier's AI Medical Interpreter, allows healthcare providers to build confidence in AI technology while paving the way for broader digital transformation in the future.
## You’d also be interested in…
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## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/ai-in-healthcare---consider-starting-small#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Interpreter Service Costs
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
Cost & Efficiency
# Are You Paying for Silence?
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
August 5, 2024
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
4
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h2\\
\\
Example H2](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/are-you-paying-for-silence#)
When a healthcare professional has an encounter with a non-English speaking patient - there would usually be an interpreter, oftentimes remote interpreter. The payment for the service is by the minute **including the inherent periods of silence**.
In every encounter there are “communication parts” where provider and patient exchange information, questions and there are “silent parts” - usually where the provider is doing a “brain work” for example, going over charts etc.
One example of “silent part” is working on the EHR system - one US-based study1 found, that on outpatient encounters - _“Physicians spent an average of_ **_16 minutes and 14 seconds_** _per encounter using EHRs, with chart review (33%), documentation (24%), and ordering (17%) functions accounting for most of the time.”_
Let's examine another Turkish-based study2, also in outpatient settings, that measured steps and general duration as an example (we've ignored the variation).
| Stage | Time
(minutes) | Interpreter required |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Taking medical history | 5 | Yes |
| Physical examination | 2.8 | **No** |
| Ordering tests and informing patients about them | 1.9 | Yes |
| Entering patient data to EMR | 2.5 | **No** |
| Evaluating test results | 3.5 | **No** |
| Prescribing an e-prescription | 1.5 | **No** |
| Informing patient about the treatment | 2.3 | Yes |
| Informing patient about the follow-up protocol | 1.6 | Yes |
| Answering patient additional questions | 1.6 | Yes |
| | | |
According to this study, out of 22.7 minutes of encounter, **10.3 minutes** don't require interpreter communication. **This means that 45% of the meeting is paid for the silence time.**
Side note - it seems like in the US, physicians spend more time on EMR (16:14 min) than in Turkey (10:30 min).
Even if the numbers could vary, medical encounters, from their nature, include non-verbal clinic time. However, the current workflow can't overcome that - there is an attached remote interpreter following the encounter until the patient is released from the room.
In our interviews with providers, we've asked about this topic. Two interesting stories were:
1. One MD from an inpatient hospital in NY told us: _"If I don't say anything for 15 min, after 15 min they'll hang up. I have to request it. Yes, I have to request every 15 min for them to stay on the line."_
2. In another case, an MD from an optometry clinic health center told us: _"We call an interpreter over the phone for the beginning part of the visit, but since that service charges by the minute, we can't have the interpreter on the phone for the whole time."_ In optometry, the typical exam is most of the encounter - in their case, for their own reasons they decided the interpreter would be present only for the first part of medical history taking.
**To summarize**, there is "waste" when using remote interpreters, reflected by silence time in medical encounters. It is an overlooked subject that is inherent to the current labor-based medical interpreting process.
Resources:
1https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31931523/
2https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5541965/
## FAQs
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
[Twitter icon\\
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[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# Are You Paying for Silence?
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
August 5, 2024
4
Minute Read
When a healthcare professional has an encounter with a non-English speaking patient - there would usually be an interpreter, oftentimes remote interpreter. The payment for the service is by the minute **including the inherent periods of silence**.
In every encounter there are “communication parts” where provider and patient exchange information, questions and there are “silent parts” - usually where the provider is doing a “brain work” for example, going over charts etc.
One example of “silent part” is working on the EHR system - one US-based study1 found, that on outpatient encounters - _“Physicians spent an average of_ **_16 minutes and 14 seconds_** _per encounter using EHRs, with chart review (33%), documentation (24%), and ordering (17%) functions accounting for most of the time.”_
Let's examine another Turkish-based study2, also in outpatient settings, that measured steps and general duration as an example (we've ignored the variation).
| Stage | Time
(minutes) | Interpreter required |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Taking medical history | 5 | Yes |
| Physical examination | 2.8 | **No** |
| Ordering tests and informing patients about them | 1.9 | Yes |
| Entering patient data to EMR | 2.5 | **No** |
| Evaluating test results | 3.5 | **No** |
| Prescribing an e-prescription | 1.5 | **No** |
| Informing patient about the treatment | 2.3 | Yes |
| Informing patient about the follow-up protocol | 1.6 | Yes |
| Answering patient additional questions | 1.6 | Yes |
| | | |
According to this study, out of 22.7 minutes of encounter, **10.3 minutes** don't require interpreter communication. **This means that 45% of the meeting is paid for the silence time.**
Side note - it seems like in the US, physicians spend more time on EMR (16:14 min) than in Turkey (10:30 min).
Even if the numbers could vary, medical encounters, from their nature, include non-verbal clinic time. However, the current workflow can't overcome that - there is an attached remote interpreter following the encounter until the patient is released from the room.
In our interviews with providers, we've asked about this topic. Two interesting stories were:
1. One MD from an inpatient hospital in NY told us: _"If I don't say anything for 15 min, after 15 min they'll hang up. I have to request it. Yes, I have to request every 15 min for them to stay on the line."_
2. In another case, an MD from an optometry clinic health center told us: _"We call an interpreter over the phone for the beginning part of the visit, but since that service charges by the minute, we can't have the interpreter on the phone for the whole time."_ In optometry, the typical exam is most of the encounter - in their case, for their own reasons they decided the interpreter would be present only for the first part of medical history taking.
**To summarize**, there is "waste" when using remote interpreters, reflected by silence time in medical encounters. It is an overlooked subject that is inherent to the current labor-based medical interpreting process.
Resources:
1https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31931523/
2https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5541965/
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## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/are-you-paying-for-silence#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Language Barriers in Healthcare
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
Compliance & Risk (HIPAA, Legal, Safety)
# Are Your Non-English Speaking Patients Following Up on Your Discharge Notes?
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
August 31, 2024
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
3
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h3\\
\\
Challenges Faced by LEP Patients](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/are-your-non-english-speaking-patients-following-up-on-your-discharge-notes#challenges-faced-by-lep-patients)
[h3\\
\\
Health Workflows](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/are-your-non-english-speaking-patients-following-up-on-your-discharge-notes#health-workflows)
[h3\\
\\
Why Current Discharge Notes May Not Be Effective for LEP Patients](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/are-your-non-english-speaking-patients-following-up-on-your-discharge-notes#why-current-discharge-notes-may-not-be-effective-for-lep-patients)
[h3\\
\\
How Can We Improve?](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/are-your-non-english-speaking-patients-following-up-on-your-discharge-notes#how-can-we-improve)
Imagine you develop food poisoning while traveling in the Philippines. You receive discharge instructions that say:
_“Mangyaring manatiling hydrated sa pamamagitan ng pag-inom ng likido na may electrolytes. Gamitin ang Zofran ayon sa reseta kung kinakailangan para sa pagduduwal o pagsusuka. Bumalik sa emergency department kung lumala ang pananakit ng tiyan, magkaroon ng lagnat o anumang iba pang nakakabahalang sintomas.”_
Would you know what to do next?
This is what so many patients with limited English proficiency in the US face every day when they encounter the medical system. They receive discharge instructions only in English, many times not in their native language.
Discharge notes and patient instructions are essential after every medical encounter. They help patients understand what happened during the encounter, which medications to take, and the necessary next steps.
### **Challenges Faced by LEP Patients**
One [study1](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9246478/) found that significant disparities exist in patient-reported post-discharge issues. The results indicate a need for better discharge processes that focus on communication quality and health equity.
Patients with LEP were more likely to report problems with all measured post-discharge issues. A greater number of LEP patients had questions regarding the information in their discharge instructions compared to patients with English proficiency (EP). More LEP patients needed help getting their prescriptions filled and had concerns about their medications. After discharge, LEP patients were more likely to have questions about follow-up care. They were also more likely to experience new or worsening symptoms and have other clinical questions for nurses.
Another [study2](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31236893/) suggests that only 12% of patients reported having access to professional interpreters when discharge instructions were provided. Additionally, a different [study3](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3311126/) found that LEP patients' understanding was generally low regarding follow-up appointment types and medication outcomes.
### **Health Workflows**
While many health institutions have policies for translating general documents (such as consent forms), one [study4](https://publications.aap.org/hospitalpediatrics/article/9/10/779/26671/Translating-Discharge-Instructions-for-Limited?autologincheck=redirected) found that only 76% of providers reported translating discharge instructions. The barriers to effective translation include uncommon languages, mismatched discharge and translation timeframes, and inconsistent use of translation services by clinical staff.
Some providers resort to using tools like Google Translate to translate discharge notes. However, Google Translate is not HIPAA-compliant, has privacy issues, and should not be used with PHI. [Studies5](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8606479/) also suggest that its accuracy can be inconsistent.
### **Why Current Discharge Notes May Not Be Effective for LEP Patients**
Possible reasons include:
- No translation or inaccurate translation of discharge notes
- A mismatch between the patient’s literacy level and the provider’s notes
- Workflow issues, such as not carefully reviewing the discharge note with the patient to ensure understanding
### **How Can We Improve?**
There is a need for new processes, technology, and workflows to achieve better outcomes by:
- Generating highly accurate translations of discharge notes to all LEP encounters
- Making them simple enough to understand by patients
- Delivering them quickly and efficiently, so providers will utilize them at scale
One way to meet these demands is by harnessing the latest technology to generate accurate translations on the spot, making the workflow faster for providers.
**In summary**: Creating clear and simple discharge notes for patients with limited English proficiency is essential in healthcare. Existing processes should support the need for accurate translations and clear workflows within the often stressful healthcare environment. New AI technology should be considered to support these objectives.
Resources
1. Disparities After Discharge: The Association of Limited English Proficiency and Post-Discharge Patient Reported Issues - [link](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9246478/)
2. Caregiving for Older Adults with Limited English Proficiency: Transitioning from Hospital to Home - [link](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31236893/)
3. Language Barriers and Understanding of Hospital Discharge Instructions - [link](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3311126/)
4. Translating Discharge Instructions for Limited English–Proficient Families: Strategies and Barriers - [link](https://publications.aap.org/hospitalpediatrics/article/9/10/779/26671/Translating-Discharge-Instructions-for-Limited?autologincheck=redirected)
5. A Pragmatic Assessment of Google Translate for Emergency Department Instructions - [link](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8606479/)
## FAQs
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
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[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# Are Your Non-English Speaking Patients Following Up on Your Discharge Notes?
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
August 31, 2024
3
Minute Read
Imagine you develop food poisoning while traveling in the Philippines. You receive discharge instructions that say:
_“Mangyaring manatiling hydrated sa pamamagitan ng pag-inom ng likido na may electrolytes. Gamitin ang Zofran ayon sa reseta kung kinakailangan para sa pagduduwal o pagsusuka. Bumalik sa emergency department kung lumala ang pananakit ng tiyan, magkaroon ng lagnat o anumang iba pang nakakabahalang sintomas.”_
Would you know what to do next?
This is what so many patients with limited English proficiency in the US face every day when they encounter the medical system. They receive discharge instructions only in English, many times not in their native language.
Discharge notes and patient instructions are essential after every medical encounter. They help patients understand what happened during the encounter, which medications to take, and the necessary next steps.
### **Challenges Faced by LEP Patients**
One [study1](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9246478/) found that significant disparities exist in patient-reported post-discharge issues. The results indicate a need for better discharge processes that focus on communication quality and health equity.
Patients with LEP were more likely to report problems with all measured post-discharge issues. A greater number of LEP patients had questions regarding the information in their discharge instructions compared to patients with English proficiency (EP). More LEP patients needed help getting their prescriptions filled and had concerns about their medications. After discharge, LEP patients were more likely to have questions about follow-up care. They were also more likely to experience new or worsening symptoms and have other clinical questions for nurses.
Another [study2](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31236893/) suggests that only 12% of patients reported having access to professional interpreters when discharge instructions were provided. Additionally, a different [study3](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3311126/) found that LEP patients' understanding was generally low regarding follow-up appointment types and medication outcomes.
### **Health Workflows**
While many health institutions have policies for translating general documents (such as consent forms), one [study4](https://publications.aap.org/hospitalpediatrics/article/9/10/779/26671/Translating-Discharge-Instructions-for-Limited?autologincheck=redirected) found that only 76% of providers reported translating discharge instructions. The barriers to effective translation include uncommon languages, mismatched discharge and translation timeframes, and inconsistent use of translation services by clinical staff.
Some providers resort to using tools like Google Translate to translate discharge notes. However, Google Translate is not HIPAA-compliant, has privacy issues, and should not be used with PHI. [Studies5](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8606479/) also suggest that its accuracy can be inconsistent.
### **Why Current Discharge Notes May Not Be Effective for LEP Patients**
Possible reasons include:
- No translation or inaccurate translation of discharge notes
- A mismatch between the patient’s literacy level and the provider’s notes
- Workflow issues, such as not carefully reviewing the discharge note with the patient to ensure understanding
### **How Can We Improve?**
There is a need for new processes, technology, and workflows to achieve better outcomes by:
- Generating highly accurate translations of discharge notes to all LEP encounters
- Making them simple enough to understand by patients
- Delivering them quickly and efficiently, so providers will utilize them at scale
One way to meet these demands is by harnessing the latest technology to generate accurate translations on the spot, making the workflow faster for providers.
**In summary**: Creating clear and simple discharge notes for patients with limited English proficiency is essential in healthcare. Existing processes should support the need for accurate translations and clear workflows within the often stressful healthcare environment. New AI technology should be considered to support these objectives.
Resources
1. Disparities After Discharge: The Association of Limited English Proficiency and Post-Discharge Patient Reported Issues - [link](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9246478/)
2. Caregiving for Older Adults with Limited English Proficiency: Transitioning from Hospital to Home - [link](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31236893/)
3. Language Barriers and Understanding of Hospital Discharge Instructions - [link](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3311126/)
4. Translating Discharge Instructions for Limited English–Proficient Families: Strategies and Barriers - [link](https://publications.aap.org/hospitalpediatrics/article/9/10/779/26671/Translating-Discharge-Instructions-for-Limited?autologincheck=redirected)
5. A Pragmatic Assessment of Google Translate for Emergency Department Instructions - [link](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8606479/)
## You’d also be interested in…
[**The Executive Checklist for Choosing Your Next AI Interpreter Vendor** \\
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A concise, compliance-first checklist for healthcare leaders to evaluate AI interpreter vendors on HIPAA alignment, accuracy, ROI and patient experience before signing a contract.\\
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[**Is Google Translate HIPAA Compliant? What Every Hospital Needs to Know** \\
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Google Translate is not HIPAA compliant. No BAAs, encryption or audit controls. Using it in healthcare creates compliance, safety and legal risks. \\
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Exploring practical considerations for healthcare organizations when certifying bilingual staff as medical interpreters.\\
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## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/are-your-non-english-speaking-patients-following-up-on-your-discharge-notes#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Language Services in Healthcare
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
Language & Dialect Challenges
# Basic Spanish Isn't Enough: Why Healthcare Providers Still Need Professional Language Services
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
December 20, 2024
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
3
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h2\\
\\
The Efficiency Argument](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/basic-spanish-isnt-enough-why-healthcare-providers-still-need-professional-language-services#the-efficiency-argument)
[h2\\
\\
The Breaking Point](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/basic-spanish-isnt-enough-why-healthcare-providers-still-need-professional-language-services#the-breaking-point)
[h2\\
\\
Risk Evaluation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/basic-spanish-isnt-enough-why-healthcare-providers-still-need-professional-language-services#risk-evaluation)
[h4\\
\\
Medical Risks](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/basic-spanish-isnt-enough-why-healthcare-providers-still-need-professional-language-services#medical-risks)
[h4\\
\\
Legal Considerations](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/basic-spanish-isnt-enough-why-healthcare-providers-still-need-professional-language-services#legal-considerations)
[h4\\
\\
Patient Trust and Satisfaction](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/basic-spanish-isnt-enough-why-healthcare-providers-still-need-professional-language-services#patient-trust-and-satisfaction)
[h4\\
\\
Quality of Care](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/basic-spanish-isnt-enough-why-healthcare-providers-still-need-professional-language-services#quality-of-care)
[h4\\
\\
Regulatory and Compliance Perspective](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/basic-spanish-isnt-enough-why-healthcare-providers-still-need-professional-language-services#regulatory-and-compliance-perspective)
[h2\\
\\
Best Practices and Solutions](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/basic-spanish-isnt-enough-why-healthcare-providers-still-need-professional-language-services#best-practices-and-solutions)
[h4\\
\\
Professional Interpreters](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/basic-spanish-isnt-enough-why-healthcare-providers-still-need-professional-language-services#professional-interpreters)
[h4\\
\\
Technology Solutions](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/basic-spanish-isnt-enough-why-healthcare-providers-still-need-professional-language-services#technology-solutions)
[h4\\
\\
Education and Training](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/basic-spanish-isnt-enough-why-healthcare-providers-still-need-professional-language-services#education-and-training)
[h2\\
\\
Conclusion: Beyond "Getting By"](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/basic-spanish-isnt-enough-why-healthcare-providers-still-need-professional-language-services#conclusion-beyond-getting-by)
The United States medical system serves an increasingly diverse population, creating unique communication challenges for healthcare providers. A significant concern is the interaction with patients who have Limited English Proficiency (LEP), particularly Spanish speakers. In these situations, it's common practice for providers to 'get by' using basic Spanish language skills rather than utilizing professional interpretation services.
This practice is more widespread than many realize. Research indicates that **healthcare providers, including nurses and physicians, frequently rely on basic Spanish skills despite lacking fluency**. Studies show that "physicians with medium Spanish proficiency reported higher rates (94%) of using their own Spanish to provide information to and receive information from patients."
## The Efficiency Argument
The resistance to using interpreters stems primarily from workflow concerns. Healthcare providers often view professional interpretation services as a disruption to their schedule, requiring additional time for coordination and service delivery. As one study notes: "Residents at study institutions with interpreters readily available found it easier to 'get by' without an interpreter, despite misgivings about negative implications for quality of care."
Healthcare workers frequently choose to use their basic Spanish rather than wait for interpretation services, prioritizing immediate communication over accuracy and completeness.
## The Breaking Point
While basic Spanish may suffice for simple interactions, **it becomes problematic when discussing complex medical information**. The limitations become apparent when providers need to explain detailed treatment plans, medication instructions, or complex symptoms.
Research shows that LEP patients consistently report greater difficulties than English-speaking patients in understanding their medical conditions, medication instructions, and prescription labels.
## Risk Evaluation
#### Medical Risks
Communication failures can lead to serious medical errors, including misdiagnoses, incorrect prescriptions, and inappropriate treatments. LEP patients face higher rates of adverse events, including:
- Extended hospital stays and increased surgical infections
- More frequent falls and pressure ulcers
- Higher readmission rates for chronic conditions
#### Legal Considerations
Healthcare providers using limited Spanish skills expose themselves to liability risks. Communication breakdowns that result in improper care can lead to malpractice claims.
#### Patient Trust and Satisfaction
Clear communication builds trust. When patients sense their providers don't fully understand them, they're less likely to adhere to treatment plans, resulting in poorer health outcomes.
#### Quality of Care
Language barriers compromise both primary and preventive care quality. This results in longer wait times and increased instances of medical errors due to miscommunication.
#### Regulatory and Compliance Perspective
Healthcare regulations mandate language services to ensure quality patient care. Despite these requirements, many providers continue to rely on their limited language skills instead of professional interpretation services.
## Best Practices and Solutions
#### Professional Interpreters
Although professional interpreters may impact workflow timing, their expertise ensures accurate and appropriate communication, ultimately saving time by preventing errors and misunderstandings.
#### Technology Solutions
Advanced AI interpretation platforms, like No Barrier, offer immediate access to professional interpretation while eliminating traditional workflow disruptions. These solutions combine accuracy with efficiency, addressing both quality and time concerns.
#### Education and Training
Healthcare organizations should provide medical Spanish training while emphasizing its limitations. Even providers with some Spanish proficiency should understand when to engage professional interpretation services.
## Conclusion: Beyond "Getting By"
While using basic Spanish skills in healthcare settings is common, it compromises service quality and poses significant risks. Healthcare organizations must recognize that foregoing professional language services threatens patient safety and impedes effective, equitable care delivery.
Healthcare providers have better options than "barely getting by." With modern interpretation solutions available, organizations can ensure high-quality care while maintaining efficient workflows and protecting both patients and providers.
**References**
1. The Use of Spanish Language Skills by Physicians and Nurses. PMC, 20 July 2011 - [here](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3250531/)
2. Providing High-Quality Care for Limited English Proficient Patients. PMC, 24 October 2007, [here](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2078537/)
3. The Impact of Limited English Proficiency on Healthcare Access and Outcomes. MDPI, 31 January 2024, [here](https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/12/3/364)
4. Spanish-Speaking Limited English Proficiency Patients and Call Light Use. ResearchGate, [here](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/306329565_Spanish-Speaking_Limited_English_Proficiency_Patients_and_Call_Light_Use_Table_1)
## FAQs
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
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[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# Basic Spanish Isn't Enough: Why Healthcare Providers Still Need Professional Language Services
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
December 20, 2024
3
Minute Read
The United States medical system serves an increasingly diverse population, creating unique communication challenges for healthcare providers. A significant concern is the interaction with patients who have Limited English Proficiency (LEP), particularly Spanish speakers. In these situations, it's common practice for providers to 'get by' using basic Spanish language skills rather than utilizing professional interpretation services.
This practice is more widespread than many realize. Research indicates that **healthcare providers, including nurses and physicians, frequently rely on basic Spanish skills despite lacking fluency**. Studies show that "physicians with medium Spanish proficiency reported higher rates (94%) of using their own Spanish to provide information to and receive information from patients."
## The Efficiency Argument
The resistance to using interpreters stems primarily from workflow concerns. Healthcare providers often view professional interpretation services as a disruption to their schedule, requiring additional time for coordination and service delivery. As one study notes: "Residents at study institutions with interpreters readily available found it easier to 'get by' without an interpreter, despite misgivings about negative implications for quality of care."
Healthcare workers frequently choose to use their basic Spanish rather than wait for interpretation services, prioritizing immediate communication over accuracy and completeness.
## The Breaking Point
While basic Spanish may suffice for simple interactions, **it becomes problematic when discussing complex medical information**. The limitations become apparent when providers need to explain detailed treatment plans, medication instructions, or complex symptoms.
Research shows that LEP patients consistently report greater difficulties than English-speaking patients in understanding their medical conditions, medication instructions, and prescription labels.
## Risk Evaluation
#### Medical Risks
Communication failures can lead to serious medical errors, including misdiagnoses, incorrect prescriptions, and inappropriate treatments. LEP patients face higher rates of adverse events, including:
- Extended hospital stays and increased surgical infections
- More frequent falls and pressure ulcers
- Higher readmission rates for chronic conditions
#### Legal Considerations
Healthcare providers using limited Spanish skills expose themselves to liability risks. Communication breakdowns that result in improper care can lead to malpractice claims.
#### Patient Trust and Satisfaction
Clear communication builds trust. When patients sense their providers don't fully understand them, they're less likely to adhere to treatment plans, resulting in poorer health outcomes.
#### Quality of Care
Language barriers compromise both primary and preventive care quality. This results in longer wait times and increased instances of medical errors due to miscommunication.
#### Regulatory and Compliance Perspective
Healthcare regulations mandate language services to ensure quality patient care. Despite these requirements, many providers continue to rely on their limited language skills instead of professional interpretation services.
## Best Practices and Solutions
#### Professional Interpreters
Although professional interpreters may impact workflow timing, their expertise ensures accurate and appropriate communication, ultimately saving time by preventing errors and misunderstandings.
#### Technology Solutions
Advanced AI interpretation platforms, like No Barrier, offer immediate access to professional interpretation while eliminating traditional workflow disruptions. These solutions combine accuracy with efficiency, addressing both quality and time concerns.
#### Education and Training
Healthcare organizations should provide medical Spanish training while emphasizing its limitations. Even providers with some Spanish proficiency should understand when to engage professional interpretation services.
## Conclusion: Beyond "Getting By"
While using basic Spanish skills in healthcare settings is common, it compromises service quality and poses significant risks. Healthcare organizations must recognize that foregoing professional language services threatens patient safety and impedes effective, equitable care delivery.
Healthcare providers have better options than "barely getting by." With modern interpretation solutions available, organizations can ensure high-quality care while maintaining efficient workflows and protecting both patients and providers.
**References**
1. The Use of Spanish Language Skills by Physicians and Nurses. PMC, 20 July 2011 - [here](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3250531/)
2. Providing High-Quality Care for Limited English Proficient Patients. PMC, 24 October 2007, [here](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2078537/)
3. The Impact of Limited English Proficiency on Healthcare Access and Outcomes. MDPI, 31 January 2024, [here](https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/12/3/364)
4. Spanish-Speaking Limited English Proficiency Patients and Call Light Use. ResearchGate, [here](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/306329565_Spanish-Speaking_Limited_English_Proficiency_Patients_and_Call_Light_Use_Table_1)
## You’d also be interested in…
[**3 Languages, Many Dialects: Stories Every Clinic Should Know** \\
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Coming from our main article on language vs. dialect? You asked for real cases. Below are three short, true‑to‑life stories.\\
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[**Language vs. Dialect: Why the Difference Matters** \\
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Inspired by Care Culture Talk podcast with Dr. Ilan Shapiro, MD – Executive Medical Leader.\\
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[**How Spanish Dialects Impact Patient Care?** \\
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Language & Dialect Challenges\\
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October 17, 2025\\
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While Spanish may be the second most spoken language in U.S. healthcare settings, the vast differences between regional dialects create unexpected barriers to patient care - here's why it matters\\
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**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-spanish-dialects-impact-patient-care)
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/basic-spanish-isnt-enough-why-healthcare-providers-still-need-professional-language-services#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Cultural Competence in Healthcare
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
Industry Insights & Trends
# Best Practices for Treating Patients from Different Cultures
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
February 17, 2025
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h2\\
\\
Why Cultural Competence Matters in Healthcare?](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/best-practices-for-treating-patients-from-different-cultures#why-cultural-competence-matters-in-healthcare)
[h2\\
\\
Key Cultural Groups & Best Practices](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/best-practices-for-treating-patients-from-different-cultures#key-cultural-groups-and-best-practices)
[h3\\
\\
A. Hispanic/Latino Communities (Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, etc.)](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/best-practices-for-treating-patients-from-different-cultures#a-hispaniclatino-communities-mexican-puerto-rican-cuban-etc)
[h4\\
\\
1\. Cultural Beliefs & Healthcare Attitudes](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/best-practices-for-treating-patients-from-different-cultures#1-cultural-beliefs-and-healthcare-attitudes-3)
[h4\\
\\
2\. Communication & Family Dynamics](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/best-practices-for-treating-patients-from-different-cultures#2-communication-and-family-dynamics-3)
[h4\\
\\
3\. Do’s & Don’ts](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/best-practices-for-treating-patients-from-different-cultures#3-dos-and-donts-3)
[h3\\
\\
B. Middle Eastern/Arabic-Speaking Communities](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/best-practices-for-treating-patients-from-different-cultures#b-middle-easternarabic-speaking-communities)
[h4\\
\\
1\. Cultural Beliefs & Healthcare Attitudes](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/best-practices-for-treating-patients-from-different-cultures#1-cultural-beliefs-and-healthcare-attitudes-2)
[h4\\
\\
2\. Communication & Family Dynamics](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/best-practices-for-treating-patients-from-different-cultures#2-communication-and-family-dynamics-2)
[h4\\
\\
3\. Do’s & Don’ts](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/best-practices-for-treating-patients-from-different-cultures#3-dos-and-donts-2)
[h3\\
\\
C. Russian-Speaking Communities](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/best-practices-for-treating-patients-from-different-cultures#c-russian-speaking-communities)
[h4\\
\\
1\. Cultural Beliefs & Healthcare Attitudes](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/best-practices-for-treating-patients-from-different-cultures#1-cultural-beliefs-and-healthcare-attitudes)
[h4\\
\\
2\. Communication & Family Dynamics](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/best-practices-for-treating-patients-from-different-cultures#2-communication-and-family-dynamics)
[h4\\
\\
3\. Do’s & Don’ts](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/best-practices-for-treating-patients-from-different-cultures#3-dos-and-donts)
[h2\\
\\
Actionable Steps for Providers](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/best-practices-for-treating-patients-from-different-cultures#actionable-steps-for-providers)
[h3\\
\\
1\. Start Every Visit with a Cultural Assessment](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/best-practices-for-treating-patients-from-different-cultures#1-start-every-visit-with-a-cultural-assessment)
[h3\\
\\
2\. Use Certified Medical Interpreters](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/best-practices-for-treating-patients-from-different-cultures#2-use-certified-medical-interpreters)
[h3\\
\\
3\. Acknowledge Cultural Fears & Mistrust](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/best-practices-for-treating-patients-from-different-cultures#3-acknowledge-cultural-fears-and-mistrust)
[h3\\
\\
4\. Offer Flexible Scheduling for Religious Practices](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/best-practices-for-treating-patients-from-different-cultures#4-offer-flexible-scheduling-for-religious-practices)
[h3\\
\\
5\. Create a “Cultural Competence” Cheat Sheet for Staff](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/best-practices-for-treating-patients-from-different-cultures#5-create-a-cultural-competence-cheat-sheet-for-staff)
[h2\\
\\
Making Cultural Competence an Everyday Practice](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/best-practices-for-treating-patients-from-different-cultures#making-cultural-competence-an-everyday-practice)
The U.S. healthcare system serves one of the most culturally diverse populations in the world. According to KFF, over [42% of patients now identify as racial or ethnic minorities](https://www.kff.org/key-data-on-health-and-health-care-by-race-and-ethnicity/?entry=racial-diversity-within-the-u-s-today-total-population-by-race-and-ethnicity#:~:text=About%20four%20in%20ten%20people%20(42%25)%20in%20the%20United%20States%20identify%20as%20people%20of%20color%20(Figure%202).). This number is expected to increase, with people of color projected to account for [over half](https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/issue-brief/disparities-in-health-and-health-care-5-key-question-and-answers/) of the population by 2050.
**Image Credits:** kff.org
While this diversity enriches our society, it also presents challenges for healthcare providers, who must navigate different languages, customs, and attitudes toward medicine.
The good news?
Understanding and respecting cultural differences can significantly improve patient trust, communication, and health outcomes **\[1\] \[2\]**. This guide explores key cultural groups in the U.S., their common healthcare beliefs, and practical ways to enhance patient care.
## Why Cultural Competence Matters in Healthcare?
Imagine you’re treating a patient who barely speaks English, avoids eye contact, and seems hesitant to discuss their symptoms. You might assume they’re disengaged or uninterested in treatment. But what if this behavior reflects deep cultural respect or fear of medical institutions due to past discrimination?
Cultural competence isn’t just about being “politically correct.” It’s about providing equitable care, building trust, and reducing healthcare disparities.
Studies show that cultural misunderstandings can lead to misdiagnosis, noncompliance with treatment, and poorer health outcomes ** \[3\]**.
Minority communities often have deep-seated distrust in Western medicine due to historical injustices (e.g., the Tuskegee Syphilis Study) **\[3\]** .
Moreover, language barriers and cultural stigmas around mental health, pain expression, and end-of-life care can prevent patients from seeking necessary treatments **\[4\]** .
## Key Cultural Groups & Best Practices
### **A. Hispanic/Latino Communities (Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, etc.)**
#### 1\. Cultural Beliefs & Healthcare Attitudes
Many Latino patients integrate curanderismo- a blend of folk healing, spiritual rituals, and herbal medicine into their healthcare approach.
Trust in doctors is generally strong. However, many prefer home remedies or traditional treatments before seeking medical attention **\[1\]**. This can sometimes delay professional care.
Mental health remains a sensitive topic in Latino communities. Depression and anxiety are often stigmatized.
As a result, individuals may avoid discussing their struggles or seeking treatment. Providers must create a safe space that encourages open conversations about mental well-being.
#### 2\. Communication & Family Dynamics
Family plays a central role in healthcare decisions. It often involves elders, spouses, and extended relatives.
Medical choices are frequently made collectively. While this can provide strong support, it may also require providers to balance multiple opinions.
Language barriers can create significant challenges, leading to misunderstandings about diagnoses or treatment plans \[4\].
To ensure clarity and trust, healthcare facilities should offer Spanish-speaking staff or certified medical interpreters. This helps patients feel heard and engaged in their care.
#### 3\. Do’s & Don’ts
Do: Involve family in medical discussions- they often expect it.
Do: Explain medication and treatment in simple, clear terms.
Don’t: Dismiss home remedies- ask about them instead, and work to integrate safe practices.
### **B. Middle Eastern/Arabic-Speaking Communities**
#### 1\. Cultural Beliefs & Healthcare Attitudes
In many Middle Eastern and Arabic-speaking communities, religion and medicine are closely intertwined. This can influence healthcare decisions and treatment compliance. Prayer and fasting, particularly during religious observances, can impact medication schedules. Hence, providers should discuss adjustments respectfully.
Modesty is also highly valued. Many patients, especially women, may feel more comfortable with a same-gender healthcare provider **\[4\]**.
Mental health is often stigmatized. Depression and anxiety may go unmentioned and untreated.
#### 2\. Communication & Family Dynamics
Direct communication is common, and patients may openly express concerns or ask pointed questions. However, family involvement in medical decisions is the norm. Elders or male family members often play a key role in treatment decisions.
Pain expression can differ from Western norms. Some patients exaggerate symptoms, not as an overreaction but as a way to ensure they receive proper attention and care.
Understanding these dynamics can help providers offer compassionate and effective care while respecting cultural preferences.
#### 3\. Do’s & Don’ts
Do: Ask about religious preferences and how they may impact care.
Do: Offer same-gender providers when possible.
Don’t: Dismiss expressions of pain- assess and acknowledge concerns fully.
### **C. Russian-Speaking Communities** ****
#### 1\. Cultural Beliefs & Healthcare Attitudes
Many Russian-speaking patients approach American healthcare with skepticism. They prefer direct, detailed explanations about diagnoses and treatment options **\[3\]**.
This distrust stems from historical experiences with government-controlled healthcare systems, where medical misinformation or lack of transparency was common.
As a result, they tend to question providers extensively- not out of defiance, but to ensure they receive the best possible care.
Mental health issues are frequently dismissed. Seeking therapy or psychiatric care is often viewed as a sign of personal weakness.
#### 2\. Communication & Family Dynamics
Bluntness is common in communication. Russian-speaking patients may come across as overly skeptical or even confrontational. But this is simply their way of seeking clarity and advocating for themselves.
Providers should not mistake direct questioning for hostility. Instead, they should respond with patience and thorough explanations.
Family hierarchy is also significant. Elders often have the final say in medical decisions. Younger family members may defer to their parents or grandparents, even in personal healthcare matters.
Understanding these cultural nuances can help providers build trust, improve patient compliance, and create a more effective doctor-patient relationship.
#### 3\. Do’s & Don’ts
Do: Give clear, thorough explanations of treatments.
Do: Expect strong questioning and be patient.
Don’t: Take blunt communication as rudeness- it’s often just their cultural style.
## Actionable Steps for Providers
### 1\. Start Every Visit with a Cultural Assessment
Starting every visit with a cultural assessment helps providers understand their patients’ values, beliefs, and preferences.
Simple yet essential questions like, “Are there any cultural or religious beliefs that influence your healthcare decisions?” or “Do you use any traditional or alternative medicine?” can open the door for meaningful discussions.
Additionally, asking if a patient has a gender preference for their provider ensures they feel comfortable and respected during their visit. These small steps create a foundation of trust and allow for more personalized, culturally sensitive care.
### 2\. Use Certified Medical Interpreters
Using certified medical interpreters is crucial in overcoming language barriers and ensuring accurate communication.
Relying on family members for translation may seem convenient. However, it can lead to serious misinterpretations, especially when discussing complex medical terms or sensitive health topics **\[1\]**.
Professional interpreters help maintain clarity and protect patient confidentiality. It also ensures that patients fully understand their diagnosis and treatment options.
In addition, apps like [no barrier](https://www.nobarrier.ai/) can also be used for medical interpretation. This app utilizes state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms to analyze and interpret spoken language. It then accurately translates it in real-time. This helps bridge the language barrier between healthcare providers and patients with limited English proficiency.
### 3\. Acknowledge Cultural Fears & Mistrust
It's also important to acknowledge cultural fears and mistrust in healthcare. Many patients, especially from historically marginalized communities, may be hesitant about vaccines, surgeries, or other medical procedures due to past injustices or misinformation.
Instead of dismissing their concerns, providers should take the time to listen, validate their fears, and offer clear, evidence-based explanations. This approach fosters trust and increases the likelihood of patient compliance.
### 4\. Offer Flexible Scheduling for Religious Practices
Offering flexible scheduling for religious practices can make a significant difference in patient care. Some patients may observe fasting periods, which can impact medication adherence.
Others may have religious observances that prevent them from scheduling appointments on specific days **\[4\]**.
By proactively asking about these needs and accommodating them where possible, providers demonstrate cultural awareness and respect, strengthening the patient-provider relationship.
### 5\. Create a “Cultural Competence” Cheat Sheet for Staff
Lastly, creating a "Cultural Competence" cheat sheet for staff can serve as a quick and valuable reference.
A simple guide with common greeting customs, key healthcare beliefs, dietary restrictions, and communication styles for different cultural groups can help providers navigate patient interactions more effectively.
This tool not only enhances cultural sensitivity but also ensures a more inclusive and welcoming healthcare environment.
## Making Cultural Competence an Everyday Practice
Cultural competence isn’t just about knowing facts- it’s about developing a mindset of respect, curiosity, and adaptability.
When providers take the time to understand their patients’ backgrounds, they build trust, improve compliance, and ultimately deliver better healthcare **\[2\]**.
By implementing these practices, we can move toward a healthcare system that truly serves all patients, regardless of language, belief, or background.
Would you like to implement cultural competency training in your practice? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
**References:**
1. “ _Cultural Competence in Healthcare: Why Is It Important?_” **Healthline** { [https://www.healthline.com/health/culture-competency-in-healthcare](https://www.healthline.com/health/culture-competency-in-healthcare)}
2. “ _Cultural Competence in Healthcare: Improving Patient Outcomes for Diverse Populations_” **GHR Healthcare** { [https://www.ghrhealthcare.com/blog/cultural-competence-in-healthcare-improving-patient-outcomes](https://www.ghrhealthcare.com/blog/cultural-competence-in-healthcare-improving-patient-outcomes)}
3. “ _What is cultural competency, and why is it crucial to healthcare?_” **Medical News Today** { [https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/what-is-cultural-competency-and-why-is-it-crucial-to-healthcare](https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/what-is-cultural-competency-and-why-is-it-crucial-to-healthcare)}
4. “ _Cultural Competence in Health Care: Is it important for people with chronic conditions?_” **Health Policy Institute** { [https://hpi.georgetown.edu/cultural/](https://hpi.georgetown.edu/cultural/)}
## FAQs
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
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# Best Practices for Treating Patients from Different Cultures
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
February 17, 2025
Minute Read
The U.S. healthcare system serves one of the most culturally diverse populations in the world. According to KFF, over [42% of patients now identify as racial or ethnic minorities](https://www.kff.org/key-data-on-health-and-health-care-by-race-and-ethnicity/?entry=racial-diversity-within-the-u-s-today-total-population-by-race-and-ethnicity#:~:text=About%20four%20in%20ten%20people%20(42%25)%20in%20the%20United%20States%20identify%20as%20people%20of%20color%20(Figure%202).). This number is expected to increase, with people of color projected to account for [over half](https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/issue-brief/disparities-in-health-and-health-care-5-key-question-and-answers/) of the population by 2050.
**Image Credits:** kff.org
While this diversity enriches our society, it also presents challenges for healthcare providers, who must navigate different languages, customs, and attitudes toward medicine.
The good news?
Understanding and respecting cultural differences can significantly improve patient trust, communication, and health outcomes **\[1\] \[2\]**. This guide explores key cultural groups in the U.S., their common healthcare beliefs, and practical ways to enhance patient care.
## Why Cultural Competence Matters in Healthcare?
Imagine you’re treating a patient who barely speaks English, avoids eye contact, and seems hesitant to discuss their symptoms. You might assume they’re disengaged or uninterested in treatment. But what if this behavior reflects deep cultural respect or fear of medical institutions due to past discrimination?
Cultural competence isn’t just about being “politically correct.” It’s about providing equitable care, building trust, and reducing healthcare disparities.
Studies show that cultural misunderstandings can lead to misdiagnosis, noncompliance with treatment, and poorer health outcomes ** \[3\]**.
Minority communities often have deep-seated distrust in Western medicine due to historical injustices (e.g., the Tuskegee Syphilis Study) **\[3\]** .
Moreover, language barriers and cultural stigmas around mental health, pain expression, and end-of-life care can prevent patients from seeking necessary treatments **\[4\]** .
## Key Cultural Groups & Best Practices
### **A. Hispanic/Latino Communities (Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, etc.)**
#### 1\. Cultural Beliefs & Healthcare Attitudes
Many Latino patients integrate curanderismo- a blend of folk healing, spiritual rituals, and herbal medicine into their healthcare approach.
Trust in doctors is generally strong. However, many prefer home remedies or traditional treatments before seeking medical attention **\[1\]**. This can sometimes delay professional care.
Mental health remains a sensitive topic in Latino communities. Depression and anxiety are often stigmatized.
As a result, individuals may avoid discussing their struggles or seeking treatment. Providers must create a safe space that encourages open conversations about mental well-being.
#### 2\. Communication & Family Dynamics
Family plays a central role in healthcare decisions. It often involves elders, spouses, and extended relatives.
Medical choices are frequently made collectively. While this can provide strong support, it may also require providers to balance multiple opinions.
Language barriers can create significant challenges, leading to misunderstandings about diagnoses or treatment plans \[4\].
To ensure clarity and trust, healthcare facilities should offer Spanish-speaking staff or certified medical interpreters. This helps patients feel heard and engaged in their care.
#### 3\. Do’s & Don’ts
Do: Involve family in medical discussions- they often expect it.
Do: Explain medication and treatment in simple, clear terms.
Don’t: Dismiss home remedies- ask about them instead, and work to integrate safe practices.
### **B. Middle Eastern/Arabic-Speaking Communities**
#### 1\. Cultural Beliefs & Healthcare Attitudes
In many Middle Eastern and Arabic-speaking communities, religion and medicine are closely intertwined. This can influence healthcare decisions and treatment compliance. Prayer and fasting, particularly during religious observances, can impact medication schedules. Hence, providers should discuss adjustments respectfully.
Modesty is also highly valued. Many patients, especially women, may feel more comfortable with a same-gender healthcare provider **\[4\]**.
Mental health is often stigmatized. Depression and anxiety may go unmentioned and untreated.
#### 2\. Communication & Family Dynamics
Direct communication is common, and patients may openly express concerns or ask pointed questions. However, family involvement in medical decisions is the norm. Elders or male family members often play a key role in treatment decisions.
Pain expression can differ from Western norms. Some patients exaggerate symptoms, not as an overreaction but as a way to ensure they receive proper attention and care.
Understanding these dynamics can help providers offer compassionate and effective care while respecting cultural preferences.
#### 3\. Do’s & Don’ts
Do: Ask about religious preferences and how they may impact care.
Do: Offer same-gender providers when possible.
Don’t: Dismiss expressions of pain- assess and acknowledge concerns fully.
### **C. Russian-Speaking Communities** ****
#### 1\. Cultural Beliefs & Healthcare Attitudes
Many Russian-speaking patients approach American healthcare with skepticism. They prefer direct, detailed explanations about diagnoses and treatment options **\[3\]**.
This distrust stems from historical experiences with government-controlled healthcare systems, where medical misinformation or lack of transparency was common.
As a result, they tend to question providers extensively- not out of defiance, but to ensure they receive the best possible care.
Mental health issues are frequently dismissed. Seeking therapy or psychiatric care is often viewed as a sign of personal weakness.
#### 2\. Communication & Family Dynamics
Bluntness is common in communication. Russian-speaking patients may come across as overly skeptical or even confrontational. But this is simply their way of seeking clarity and advocating for themselves.
Providers should not mistake direct questioning for hostility. Instead, they should respond with patience and thorough explanations.
Family hierarchy is also significant. Elders often have the final say in medical decisions. Younger family members may defer to their parents or grandparents, even in personal healthcare matters.
Understanding these cultural nuances can help providers build trust, improve patient compliance, and create a more effective doctor-patient relationship.
#### 3\. Do’s & Don’ts
Do: Give clear, thorough explanations of treatments.
Do: Expect strong questioning and be patient.
Don’t: Take blunt communication as rudeness- it’s often just their cultural style.
## Actionable Steps for Providers
### 1\. Start Every Visit with a Cultural Assessment
Starting every visit with a cultural assessment helps providers understand their patients’ values, beliefs, and preferences.
Simple yet essential questions like, “Are there any cultural or religious beliefs that influence your healthcare decisions?” or “Do you use any traditional or alternative medicine?” can open the door for meaningful discussions.
Additionally, asking if a patient has a gender preference for their provider ensures they feel comfortable and respected during their visit. These small steps create a foundation of trust and allow for more personalized, culturally sensitive care.
### 2\. Use Certified Medical Interpreters
Using certified medical interpreters is crucial in overcoming language barriers and ensuring accurate communication.
Relying on family members for translation may seem convenient. However, it can lead to serious misinterpretations, especially when discussing complex medical terms or sensitive health topics **\[1\]**.
Professional interpreters help maintain clarity and protect patient confidentiality. It also ensures that patients fully understand their diagnosis and treatment options.
In addition, apps like [no barrier](https://www.nobarrier.ai/) can also be used for medical interpretation. This app utilizes state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms to analyze and interpret spoken language. It then accurately translates it in real-time. This helps bridge the language barrier between healthcare providers and patients with limited English proficiency.
### 3\. Acknowledge Cultural Fears & Mistrust
It's also important to acknowledge cultural fears and mistrust in healthcare. Many patients, especially from historically marginalized communities, may be hesitant about vaccines, surgeries, or other medical procedures due to past injustices or misinformation.
Instead of dismissing their concerns, providers should take the time to listen, validate their fears, and offer clear, evidence-based explanations. This approach fosters trust and increases the likelihood of patient compliance.
### 4\. Offer Flexible Scheduling for Religious Practices
Offering flexible scheduling for religious practices can make a significant difference in patient care. Some patients may observe fasting periods, which can impact medication adherence.
Others may have religious observances that prevent them from scheduling appointments on specific days **\[4\]**.
By proactively asking about these needs and accommodating them where possible, providers demonstrate cultural awareness and respect, strengthening the patient-provider relationship.
### 5\. Create a “Cultural Competence” Cheat Sheet for Staff
Lastly, creating a "Cultural Competence" cheat sheet for staff can serve as a quick and valuable reference.
A simple guide with common greeting customs, key healthcare beliefs, dietary restrictions, and communication styles for different cultural groups can help providers navigate patient interactions more effectively.
This tool not only enhances cultural sensitivity but also ensures a more inclusive and welcoming healthcare environment.
## Making Cultural Competence an Everyday Practice
Cultural competence isn’t just about knowing facts- it’s about developing a mindset of respect, curiosity, and adaptability.
When providers take the time to understand their patients’ backgrounds, they build trust, improve compliance, and ultimately deliver better healthcare **\[2\]**.
By implementing these practices, we can move toward a healthcare system that truly serves all patients, regardless of language, belief, or background.
Would you like to implement cultural competency training in your practice? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
**References:**
1. “ _Cultural Competence in Healthcare: Why Is It Important?_” **Healthline** { [https://www.healthline.com/health/culture-competency-in-healthcare](https://www.healthline.com/health/culture-competency-in-healthcare)}
2. “ _Cultural Competence in Healthcare: Improving Patient Outcomes for Diverse Populations_” **GHR Healthcare** { [https://www.ghrhealthcare.com/blog/cultural-competence-in-healthcare-improving-patient-outcomes](https://www.ghrhealthcare.com/blog/cultural-competence-in-healthcare-improving-patient-outcomes)}
3. “ _What is cultural competency, and why is it crucial to healthcare?_” **Medical News Today** { [https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/what-is-cultural-competency-and-why-is-it-crucial-to-healthcare](https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/what-is-cultural-competency-and-why-is-it-crucial-to-healthcare)}
4. “ _Cultural Competence in Health Care: Is it important for people with chronic conditions?_” **Health Policy Institute** { [https://hpi.georgetown.edu/cultural/](https://hpi.georgetown.edu/cultural/)}
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## Bias vs Accuracy in AI
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## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
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AI & Technology in Healthcare Interpretation
# Bias vs Accuracy in AI Medical Interpreting Tech
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
July 11, 2024
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
4
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h4\\
\\
Understanding Bias in Healthcare AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/bias-vs-accuracy-in-ai-medical-interpreting-tech#understanding-bias-in-healthcare-ai)
[h4\\
\\
The Spectrum of AI Tasks: Open-ended vs. Close-ended](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/bias-vs-accuracy-in-ai-medical-interpreting-tech#the-spectrum-of-ai-tasks-open-ended-vs-close-ended)
[h4\\
\\
From Bias to Accuracy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/bias-vs-accuracy-in-ai-medical-interpreting-tech#from-bias-to-accuracy)
[h4\\
\\
The Accuracy Challenge](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/bias-vs-accuracy-in-ai-medical-interpreting-tech#the-accuracy-challenge)
[h4\\
\\
Ethical Considerations](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/bias-vs-accuracy-in-ai-medical-interpreting-tech#ethical-considerations)
[h4\\
\\
Conclusion](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/bias-vs-accuracy-in-ai-medical-interpreting-tech#conclusion)
Latest generative AI in healthcare has opened up numerous possibilities for innovation, from auto charting with ambient tech, Genomic data analysis and virtual health assistants. A specific use is an AI-powered medical interpreter that can assist with healthcare accessibility for non-English speaking patients.
As with many other AI applications in healthcare, the topic of bias is relevant. However - we believe that the right framing in this task is accuracy and not bias - and let’s dive into this distinction.
#### **Understanding Bias in Healthcare AI**
Bias in healthcare AI typically refers to systematic errors or unfair outcomes among different patient groups. These biases could be related to different categories, among them:
1. Data related biases (selection bias, representation bias)
2. Algorithm related biases (design bias, optimization bias)
3. Model related biases (underfitting/overfitting)
4. Evaluation related biases (benchmark bias)
5. Demographic related biases (racial/ethnic, gender, age, socioeconomic bias)
#### **The Spectrum of AI Tasks: Open-ended vs. Close-ended**
To understand why AI medical interpreting might be different, we need to consider the spectrum of AI tasks:
1. Close-ended tasks: These have specific inputs and outputs with a "definite" answer. For example, an AI system that determines whether a cat is present in an image (Yes/No output).
2. Open-ended tasks: These are often associated with generative AI, where inputs and outputs are less constrained. An example would be an AI system engaging in open-ended Q&A with patients about their symptoms.
Seems like AI medical interpreting falls into the category of close-ended tasks. The input (speech in language X) and output (interpreted speech in language Y) are well-defined. While there are nuances such as dialects, cultural context, and specialized medical terminology, the fundamental task remains bounded and specific.
#### **From Bias to Accuracy**
Given the close-ended nature of AI medical interpreting, we argue that the primary concern should be **accuracy** rather than bias. Here's why:
1. **Measurable outcomes**: In medical interpreting, we can directly measure whether a sentence was interpreted correctly. This allows for clear, quantifiable assessment of performance.
2. **Language-pair specificity**: Performance can be evaluated for each language pair independently. For instance, an AI interpreter might excel at English-Spanish translation but struggle with English-Khmer.
3. **Transparent limitations**: Unlike open-ended tasks where biases might be subtle and hard to detect, the limitations of an AI medical interpreter are clear and tied to specific language pairs.
4. **Elective deployment**: Healthcare providers can choose to use AI interpreting for language pairs where it demonstrates high accuracy while relying on human interpreters for others.
#### **The Accuracy Challenge**
We should assume that accuracy levels will vary across language pairs (primarily due to differences in available training data). More commonly spoken languages like Spanish or Mandarin may see higher accuracy rates than less common languages or dialects.
However, this variation in accuracy is not the same as bias. Instead, it reflects the current state of the technology and the availability of language resources. As more data becomes available and AI technologies improve, we can expect to see accuracy increase across a wider range of languages.
In a sense - by focusing on improving accuracy in our case, we can achieve less healthcare bias.
#### **Ethical Considerations**
While framing AI medical interpreting as an accuracy challenge rather than a bias issue, we must still consider the ethical implications:
1. Transparency: Healthcare providers and patients should be informed about the accuracy levels for different language pairs.
2. Continuous improvement: Efforts should be made to improve accuracy across all languages, particularly for underserved communities.
#### **Conclusion**
In the AI medical interpreting space, the primary focus should be on improving accuracy across all language pairs rather than addressing bias. By recognizing this distinction, we can better direct our efforts towards developing and implementing AI interpreting systems that truly enhance healthcare accessibility for all language speakers.
## FAQs
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
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# Bias vs Accuracy in AI Medical Interpreting Tech
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
July 11, 2024
4
Minute Read
Latest generative AI in healthcare has opened up numerous possibilities for innovation, from auto charting with ambient tech, Genomic data analysis and virtual health assistants. A specific use is an AI-powered medical interpreter that can assist with healthcare accessibility for non-English speaking patients.
As with many other AI applications in healthcare, the topic of bias is relevant. However - we believe that the right framing in this task is accuracy and not bias - and let’s dive into this distinction.
#### **Understanding Bias in Healthcare AI**
Bias in healthcare AI typically refers to systematic errors or unfair outcomes among different patient groups. These biases could be related to different categories, among them:
1. Data related biases (selection bias, representation bias)
2. Algorithm related biases (design bias, optimization bias)
3. Model related biases (underfitting/overfitting)
4. Evaluation related biases (benchmark bias)
5. Demographic related biases (racial/ethnic, gender, age, socioeconomic bias)
#### **The Spectrum of AI Tasks: Open-ended vs. Close-ended**
To understand why AI medical interpreting might be different, we need to consider the spectrum of AI tasks:
1. Close-ended tasks: These have specific inputs and outputs with a "definite" answer. For example, an AI system that determines whether a cat is present in an image (Yes/No output).
2. Open-ended tasks: These are often associated with generative AI, where inputs and outputs are less constrained. An example would be an AI system engaging in open-ended Q&A with patients about their symptoms.
Seems like AI medical interpreting falls into the category of close-ended tasks. The input (speech in language X) and output (interpreted speech in language Y) are well-defined. While there are nuances such as dialects, cultural context, and specialized medical terminology, the fundamental task remains bounded and specific.
#### **From Bias to Accuracy**
Given the close-ended nature of AI medical interpreting, we argue that the primary concern should be **accuracy** rather than bias. Here's why:
1. **Measurable outcomes**: In medical interpreting, we can directly measure whether a sentence was interpreted correctly. This allows for clear, quantifiable assessment of performance.
2. **Language-pair specificity**: Performance can be evaluated for each language pair independently. For instance, an AI interpreter might excel at English-Spanish translation but struggle with English-Khmer.
3. **Transparent limitations**: Unlike open-ended tasks where biases might be subtle and hard to detect, the limitations of an AI medical interpreter are clear and tied to specific language pairs.
4. **Elective deployment**: Healthcare providers can choose to use AI interpreting for language pairs where it demonstrates high accuracy while relying on human interpreters for others.
#### **The Accuracy Challenge**
We should assume that accuracy levels will vary across language pairs (primarily due to differences in available training data). More commonly spoken languages like Spanish or Mandarin may see higher accuracy rates than less common languages or dialects.
However, this variation in accuracy is not the same as bias. Instead, it reflects the current state of the technology and the availability of language resources. As more data becomes available and AI technologies improve, we can expect to see accuracy increase across a wider range of languages.
In a sense - by focusing on improving accuracy in our case, we can achieve less healthcare bias.
#### **Ethical Considerations**
While framing AI medical interpreting as an accuracy challenge rather than a bias issue, we must still consider the ethical implications:
1. Transparency: Healthcare providers and patients should be informed about the accuracy levels for different language pairs.
2. Continuous improvement: Efforts should be made to improve accuracy across all languages, particularly for underserved communities.
#### **Conclusion**
In the AI medical interpreting space, the primary focus should be on improving accuracy across all language pairs rather than addressing bias. By recognizing this distinction, we can better direct our efforts towards developing and implementing AI interpreting systems that truly enhance healthcare accessibility for all language speakers.
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## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
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Breaking language barriers in healthcare
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- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
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- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
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- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
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- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
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## AI Medical Interpreter Guide
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
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## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# Complete Guide to AI Medical Interpreter Solutions
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
April 7, 2025
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
10
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h2\\
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Table of Contents](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/complete-guide-evaluating-ai-medical-interpreter-solutions-for-healthcare-organizations#table-of-contents)
[h2\\
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Executive Summary](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/complete-guide-evaluating-ai-medical-interpreter-solutions-for-healthcare-organizations#executive-summary)
[h2\\
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Introduction: Why AI Medical Interpreters Matter](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/complete-guide-evaluating-ai-medical-interpreter-solutions-for-healthcare-organizations#introduction-why-ai-medical-interpreters-matter)
[h2\\
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Key Evaluation Criteria](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/complete-guide-evaluating-ai-medical-interpreter-solutions-for-healthcare-organizations#key-evaluation-criteria)
[h4\\
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1\. Clinical Accuracy and Performance](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/complete-guide-evaluating-ai-medical-interpreter-solutions-for-healthcare-organizations#1-clinical-accuracy-and-performance)
[h5\\
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Evaluation Points:](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/complete-guide-evaluating-ai-medical-interpreter-solutions-for-healthcare-organizations#evaluation-points-7)
[h6\\
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Red Flags:](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/complete-guide-evaluating-ai-medical-interpreter-solutions-for-healthcare-organizations#red-flags-7)
[h4\\
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2\. Regulatory Compliance and Legal Considerations](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/complete-guide-evaluating-ai-medical-interpreter-solutions-for-healthcare-organizations#2-regulatory-compliance-and-legal-considerations)
[h6\\
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Evaluation Points:](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/complete-guide-evaluating-ai-medical-interpreter-solutions-for-healthcare-organizations#evaluation-points-6)
[h6\\
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Red Flags:](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/complete-guide-evaluating-ai-medical-interpreter-solutions-for-healthcare-organizations#red-flags-6)
[h4\\
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3\. Technical Capabilities and Integration](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/complete-guide-evaluating-ai-medical-interpreter-solutions-for-healthcare-organizations#3-technical-capabilities-and-integration)
[h6\\
\\
Evaluation Points:](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/complete-guide-evaluating-ai-medical-interpreter-solutions-for-healthcare-organizations#evaluation-points-5)
[h6\\
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Red Flags:](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/complete-guide-evaluating-ai-medical-interpreter-solutions-for-healthcare-organizations#red-flags-5)
[h4\\
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4\. Security and Data Privacy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/complete-guide-evaluating-ai-medical-interpreter-solutions-for-healthcare-organizations#4-security-and-data-privacy)
[h6\\
\\
Evaluation Points:](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/complete-guide-evaluating-ai-medical-interpreter-solutions-for-healthcare-organizations#evaluation-points-4)
[h6\\
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Red Flags:](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/complete-guide-evaluating-ai-medical-interpreter-solutions-for-healthcare-organizations#red-flags-4)
[h4\\
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5\. Implementation and Support](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/complete-guide-evaluating-ai-medical-interpreter-solutions-for-healthcare-organizations#5-implementation-and-support)
[h6\\
\\
Evaluation Points:](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/complete-guide-evaluating-ai-medical-interpreter-solutions-for-healthcare-organizations#evaluation-points-3)
[h6\\
\\
Red Flags:](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/complete-guide-evaluating-ai-medical-interpreter-solutions-for-healthcare-organizations#red-flags-3)
[h4\\
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6\. Vendor Expertise and Stability](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/complete-guide-evaluating-ai-medical-interpreter-solutions-for-healthcare-organizations#6-vendor-expertise-and-stability)
[h6\\
\\
Evaluation Points:](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/complete-guide-evaluating-ai-medical-interpreter-solutions-for-healthcare-organizations#evaluation-points-2)
[h6\\
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Red Flags:](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/complete-guide-evaluating-ai-medical-interpreter-solutions-for-healthcare-organizations#red-flags-2)
[h4\\
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7\. Commercial Considerations](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/complete-guide-evaluating-ai-medical-interpreter-solutions-for-healthcare-organizations#7-commercial-considerations)
[h6\\
\\
Evaluation Points:](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/complete-guide-evaluating-ai-medical-interpreter-solutions-for-healthcare-organizations#evaluation-points)
[h6\\
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Red Flags:](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/complete-guide-evaluating-ai-medical-interpreter-solutions-for-healthcare-organizations#red-flags)
[h2\\
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Known Limitations of AI Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/complete-guide-evaluating-ai-medical-interpreter-solutions-for-healthcare-organizations#known-limitations-of-ai-medical-interpretation)
[h2\\
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Vendor Evaluation Process](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/complete-guide-evaluating-ai-medical-interpreter-solutions-for-healthcare-organizations#vendor-evaluation-process)
[h3\\
\\
Stage 1: Preparation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/complete-guide-evaluating-ai-medical-interpreter-solutions-for-healthcare-organizations#stage-1-preparation)
[h3\\
\\
Stage 2: Initial Screening](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/complete-guide-evaluating-ai-medical-interpreter-solutions-for-healthcare-organizations#stage-2-initial-screening)
[h3\\
\\
Stage 3: In-Depth Evaluation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/complete-guide-evaluating-ai-medical-interpreter-solutions-for-healthcare-organizations#stage-3-in-depth-evaluation)
[h3\\
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Stage 4: Final Selection](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/complete-guide-evaluating-ai-medical-interpreter-solutions-for-healthcare-organizations#stage-4-final-selection)
[h2\\
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Implementation Best Practices](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/complete-guide-evaluating-ai-medical-interpreter-solutions-for-healthcare-organizations#implementation-best-practices)
[h2\\
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Final Decision Framework](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/complete-guide-evaluating-ai-medical-interpreter-solutions-for-healthcare-organizations#final-decision-framework)
[h2\\
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Conclusion](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/complete-guide-evaluating-ai-medical-interpreter-solutions-for-healthcare-organizations#conclusion)
## Table of Contents
- Executive Summary
- Introduction: Why AI Medical Interpreters Matter
- Key Evaluation Criteria
- 1\. Clinical Accuracy and Performance
- 2\. Regulatory Compliance and Legal Considerations
- 3\. Technical Capabilities and Integration
- 4\. Security and Data Privacy
- 5\. Implementation and Support
- 6\. Vendor Expertise and Stability
- 7\. Commercial Considerations
- Known Limitations of AI Medical Interpretation
- Vendor Evaluation Process
- Implementation Best Practices
- Final Decision Framework
- Conclusion
## Executive Summary
This white paper provides healthcare organizations with a comprehensive framework for evaluating and selecting AI-powered medical interpreter solutions. As language barriers significantly impact patient care, outcomes, and operational efficiency, AI medical interpreters offer a promising alternative to traditional interpretation services. This document outlines key evaluation criteria, implementation considerations, and best practices to help healthcare operators make informed decisions when adopting this technology.
Paper is written by No Barrier - an AI medical interpreter solution, from our learnings working with healthcare organizations, their priorities, internal processes and successful implementation.
## Introduction: Why AI Medical Interpreters Matter
Language barriers in healthcare settings lead to significant challenges, including:
- Delayed or inadequate care for Limited English Proficiency (LEP) patients
- Increased risk of misdiagnosis and medical errors
- Lower patient satisfaction and engagement
- Higher costs and administrative burden with traditional interpreter services
- Compliance risks with language access regulations
Qualified human interpreters are good solution though carry various challenges from [waiting time](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/deploy-medical-interpreter---the-waiting-time-aspect), [quality inconsistency](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-many-mistakes-do-medical-interpreters-make) and high cost. AI medical interpreters offer potential solutions to these challenges by providing immediate, accurate, and cost-effective interpretation services. Selecting the right AI medical interpretation vendor can dramatically impact patient care quality, staff efficiency, and compliance risk.
## Key Evaluation Criteria
#### 1\. Clinical Accuracy and Performance
The most critical factor in evaluating any AI medical interpreter is its accuracy in translating medical terminology and clinical conversations.
##### Evaluation Points:
- **Translation accuracy rates:** Look for vendors with documented accuracy rates, particularly for medical terminology. Request information on their accuracy evaluation methodology, including how they test bidirectional translation (both to and from English), the clinical scenarios used in testing, and whether evaluations were conducted by medical professionals with relevant language expertise
- **Language support breadth and depth:** Evaluate which languages are covered, prioritizing those relevant to your patient demographics. Note that some languages may not be supported by AI solutions (or not supported with high accuracy), such as American Sign Language and rare languages, which will still require human interpreters
- **Support for regional dialects and accents:** Particularly important for widely spoken languages like Spanish
- **Clinical validation:** Request evidence of the solution's performance in actual healthcare settings, including peer-reviewed studies if available
- **Context awareness:** Assess how well the AI understands medical context, handles ambiguous terms, accounts for patient gender variations in translation, and adapts to different levels of language formality appropriate to the clinical situation
- **Error handling:** Evaluate how the system identifies, flags, and corrects potential mistranslations or ambiguities
###### Red Flags:
- Inability to provide accuracy metrics
- Word-for-word translation approach (similar to generic translation tools)
- No support for key languages in your community
- General coverage of less than 80% of your language needs with AI
#### 2\. Regulatory Compliance and Legal Considerations
AI medical interpreters must comply with various healthcare regulations:
###### Evaluation Points:
- **HIPAA compliance:** Ensure the solution incorporates appropriate security controls, data encryption, and privacy protections; verify BAA (Business Associate Agreement) availability
- **Affordable Care Act / Section 1557 Requirements compliance (July 2024 update):** The ACA mandates that healthcare organizations provide language access services that are accurate, timely, free of charge, and protect patient privacy. Recent updates require a qualified human translator to review AI translations in specific cases:
- _״If a covered entity uses_ **_machine translation_** _when the underlying text is critical to the rights, benefits, or meaningful access of an individual with limited English proficiency, when accuracy is essential, or when the source documents or materials contain complex, non-literal or technical language, the translation must be reviewed by a qualified human translator.״ (_ [_source_](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/05/06/2024-08711/nondiscrimination-in-health-programs-and-activities#p-2475) _)_
- _"Machine translation means automated translation, without the assistance of or review by a qualified human translator, that is text-based and provides instant translations between various languages, sometimes with an option for audio input or output."_ ( [source](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/05/06/2024-08711/nondiscrimination-in-health-programs-and-activities#p-2343))
- **Documentation capabilities:** The solution should maintain appropriate records of interpretation sessions for compliance purposes
- **Liability coverage:** Vendors should provide professional liability insurance to cover potential incidents arising from translation errors as well as Errors & Omissions (E&O) coverage
- **Data storage and retention policies:** Preferably, data should not persist on the vendor side or be repurposed for training data
###### Red Flags:
- Unwillingness to sign BAA
- Storing PHI in non-compliant locations
- AI-only system without human-in-the-loop mechanisms
#### 3\. Technical Capabilities and Integration
The AI interpreter should integrate seamlessly into your existing workflows:
###### Evaluation Points:
- **Platform compatibility:** Ensure compatibility with your existing EHR systems, clinical workflows, and devices (desktop, mobile, tablets)
- **Telehealth integration:** Verify compatibility with your telehealth platforms (phone, video)
- **User interface design:** Evaluate the solution's ease of use for both providers and patients
- **Latency and response time:** Assess the speed and fluidity of the interpretation process
- **System uptime guarantees:** Verify reliability during high-volume periods
- **Offline capabilities:** Determine if the system can function in areas with limited connectivity
- **Environmental adaptability:** Evaluate performance in noisy healthcare environments
- **Audio capture range:** Assess ability to clearly capture voices from across the room, enabling natural conversations without requiring patients to speak directly into devices
###### Red Flags:
- Limited integration options
- Slow response times
- Incompatibility with key systems
#### 4\. Security and Data Privacy
Data security should be a top priority:
###### Evaluation Points:
- **End-to-end encryption:** Ensure data is encrypted both in transit and at rest
- **Security certifications:** Look for SOC 2, HITRUST, or equivalent certifications
- **Access controls:** Review the vendor's policies for employee access to patient data
- **Audit logging:** Verify logging of all translation activities
- **Data residency options:** Check compliance with local regulations
- **Regular security audits:** Confirm the vendor conducts penetration testing and security reviews
###### Red Flags:
- Lack of security certifications
- Data stored or processed in concerning jurisdictions
- Inadequate encryption practices
#### 5\. Implementation and Support
Successful adoption requires careful planning and ongoing support:
###### Evaluation Points:
- **Implementation timeline:** Understand the time required for full deployment
- **IT resource requirements:** Assess the burden on your internal IT team
- **Training approach:** Evaluate initial and ongoing training resources for different user groups
- **Pilot program availability:** Check if limited trials are possible before full deployment
- **Customer support:** Verify 24/7 support availability (critical for healthcare)
- **Response time guarantees:** Ensure timely help when needed
- **Change management support:** Look for resources to help manage the transition
###### Red Flags:
- Excessively long implementation timelines
- Heavy burden on internal IT
- Limited support hours
- Minimal training options
- One-size-fits-all approach to training
#### 6\. Vendor Expertise and Stability
Assess the vendor's background and capabilities:
###### Evaluation Points:
- **Healthcare domain expertise:** Look for vendors with deep understanding of medical terminology and healthcare workflows
- **Team composition:** Evaluate the balance between AI expertise and healthcare/linguistics experience
- **Financial stability:** Assess the vendor's funding status and long-term viability
- **Customer retention rates:** Check how well the vendor maintains relationships
- **Product roadmap:** Evaluate alignment with your organization's needs
- **Innovation pace:** Consider the vendor's R&D investment and development velocity
###### Red Flags:
- New entrant without proven track record
- Stagnant product development
- High customer turnover
#### 7\. Commercial Considerations
Financial impact is a significant factor:
###### Evaluation Points:
- **Pricing models:** Compare subscription, per-minute, per-encounter, or enterprise licensing models
- **Volume discounts:** Check for scaling options as usage grows
- **Total cost of ownership:** Consider implementation, training, support, and maintenance costs
- **Hidden costs:** Identify any additional expenses not included in the base price
- **Contract length options:** Evaluate flexibility in commitment periods
- **Termination clauses:** Understand the process for ending the relationship
- **Service level agreements (SLAs):** Review performance guarantees and remedies
- **ROI analysis:** Request case studies demonstrating cost savings compared to traditional interpretation services
###### Red Flags:
- Opaque pricing
- Significant hidden costs
- Prohibitive scaling costs
- Long lock-in periods
- Difficult termination process
- Weak SLAs
## Known Limitations of AI Medical Interpretation
- **Language Coverage:** There are languages that are not yet covered in reasonable accuracy - in particular American Sign Language and less diffused languages. We assess improvement in this area in the next 2-3 years.
- **Non-verbal Communication:** As opposed to human interpreters - no visual part to understand non-verbal communication in the room, facial expressions, discomfort etc.
- **Cultural Nuances:** As medical interpreters will translate accurately and convey the messages, sometimes there are cases where human interpreters can further facilitate cultural nuances, further explanation etc.
## Vendor Evaluation Process
We recommend a structured approach to vendor selection:
### Stage 1: Preparation
- Document your specific language needs based on patient demographics
- Identify key stakeholders for the evaluation process (typically including clinical leadership, IT personnel, and compliance/legal representatives)
- Establish clear evaluation criteria weighted by importance
- Define your budget and timeline constraints
### Stage 2: Initial Screening
- Request detailed information on language coverage
- Verify HIPAA compliance and security certifications
- Check integration capabilities with your existing systems
- Review pricing models and budget fit
### Stage 3: In-Depth Evaluation
- Request for information (RFI): Gather detailed information from potential vendors
- Demonstrations and proof of concept: Test the solution in a controlled environment with realistic clinical scenarios
- Involve clinical staff in evaluation sessions
- Reference checks: Speak with current customers about their experiences, focusing on organizations similar to yours
### Stage 4: Final Selection
- Compare vendors against weighted evaluation criteria
- Contract negotiation: Address key terms, including service level agreements and compliance requirements
- Develop implementation timeline and resource allocation
- Create success metrics for post-implementation evaluation
## Implementation Best Practices
For successful implementation:
- Start with a limited pilot in a specific department or for specific languages
- Collect feedback systematically from both providers and patients
- Develop clear protocols for when to use AI interpretation versus human interpreters
- Provide comprehensive training for all staff members
- Establish metrics to track usage, accuracy, and outcomes
- Create a feedback loop for continuous improvement
## Final Decision Framework
Remember that the "best" vendor is the one that best matches your organization's specific needs, constraints, and strategic priorities. Consider these final reflection questions:
- Which languages represent 90% of your non-English speaking patients?
- What departments have the most urgent need for improved interpretation?
- What is your organization's tolerance for technology change?
- What are your most critical integration points with existing systems?
- How does this solution complement your existing language access services?
## Conclusion
AI medical interpreters present a significant opportunity to improve care for LEP patients while potentially reducing costs and administrative burden. By carefully evaluating vendors across the key criteria outlined in this white paper, healthcare organizations can make informed decisions that enhance patient care, ensure compliance, and maximize return on investment.
The healthcare landscape continues to evolve, and language access remains a critical component of equitable, high-quality care. AI-powered medical interpreters, when properly selected and implemented, can be valuable tools in addressing language barriers and improving outcomes for all patients, regardless of their primary language.
_This white paper was developed by No Barrier, a leader in AI medical interpretation solutions for healthcare providers. For more information or a complimentary consultation on vendor selection, please_ [_contact our team_](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact) _._
## FAQs
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
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# Complete Guide to AI Medical Interpreter Solutions
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
April 7, 2025
10
Minute Read
## Table of Contents
- Executive Summary
- Introduction: Why AI Medical Interpreters Matter
- Key Evaluation Criteria
- 1\. Clinical Accuracy and Performance
- 2\. Regulatory Compliance and Legal Considerations
- 3\. Technical Capabilities and Integration
- 4\. Security and Data Privacy
- 5\. Implementation and Support
- 6\. Vendor Expertise and Stability
- 7\. Commercial Considerations
- Known Limitations of AI Medical Interpretation
- Vendor Evaluation Process
- Implementation Best Practices
- Final Decision Framework
- Conclusion
## Executive Summary
This white paper provides healthcare organizations with a comprehensive framework for evaluating and selecting AI-powered medical interpreter solutions. As language barriers significantly impact patient care, outcomes, and operational efficiency, AI medical interpreters offer a promising alternative to traditional interpretation services. This document outlines key evaluation criteria, implementation considerations, and best practices to help healthcare operators make informed decisions when adopting this technology.
Paper is written by No Barrier - an AI medical interpreter solution, from our learnings working with healthcare organizations, their priorities, internal processes and successful implementation.
## Introduction: Why AI Medical Interpreters Matter
Language barriers in healthcare settings lead to significant challenges, including:
- Delayed or inadequate care for Limited English Proficiency (LEP) patients
- Increased risk of misdiagnosis and medical errors
- Lower patient satisfaction and engagement
- Higher costs and administrative burden with traditional interpreter services
- Compliance risks with language access regulations
Qualified human interpreters are good solution though carry various challenges from [waiting time](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/deploy-medical-interpreter---the-waiting-time-aspect), [quality inconsistency](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-many-mistakes-do-medical-interpreters-make) and high cost. AI medical interpreters offer potential solutions to these challenges by providing immediate, accurate, and cost-effective interpretation services. Selecting the right AI medical interpretation vendor can dramatically impact patient care quality, staff efficiency, and compliance risk.
## Key Evaluation Criteria
#### 1\. Clinical Accuracy and Performance
The most critical factor in evaluating any AI medical interpreter is its accuracy in translating medical terminology and clinical conversations.
##### Evaluation Points:
- **Translation accuracy rates:** Look for vendors with documented accuracy rates, particularly for medical terminology. Request information on their accuracy evaluation methodology, including how they test bidirectional translation (both to and from English), the clinical scenarios used in testing, and whether evaluations were conducted by medical professionals with relevant language expertise
- **Language support breadth and depth:** Evaluate which languages are covered, prioritizing those relevant to your patient demographics. Note that some languages may not be supported by AI solutions (or not supported with high accuracy), such as American Sign Language and rare languages, which will still require human interpreters
- **Support for regional dialects and accents:** Particularly important for widely spoken languages like Spanish
- **Clinical validation:** Request evidence of the solution's performance in actual healthcare settings, including peer-reviewed studies if available
- **Context awareness:** Assess how well the AI understands medical context, handles ambiguous terms, accounts for patient gender variations in translation, and adapts to different levels of language formality appropriate to the clinical situation
- **Error handling:** Evaluate how the system identifies, flags, and corrects potential mistranslations or ambiguities
###### Red Flags:
- Inability to provide accuracy metrics
- Word-for-word translation approach (similar to generic translation tools)
- No support for key languages in your community
- General coverage of less than 80% of your language needs with AI
#### 2\. Regulatory Compliance and Legal Considerations
AI medical interpreters must comply with various healthcare regulations:
###### Evaluation Points:
- **HIPAA compliance:** Ensure the solution incorporates appropriate security controls, data encryption, and privacy protections; verify BAA (Business Associate Agreement) availability
- **Affordable Care Act / Section 1557 Requirements compliance (July 2024 update):** The ACA mandates that healthcare organizations provide language access services that are accurate, timely, free of charge, and protect patient privacy. Recent updates require a qualified human translator to review AI translations in specific cases:
- _״If a covered entity uses_ **_machine translation_** _when the underlying text is critical to the rights, benefits, or meaningful access of an individual with limited English proficiency, when accuracy is essential, or when the source documents or materials contain complex, non-literal or technical language, the translation must be reviewed by a qualified human translator.״ (_ [_source_](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/05/06/2024-08711/nondiscrimination-in-health-programs-and-activities#p-2475) _)_
- _"Machine translation means automated translation, without the assistance of or review by a qualified human translator, that is text-based and provides instant translations between various languages, sometimes with an option for audio input or output."_ ( [source](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/05/06/2024-08711/nondiscrimination-in-health-programs-and-activities#p-2343))
- **Documentation capabilities:** The solution should maintain appropriate records of interpretation sessions for compliance purposes
- **Liability coverage:** Vendors should provide professional liability insurance to cover potential incidents arising from translation errors as well as Errors & Omissions (E&O) coverage
- **Data storage and retention policies:** Preferably, data should not persist on the vendor side or be repurposed for training data
###### Red Flags:
- Unwillingness to sign BAA
- Storing PHI in non-compliant locations
- AI-only system without human-in-the-loop mechanisms
#### 3\. Technical Capabilities and Integration
The AI interpreter should integrate seamlessly into your existing workflows:
###### Evaluation Points:
- **Platform compatibility:** Ensure compatibility with your existing EHR systems, clinical workflows, and devices (desktop, mobile, tablets)
- **Telehealth integration:** Verify compatibility with your telehealth platforms (phone, video)
- **User interface design:** Evaluate the solution's ease of use for both providers and patients
- **Latency and response time:** Assess the speed and fluidity of the interpretation process
- **System uptime guarantees:** Verify reliability during high-volume periods
- **Offline capabilities:** Determine if the system can function in areas with limited connectivity
- **Environmental adaptability:** Evaluate performance in noisy healthcare environments
- **Audio capture range:** Assess ability to clearly capture voices from across the room, enabling natural conversations without requiring patients to speak directly into devices
###### Red Flags:
- Limited integration options
- Slow response times
- Incompatibility with key systems
#### 4\. Security and Data Privacy
Data security should be a top priority:
###### Evaluation Points:
- **End-to-end encryption:** Ensure data is encrypted both in transit and at rest
- **Security certifications:** Look for SOC 2, HITRUST, or equivalent certifications
- **Access controls:** Review the vendor's policies for employee access to patient data
- **Audit logging:** Verify logging of all translation activities
- **Data residency options:** Check compliance with local regulations
- **Regular security audits:** Confirm the vendor conducts penetration testing and security reviews
###### Red Flags:
- Lack of security certifications
- Data stored or processed in concerning jurisdictions
- Inadequate encryption practices
#### 5\. Implementation and Support
Successful adoption requires careful planning and ongoing support:
###### Evaluation Points:
- **Implementation timeline:** Understand the time required for full deployment
- **IT resource requirements:** Assess the burden on your internal IT team
- **Training approach:** Evaluate initial and ongoing training resources for different user groups
- **Pilot program availability:** Check if limited trials are possible before full deployment
- **Customer support:** Verify 24/7 support availability (critical for healthcare)
- **Response time guarantees:** Ensure timely help when needed
- **Change management support:** Look for resources to help manage the transition
###### Red Flags:
- Excessively long implementation timelines
- Heavy burden on internal IT
- Limited support hours
- Minimal training options
- One-size-fits-all approach to training
#### 6\. Vendor Expertise and Stability
Assess the vendor's background and capabilities:
###### Evaluation Points:
- **Healthcare domain expertise:** Look for vendors with deep understanding of medical terminology and healthcare workflows
- **Team composition:** Evaluate the balance between AI expertise and healthcare/linguistics experience
- **Financial stability:** Assess the vendor's funding status and long-term viability
- **Customer retention rates:** Check how well the vendor maintains relationships
- **Product roadmap:** Evaluate alignment with your organization's needs
- **Innovation pace:** Consider the vendor's R&D investment and development velocity
###### Red Flags:
- New entrant without proven track record
- Stagnant product development
- High customer turnover
#### 7\. Commercial Considerations
Financial impact is a significant factor:
###### Evaluation Points:
- **Pricing models:** Compare subscription, per-minute, per-encounter, or enterprise licensing models
- **Volume discounts:** Check for scaling options as usage grows
- **Total cost of ownership:** Consider implementation, training, support, and maintenance costs
- **Hidden costs:** Identify any additional expenses not included in the base price
- **Contract length options:** Evaluate flexibility in commitment periods
- **Termination clauses:** Understand the process for ending the relationship
- **Service level agreements (SLAs):** Review performance guarantees and remedies
- **ROI analysis:** Request case studies demonstrating cost savings compared to traditional interpretation services
###### Red Flags:
- Opaque pricing
- Significant hidden costs
- Prohibitive scaling costs
- Long lock-in periods
- Difficult termination process
- Weak SLAs
## Known Limitations of AI Medical Interpretation
- **Language Coverage:** There are languages that are not yet covered in reasonable accuracy - in particular American Sign Language and less diffused languages. We assess improvement in this area in the next 2-3 years.
- **Non-verbal Communication:** As opposed to human interpreters - no visual part to understand non-verbal communication in the room, facial expressions, discomfort etc.
- **Cultural Nuances:** As medical interpreters will translate accurately and convey the messages, sometimes there are cases where human interpreters can further facilitate cultural nuances, further explanation etc.
## Vendor Evaluation Process
We recommend a structured approach to vendor selection:
### Stage 1: Preparation
- Document your specific language needs based on patient demographics
- Identify key stakeholders for the evaluation process (typically including clinical leadership, IT personnel, and compliance/legal representatives)
- Establish clear evaluation criteria weighted by importance
- Define your budget and timeline constraints
### Stage 2: Initial Screening
- Request detailed information on language coverage
- Verify HIPAA compliance and security certifications
- Check integration capabilities with your existing systems
- Review pricing models and budget fit
### Stage 3: In-Depth Evaluation
- Request for information (RFI): Gather detailed information from potential vendors
- Demonstrations and proof of concept: Test the solution in a controlled environment with realistic clinical scenarios
- Involve clinical staff in evaluation sessions
- Reference checks: Speak with current customers about their experiences, focusing on organizations similar to yours
### Stage 4: Final Selection
- Compare vendors against weighted evaluation criteria
- Contract negotiation: Address key terms, including service level agreements and compliance requirements
- Develop implementation timeline and resource allocation
- Create success metrics for post-implementation evaluation
## Implementation Best Practices
For successful implementation:
- Start with a limited pilot in a specific department or for specific languages
- Collect feedback systematically from both providers and patients
- Develop clear protocols for when to use AI interpretation versus human interpreters
- Provide comprehensive training for all staff members
- Establish metrics to track usage, accuracy, and outcomes
- Create a feedback loop for continuous improvement
## Final Decision Framework
Remember that the "best" vendor is the one that best matches your organization's specific needs, constraints, and strategic priorities. Consider these final reflection questions:
- Which languages represent 90% of your non-English speaking patients?
- What departments have the most urgent need for improved interpretation?
- What is your organization's tolerance for technology change?
- What are your most critical integration points with existing systems?
- How does this solution complement your existing language access services?
## Conclusion
AI medical interpreters present a significant opportunity to improve care for LEP patients while potentially reducing costs and administrative burden. By carefully evaluating vendors across the key criteria outlined in this white paper, healthcare organizations can make informed decisions that enhance patient care, ensure compliance, and maximize return on investment.
The healthcare landscape continues to evolve, and language access remains a critical component of equitable, high-quality care. AI-powered medical interpreters, when properly selected and implemented, can be valuable tools in addressing language barriers and improving outcomes for all patients, regardless of their primary language.
_This white paper was developed by No Barrier, a leader in AI medical interpretation solutions for healthcare providers. For more information or a complimentary consultation on vendor selection, please_ [_contact our team_](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact) _._
## You’d also be interested in…
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## Bilingual Staff as Interpreters
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## **Our Blog**
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Compliance & Risk (HIPAA, Legal, Safety)
# Could Your Bilingual Staff Double as Certified Medical Interpreters? Answers to Your Questions
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
May 15, 2025
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
3
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h2\\
\\
Why Do Patients Need More Than Just Bilingual Staff?](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/could-your-bilingual-staff-double-as-certified-medical-interpreters-answers-to-your-questions#why-do-patients-need-more-than-just-bilingual-staff)
[h3\\
\\
What are the first steps?](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/could-your-bilingual-staff-double-as-certified-medical-interpreters-answers-to-your-questions#what-are-the-first-steps)
[h3\\
\\
How Good Do Their Language Skills Really Need to Be?](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/could-your-bilingual-staff-double-as-certified-medical-interpreters-answers-to-your-questions#how-good-do-their-language-skills-really-need-to-be)
[h3\\
\\
Who Does What When an Interpreter is Needed?](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/could-your-bilingual-staff-double-as-certified-medical-interpreters-answers-to-your-questions#who-does-what-when-an-interpreter-is-needed)
[h3\\
\\
What Are Some Practical Ways to Support Interpreters?](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/could-your-bilingual-staff-double-as-certified-medical-interpreters-answers-to-your-questions#what-are-some-practical-ways-to-support-interpreters)
[h3\\
\\
Should You Pay Them More for Interpreting?](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/could-your-bilingual-staff-double-as-certified-medical-interpreters-answers-to-your-questions#should-you-pay-them-more-for-interpreting)
[h3\\
\\
What Specific Benefits Will Patients Notice?](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/could-your-bilingual-staff-double-as-certified-medical-interpreters-answers-to-your-questions#what-specific-benefits-will-patients-notice)
[h3\\
\\
What are the main costs and benefits?](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/could-your-bilingual-staff-double-as-certified-medical-interpreters-answers-to-your-questions#what-are-the-main-costs-and-benefits)
[h3\\
\\
Is It Worth It to Certify Bilingual Staff?](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/could-your-bilingual-staff-double-as-certified-medical-interpreters-answers-to-your-questions#is-it-worth-it-to-certify-bilingual-staff)
## **Why Do Patients Need More Than Just Bilingual Staff?**
Healthcare organizations serve diverse patient populations with varying language needs. While having bilingual staff members can help bridge language gaps, there's a difference between everyday bilingualism and medical interpretation. This blog explores practical considerations for healthcare organizations when certifying bilingual staff as medical interpreters.
### **What are the first steps?**
Begin with achievable steps: Survey current bilingual staff about interest in certification, research certification options that align with your facility's schedule, start with high-demand departments or languages, and learn from other facilities with established programs. Professional medical interpreters must meet national certification standards established by organizations like the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (NBCMI) and the Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI). These certifications require completing at least 40 hours of medical interpreter training, demonstrating language proficiency in both English and the target language, and passing both written and oral proficiency exams that assess interpreting skills, ethics, and medical terminology (National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters, 2025). The National Council on Interpreting in Health Care (NCIHC) establishes standards and ethics guidelines that professional medical interpreters must follow (Niven, n.d.) (Niven, n.d.-a).
### **How Good Do Their Language Skills Really Need to Be?**
Before pursuing certification, start with basic language assessments: Use brief medical terminology quizzes focusing on common terms in your facility and ask staff to self-assess their comfort level with medical terminology. Healthcare organizations can utilize validated tools like the Qualified Bilingual Staff (QBS) Assessment developed by Kaiser Permanente to test bilingual medical staff's level of target language proficiency specifically in medical settings (ALTA Language Services, 2024).
### **Who Does What When an Interpreter is Needed?**
Keep role definitions straightforward. Create a basic scheduling system for interpretation requests, identify certified interpreters, establish a simple process for requesting interpretation services, and maintain a shared calendar for interpreter availability.
### **What Are Some Practical Ways to Support Interpreters?**
Support interpreters in practical ways. Provide access to medical dictionaries and terminology apps, create a digital group chat for interpreters to ask questions, and schedule brief check-ins with supervisors or mentors.
### **Should You Pay Them More for Interpreting?**
Keep compensation clear and manageable, but recognize interpretation skills as a valuable strength.
### **What Specific Benefits Will Patients Notice?**
When implemented thoughtfully, even small-scale interpretation programs can help: Patients receive clearer explanations about their care, staff gain confidence in cross-language communication, basic health instructions are better understood, and appointment follow-through improves. Systematic reviews of medical literature consistently show that professional interpreters improve quality of care for patients with limited English proficiency. Research demonstrates that trained professional interpreters positively affect patient satisfaction, quality of care, and health outcomes, resulting in better comprehension of health issues and improved compliance with medical recommendations (Kwan et al., 2023).
.jpg)
### **What are the main costs and benefits?**
Implementing an in-house medical interpreter program requires initial investments in training, certification exams, and potential salary differentials. In comparison, relying solely on contracted phone/video interpretation services typically costs per minute. Ad-hoc use of untrained bilingual staff appears cost-free but carries hidden expenses through increased appointment lengths, higher readmission rates, and significant malpractice liability risk (Kwan et al., 2023) (Youdelman, 2024). Most healthcare facilities find that certifying existing bilingual staff for high-demand languages while maintaining contracted services for less common languages creates the optimal balance between cost control and quality care.
### **Is It Worth It to Certify Bilingual Staff?**
Medical interpretation doesn't have to be all-or-nothing. By taking practical steps to certify interested bilingual staff and implementing straightforward support systems, healthcare organizations can improve communication with patients while keeping the process manageable for everyone involved. Small improvements in language access can make a significant difference in patient care. Whether your organization starts with certifying one interpreter or building a comprehensive program, the key is starting.
**About the Author**
Eyal Heldenberg brings 15 years of experience in speech recognition, AI, and B2B solutions to healthcare communication challenges. As an engineering and product leader focused on language accessibility in healthcare, he works to bridge communication gaps and improve outcomes for all patients, regardless of language background. Eyal was recently involved in research on how technology can improve medical translation accuracy and has facilitated discussions with doctors and healthcare providers across the United States to better understand real-world interpretation challenges. His work aligns with current healthcare regulations and is informed by the latest research on patient-provider language barriers.
**Resources**
National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters. (2025). Certified Medical Interpreter NBCMI Candidate Handbook. In National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters. [Link](https://www.certifiedmedicalinterpreters.org/assets/docs/NBCMI_Handbook.pdf?v=20250108)
Niven, A. (n.d.). NCIHC National Standards of Practice. [Link](https://www.ncihc.org/national-standards-of-practice)
Niven, A. (n.d.-a). NCIHC National Code of Ethics. [Link](https://www.ncihc.org/national-code-of-ethics)
ALTA Language Services. (2024, May 23). Qualified Bilingual Staff Practice Test \| ALTA Language Services. [Link](https://altalang.com/language-testing/qbs-practice-test/)
Kwan, M., Jeemi, Z., Norman, R., & Dantas, J. a. R. (2023). Professional Interpreter Services and the Impact on hospital care Outcomes: An Integrative Review of literature. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(6), 5165. [Link](https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20065165)
Youdelman, M. (2024, August 23). HIPAA and language Services in health care - National Health Law Program. National Health Law Program. [Link](https://healthlaw.org/resource/hipaa-and-language-services-in-health-care-2009/)
## FAQs
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
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# Could Your Bilingual Staff Double as Certified Medical Interpreters? Answers to Your Questions
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
May 15, 2025
3
Minute Read
## **Why Do Patients Need More Than Just Bilingual Staff?**
Healthcare organizations serve diverse patient populations with varying language needs. While having bilingual staff members can help bridge language gaps, there's a difference between everyday bilingualism and medical interpretation. This blog explores practical considerations for healthcare organizations when certifying bilingual staff as medical interpreters.
### **What are the first steps?**
Begin with achievable steps: Survey current bilingual staff about interest in certification, research certification options that align with your facility's schedule, start with high-demand departments or languages, and learn from other facilities with established programs. Professional medical interpreters must meet national certification standards established by organizations like the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (NBCMI) and the Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI). These certifications require completing at least 40 hours of medical interpreter training, demonstrating language proficiency in both English and the target language, and passing both written and oral proficiency exams that assess interpreting skills, ethics, and medical terminology (National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters, 2025). The National Council on Interpreting in Health Care (NCIHC) establishes standards and ethics guidelines that professional medical interpreters must follow (Niven, n.d.) (Niven, n.d.-a).
### **How Good Do Their Language Skills Really Need to Be?**
Before pursuing certification, start with basic language assessments: Use brief medical terminology quizzes focusing on common terms in your facility and ask staff to self-assess their comfort level with medical terminology. Healthcare organizations can utilize validated tools like the Qualified Bilingual Staff (QBS) Assessment developed by Kaiser Permanente to test bilingual medical staff's level of target language proficiency specifically in medical settings (ALTA Language Services, 2024).
### **Who Does What When an Interpreter is Needed?**
Keep role definitions straightforward. Create a basic scheduling system for interpretation requests, identify certified interpreters, establish a simple process for requesting interpretation services, and maintain a shared calendar for interpreter availability.
### **What Are Some Practical Ways to Support Interpreters?**
Support interpreters in practical ways. Provide access to medical dictionaries and terminology apps, create a digital group chat for interpreters to ask questions, and schedule brief check-ins with supervisors or mentors.
### **Should You Pay Them More for Interpreting?**
Keep compensation clear and manageable, but recognize interpretation skills as a valuable strength.
### **What Specific Benefits Will Patients Notice?**
When implemented thoughtfully, even small-scale interpretation programs can help: Patients receive clearer explanations about their care, staff gain confidence in cross-language communication, basic health instructions are better understood, and appointment follow-through improves. Systematic reviews of medical literature consistently show that professional interpreters improve quality of care for patients with limited English proficiency. Research demonstrates that trained professional interpreters positively affect patient satisfaction, quality of care, and health outcomes, resulting in better comprehension of health issues and improved compliance with medical recommendations (Kwan et al., 2023).
.jpg)
### **What are the main costs and benefits?**
Implementing an in-house medical interpreter program requires initial investments in training, certification exams, and potential salary differentials. In comparison, relying solely on contracted phone/video interpretation services typically costs per minute. Ad-hoc use of untrained bilingual staff appears cost-free but carries hidden expenses through increased appointment lengths, higher readmission rates, and significant malpractice liability risk (Kwan et al., 2023) (Youdelman, 2024). Most healthcare facilities find that certifying existing bilingual staff for high-demand languages while maintaining contracted services for less common languages creates the optimal balance between cost control and quality care.
### **Is It Worth It to Certify Bilingual Staff?**
Medical interpretation doesn't have to be all-or-nothing. By taking practical steps to certify interested bilingual staff and implementing straightforward support systems, healthcare organizations can improve communication with patients while keeping the process manageable for everyone involved. Small improvements in language access can make a significant difference in patient care. Whether your organization starts with certifying one interpreter or building a comprehensive program, the key is starting.
**About the Author**
Eyal Heldenberg brings 15 years of experience in speech recognition, AI, and B2B solutions to healthcare communication challenges. As an engineering and product leader focused on language accessibility in healthcare, he works to bridge communication gaps and improve outcomes for all patients, regardless of language background. Eyal was recently involved in research on how technology can improve medical translation accuracy and has facilitated discussions with doctors and healthcare providers across the United States to better understand real-world interpretation challenges. His work aligns with current healthcare regulations and is informed by the latest research on patient-provider language barriers.
**Resources**
National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters. (2025). Certified Medical Interpreter NBCMI Candidate Handbook. In National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters. [Link](https://www.certifiedmedicalinterpreters.org/assets/docs/NBCMI_Handbook.pdf?v=20250108)
Niven, A. (n.d.). NCIHC National Standards of Practice. [Link](https://www.ncihc.org/national-standards-of-practice)
Niven, A. (n.d.-a). NCIHC National Code of Ethics. [Link](https://www.ncihc.org/national-code-of-ethics)
ALTA Language Services. (2024, May 23). Qualified Bilingual Staff Practice Test \| ALTA Language Services. [Link](https://altalang.com/language-testing/qbs-practice-test/)
Kwan, M., Jeemi, Z., Norman, R., & Dantas, J. a. R. (2023). Professional Interpreter Services and the Impact on hospital care Outcomes: An Integrative Review of literature. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(6), 5165. [Link](https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20065165)
Youdelman, M. (2024, August 23). HIPAA and language Services in health care - National Health Law Program. National Health Law Program. [Link](https://healthlaw.org/resource/hipaa-and-language-services-in-health-care-2009/)
## You’d also be interested in…
[**The Executive Checklist for Choosing Your Next AI Interpreter Vendor** \\
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A concise, compliance-first checklist for healthcare leaders to evaluate AI interpreter vendors on HIPAA alignment, accuracy, ROI and patient experience before signing a contract.\\
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**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-executive-checklist-for-choosing-your-next-ai-interpreter-vendor)
[**Is Google Translate HIPAA Compliant? What Every Hospital Needs to Know** \\
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Google Translate is not HIPAA compliant. No BAAs, encryption or audit controls. Using it in healthcare creates compliance, safety and legal risks. \\
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[**Are Your Non-English Speaking Patients Following Up on Your Discharge Notes?** \\
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Studies reveal many patients with limited English proficiency struggle to understand critical post-visit instructions, highlighting the need for accurate, accessible multilingual discharge notes.\\
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**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/are-your-non-english-speaking-patients-following-up-on-your-discharge-notes)
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/could-your-bilingual-staff-double-as-certified-medical-interpreters-answers-to-your-questions#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Medical Interpreter Waiting Times
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# Deploy Medical Interpreter - The Waiting Time Aspect
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
July 28, 2024
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
4
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h3\\
\\
On-Demand Waiting Time](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/deploy-medical-interpreter---the-waiting-time-aspect#on-demand-waiting-time)
[h3\\
\\
Remote Interpretation - Promises, Reality, and Perception](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/deploy-medical-interpreter---the-waiting-time-aspect#remote-interpretation-promises-reality-and-perception)
[h3\\
\\
Conclusion](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/deploy-medical-interpreter---the-waiting-time-aspect#conclusion)
As we talked with dozens of healthcare professionals about their workflow regarding non-English speaking patients, one big pillar emerged: the waiting time to deploy a professional medical interpreter.
Usually, there are two types use cases:
1. **Prior scheduling** \- typically in outpatient settings where institutions have the patient's language preference. Administrators can order interpreters beforehand from the interpretation agency in place. The upside is that an interpreter is likely available for that encounter with reasonable waiting time. The downside is that many organizations don't have (or don't collect) patients' language preferences (there is no mandatory obligation to collect it), especially for first encounters with new patients . One study1 indicated differences in accuracy of language preference data in the EHR in Canada.
Another downside is that this workflow must be managed by the administrator. There's also the consideration of interpreter cancellation fees if the patient doesn't show up.
2. **On-demand** \- in many cases, there's no prior knowledge of the patient's preferred language. This applies to unplanned encounters like ER visits but also to other scheduled encounters. Although public stats are lacking, we estimate that the **vast majority** (95% or higher) of utilization is on-demand. This relates to both remote interpreters and on-site interpreters who move from one patient to another as needed.
### On-Demand Waiting Time
Assuming on-demand is the practical method, let's examine possible factors impacting waiting time:
1. **Language Diversity**: Less common languages may have fewer available interpreters, increasing wait times. Spanish would likely get a faster response time than Turkish, for example.
2. **Time of Day**: Nights and weekends often have reduced interpreter availability, leading to longer waits.
3. **Workload**: For in-house interpreters, the facility's overall patient load can impact availability. In one study2 in busy surgical and procedural practice - it took a mean time of 19 minutes for the in-house interpreter to show up (with high variation, range extended out to 100 minutes). However - it can be argued that even a remote interpreting agency that serves multiple institutions in peak hours might suffer from overload in demand.
4. **Technical Issues**: For remote interpretation services, connectivity problems can cause unexpected delays.
5. **Long Introductions, formalities and disclaimers:** a bit out of scope but even when interpreter was deployed - there is still script to be followed by the interpreter - including introduction, niceties, disclaimers - many times in both languages.
### Remote Interpretation - Promises, Reality, and Perception
In practice, although different interpretation agencies commit to quite fast service times (some claiming less than a minute), our discussions with providers consistently highlighted access to interpreters as a top challenge. **This suggests that either the practical wait time is longer than advertised, or that even waiting 30-40 seconds is perceived as a hassle in a provider's busy schedule.**
The main driver to eliminate waiting time for medical interpreting would be health-oriented technology that's always ready on-demand to remove language barriers.
### Conclusion
Addressing the waiting time for medical interpreters is crucial for providing timely, quality care to non-English speaking patients. There's still room for improvement. Future solutions may lie in technological advancements. As healthcare continues to evolve, so too must our approaches to breaking down language barriers.
References
1. [2020](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7557328/) Accuracy of the Preferred Language Field in the Electronic Health Records of Two Canadian Hospitals
2. [2017](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5496646/) \- Assessment of the efficiency of language interpreter services in a busy surgical and procedural practice
## FAQs
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
[Twitter icon\\
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Twitter](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/deploy-medical-interpreter---the-waiting-time-aspect#) [Facebook icon\\
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[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# Deploy Medical Interpreter - The Waiting Time Aspect
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
July 28, 2024
4
Minute Read
As we talked with dozens of healthcare professionals about their workflow regarding non-English speaking patients, one big pillar emerged: the waiting time to deploy a professional medical interpreter.
Usually, there are two types use cases:
1. **Prior scheduling** \- typically in outpatient settings where institutions have the patient's language preference. Administrators can order interpreters beforehand from the interpretation agency in place. The upside is that an interpreter is likely available for that encounter with reasonable waiting time. The downside is that many organizations don't have (or don't collect) patients' language preferences (there is no mandatory obligation to collect it), especially for first encounters with new patients . One study1 indicated differences in accuracy of language preference data in the EHR in Canada.
Another downside is that this workflow must be managed by the administrator. There's also the consideration of interpreter cancellation fees if the patient doesn't show up.
2. **On-demand** \- in many cases, there's no prior knowledge of the patient's preferred language. This applies to unplanned encounters like ER visits but also to other scheduled encounters. Although public stats are lacking, we estimate that the **vast majority** (95% or higher) of utilization is on-demand. This relates to both remote interpreters and on-site interpreters who move from one patient to another as needed.
### On-Demand Waiting Time
Assuming on-demand is the practical method, let's examine possible factors impacting waiting time:
1. **Language Diversity**: Less common languages may have fewer available interpreters, increasing wait times. Spanish would likely get a faster response time than Turkish, for example.
2. **Time of Day**: Nights and weekends often have reduced interpreter availability, leading to longer waits.
3. **Workload**: For in-house interpreters, the facility's overall patient load can impact availability. In one study2 in busy surgical and procedural practice - it took a mean time of 19 minutes for the in-house interpreter to show up (with high variation, range extended out to 100 minutes). However - it can be argued that even a remote interpreting agency that serves multiple institutions in peak hours might suffer from overload in demand.
4. **Technical Issues**: For remote interpretation services, connectivity problems can cause unexpected delays.
5. **Long Introductions, formalities and disclaimers:** a bit out of scope but even when interpreter was deployed - there is still script to be followed by the interpreter - including introduction, niceties, disclaimers - many times in both languages.
### Remote Interpretation - Promises, Reality, and Perception
In practice, although different interpretation agencies commit to quite fast service times (some claiming less than a minute), our discussions with providers consistently highlighted access to interpreters as a top challenge. **This suggests that either the practical wait time is longer than advertised, or that even waiting 30-40 seconds is perceived as a hassle in a provider's busy schedule.**
The main driver to eliminate waiting time for medical interpreting would be health-oriented technology that's always ready on-demand to remove language barriers.
### Conclusion
Addressing the waiting time for medical interpreters is crucial for providing timely, quality care to non-English speaking patients. There's still room for improvement. Future solutions may lie in technological advancements. As healthcare continues to evolve, so too must our approaches to breaking down language barriers.
References
1. [2020](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7557328/) Accuracy of the Preferred Language Field in the Electronic Health Records of Two Canadian Hospitals
2. [2017](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5496646/) \- Assessment of the efficiency of language interpreter services in a busy surgical and procedural practice
## You’d also be interested in…
No Related Articles Available
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/deploy-medical-interpreter---the-waiting-time-aspect#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Language vs. Dialect
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
Language & Dialect Challenges
# Language vs. Dialect: Why the Difference Matters
How dialect gaps in “shared” languages create patient safety risks, compliance exposure and financial liability and why AI-driven interpretation is now a clinical necessity.
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
July 31, 2025
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
2
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h2\\
\\
Summary: Dialect-Aware Medical Interpretation for Patient Safety and Compliance](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/dialect-vs-language#summary-dialect-aware-medical-interpretation-for-patient-safety-and-compliance)
[h2\\
\\
The 4 a.m. Test: A Language Emergency in the ER](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/dialect-vs-language#the-4-am-test-a-language-emergency-in-the-er)
[h2\\
\\
Language vs. Dialect: The Basics in Healthcare](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/dialect-vs-language#language-vs-dialect-the-basics-in-healthcare)
[h3\\
\\
Dialect Differences That Cost Lives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/dialect-vs-language#dialect-differences-that-cost-lives)
[h3\\
\\
Why Hospitals Should Care](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/dialect-vs-language#why-hospitals-should-care)
[h2\\
\\
Can AI-Powered Solution Catch Dialect Nuance?](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/dialect-vs-language#can-ai-powered-solution-catch-dialect-nuance)
[h2\\
\\
Getting the Right Translation Tools for Clinical Safety](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/dialect-vs-language#getting-the-right-translation-tools-for-clinical-safety)
[h2\\
\\
Key Takeaways: Language vs Dialect in Healthcare Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/dialect-vs-language#key-takeaways-language-vs-dialect-in-healthcare-interpretation)
## Summary: Dialect-Aware Medical Interpretation for Patient Safety and Compliance
- **Dialect differences = patient safety risk:** a single “Spanish” or “Chinese” label can mask dialect gaps that compromise informed consent, treatment accuracy and trust.
- **Compliance and liability exposure:** generic interpreters increase the risk of medication errors, readmissions and multimillion-dollar malpractice claims.
- **AI-powered solution:** Dialect-aware tools like **No Barrier AI** provide real-time detection and translation, improving care equity and patients' experience.
## **The 4 a.m. Test: A Language Emergency in the ER**
It is 4 a.m. in the ER. A new father from Puerto Rico paces nervously while nurses rush his partner to an emergency C‑section. The on‑call Spanish interpreter is 45 minutes away. What do you do?
- **A)** Wait and hope nothing gets lost in translation?
- **B)** Use an AI tool that speaks Puerto Rican Spanish right now?
Most of us pick **B**. A single label like “Spanish interpreter” can hide big differences. Puerto Rican and Mexican Spanish are not the same. [In one podcast](https://www.nobarrier.ai/episodes/medical-interpretation-for-latino-lep-patients-dr-shapiros-insights-on-cultural-healthcare-access), Dr. Ilan Shapiro even says _“One of the most common errors in hospitals is thinking all Latinos are the same.”_ Words may share a language, but the **regional speech** behind them can shift meaning. In healthcare, one missed detail can cause lasting harm.
.webp)
## **Language vs. Dialect: The Basics in Healthcare**
**Language** is the broad system people use to talk. **Dialects** are local or social versions of that system. They keep most of the same grammar and words, yet sound different and can twist meaning.
### **Dialect Differences That Cost Lives**
China offers a clear example. **Mandarin, Cantonese, and Shanghainese** are all called “Chinese dialects.” Still, a Mandarin speaker will not follow Cantonese at all. The two are **more different than Spanish and Italian**. A linguist once joked, _“A language is a dialect with an army and a navy.”_
.webp)
### **Why Hospitals Should Care**
**Ignoring dialect is a clinical risk.** Two people can check “Chinese” or “Spanish” on a form, yet speak very different **language varieties**. A one‑size interpreter can miss key words. Patients with limited English are more likely to get the wrong drugs, misunderstand care or return to the hospital. Clear talk is not a luxury; it is part of safe care.
**Want to see real examples?** Read our companion piece **“** [**Three Common Languages, Countless Dialects**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/three-languages-many-dialects) **”** or keep going to learn how AI fills the gap.
## **Can AI-Powered Solution Catch Dialect Nuance?**
**Yes. If built well.** Modern speech tools can spot accent clues and pick the right words on the fly. No Barrier AI does this by:
1. Hearing the **patient’s voice** and flagging the dialect.
2. Choosing words that fit that dialect and context.
3. Matching tone so the reply sounds natural.
Done right, AI gives instant, dialect‑aware translation. Every second saved helps in the ER.
.webp)
## **Getting the Right Translation Tools for Clinical Safety**
As CMO, you own the moment an LEP patient enters your system. **You cannot ignore dialect.** Safe consent, CMS scores and readmission rates all ride on it. Give your staff tools that catch regional speech and you turn risk into safety:
- Fewer drug errors
- Lower readmissions
- Higher patient trust
Language tools aren’t perks. They are basic parts of high‑quality care.
**No Barrier AI** lets every patient hear and be heard in their own dialect. **Book a demo today** and see how fast, clear speech can lift your quality scores and cut liability.
## **Key Takeaways: Language vs Dialect in Healthcare Interpretation**
**1. Dialect differences impact patient safety**: small nuances can cause big clinical misunderstandings.
**2. Generic interpreters often fail**: one-size-fits-all translation puts patients at risk.
**3. Dialect-aware AI improves accuracy and trust**: solutions like No Barrier AI adapt to dialect in real time.
## FAQs
### What are the risks of using a one-size-fits-all interpreter?
Generic interpreters often fail in critical moments, causing misdiagnosis, wrong medication dosing, or delays in urgent care. These mistakes drive **malpractice exposure and readmission rates**.
### Can AI-powered interpreters really detect dialect differences?
Yes. AI like **No Barrier** identifies dialects in real time, ensuring accuracy without waiting 45 minutes for an on-call interpreter. This reduces risk in **high-acuity cases**.
### What is the ROI of using dialect-aware interpretation tools?
The ROI is measurable: lower **malpractice payouts**, reduced readmissions, improved CMS quality scores and stronger patient satisfaction. Hospitals that deployed dialect-smart tools reported **fewer adverse events and faster throughput**.
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
[Twitter icon\\
\\
Twitter](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/dialect-vs-language#) [Facebook icon\\
\\
Facebook](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/dialect-vs-language#) [Pinterest](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/dialect-vs-language#) [LinkedIn icon\\
\\
Linkedin](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/dialect-vs-language#) [Linkedin](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/dialect-vs-language#)
[Telegram](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/dialect-vs-language#) [Reddit](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/dialect-vs-language#)
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# Language vs. Dialect: Why the Difference Matters
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
July 31, 2025
2
Minute Read
## Summary: Dialect-Aware Medical Interpretation for Patient Safety and Compliance
- **Dialect differences = patient safety risk:** a single “Spanish” or “Chinese” label can mask dialect gaps that compromise informed consent, treatment accuracy and trust.
- **Compliance and liability exposure:** generic interpreters increase the risk of medication errors, readmissions and multimillion-dollar malpractice claims.
- **AI-powered solution:** Dialect-aware tools like **No Barrier AI** provide real-time detection and translation, improving care equity and patients' experience.
## **The 4 a.m. Test: A Language Emergency in the ER**
It is 4 a.m. in the ER. A new father from Puerto Rico paces nervously while nurses rush his partner to an emergency C‑section. The on‑call Spanish interpreter is 45 minutes away. What do you do?
- **A)** Wait and hope nothing gets lost in translation?
- **B)** Use an AI tool that speaks Puerto Rican Spanish right now?
Most of us pick **B**. A single label like “Spanish interpreter” can hide big differences. Puerto Rican and Mexican Spanish are not the same. [In one podcast](https://www.nobarrier.ai/episodes/medical-interpretation-for-latino-lep-patients-dr-shapiros-insights-on-cultural-healthcare-access), Dr. Ilan Shapiro even says _“One of the most common errors in hospitals is thinking all Latinos are the same.”_ Words may share a language, but the **regional speech** behind them can shift meaning. In healthcare, one missed detail can cause lasting harm.
.webp)
## **Language vs. Dialect: The Basics in Healthcare**
**Language** is the broad system people use to talk. **Dialects** are local or social versions of that system. They keep most of the same grammar and words, yet sound different and can twist meaning.
### **Dialect Differences That Cost Lives**
China offers a clear example. **Mandarin, Cantonese, and Shanghainese** are all called “Chinese dialects.” Still, a Mandarin speaker will not follow Cantonese at all. The two are **more different than Spanish and Italian**. A linguist once joked, _“A language is a dialect with an army and a navy.”_
.webp)
### **Why Hospitals Should Care**
**Ignoring dialect is a clinical risk.** Two people can check “Chinese” or “Spanish” on a form, yet speak very different **language varieties**. A one‑size interpreter can miss key words. Patients with limited English are more likely to get the wrong drugs, misunderstand care or return to the hospital. Clear talk is not a luxury; it is part of safe care.
**Want to see real examples?** Read our companion piece **“** [**Three Common Languages, Countless Dialects**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/three-languages-many-dialects) **”** or keep going to learn how AI fills the gap.
## **Can AI-Powered Solution Catch Dialect Nuance?**
**Yes. If built well.** Modern speech tools can spot accent clues and pick the right words on the fly. No Barrier AI does this by:
1. Hearing the **patient’s voice** and flagging the dialect.
2. Choosing words that fit that dialect and context.
3. Matching tone so the reply sounds natural.
Done right, AI gives instant, dialect‑aware translation. Every second saved helps in the ER.
.webp)
## **Getting the Right Translation Tools for Clinical Safety**
As CMO, you own the moment an LEP patient enters your system. **You cannot ignore dialect.** Safe consent, CMS scores and readmission rates all ride on it. Give your staff tools that catch regional speech and you turn risk into safety:
- Fewer drug errors
- Lower readmissions
- Higher patient trust
Language tools aren’t perks. They are basic parts of high‑quality care.
**No Barrier AI** lets every patient hear and be heard in their own dialect. **Book a demo today** and see how fast, clear speech can lift your quality scores and cut liability.
## **Key Takeaways: Language vs Dialect in Healthcare Interpretation**
**1. Dialect differences impact patient safety**: small nuances can cause big clinical misunderstandings.
**2. Generic interpreters often fail**: one-size-fits-all translation puts patients at risk.
**3. Dialect-aware AI improves accuracy and trust**: solutions like No Barrier AI adapt to dialect in real time.
## You’d also be interested in…
[**3 Languages, Many Dialects: Stories Every Clinic Should Know** \\
\\
Language & Dialect Challenges\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
2\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Coming from our main article on language vs. dialect? You asked for real cases. Below are three short, true‑to‑life stories.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/three-languages-many-dialects)
[**Basic Spanish Isn't Enough: Why Healthcare Providers Still Need Professional Language Services** \\
\\
Language & Dialect Challenges\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
3\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Even with basic Spanish skills, healthcare providers can't risk 'getting by' without professional language services - including AI interpretation - as the stakes for patient care are too high\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/basic-spanish-isnt-enough-why-healthcare-providers-still-need-professional-language-services)
[**How Spanish Dialects Impact Patient Care?** \\
\\
Language & Dialect Challenges\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
min read\\
\\
While Spanish may be the second most spoken language in U.S. healthcare settings, the vast differences between regional dialects create unexpected barriers to patient care - here's why it matters\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-spanish-dialects-impact-patient-care)
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/dialect-vs-language#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Micro Encounters in Healthcare
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
Industry Insights & Trends
# Do You Have Micro Encounters with Limited English Proficiency Patients?
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
March 14, 2024
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
4
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h2\\
\\
Example H2](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/do-you-have-micro-encounters-with-limited-english-proficiency-patients#)
In our journey to develop No Barrier, we've engaged with numerous healthcare providers to gain insights into language barriers in healthcare. When we explored various settings, the usual encounter categories emerged - outpatient consultation visits, emergency room visits, urgent care visits, inpatient consults, and more. These can be referred to as "long encounters" - lasting at least a few minutes, with a significant amount of information exchanged between the provider and the LEP patient, ideally with a human interpreter present.
However, providers also described many "in-between" situations. For simplicity, we'll call these "Micro Encounters". These are typically very short conversations, statements, or requests, sometimes consisting of just three sentences.
Let's review some examples providers reported:
**Routine Hospitalized Patient Care**: A nurse may need to enter the room and ask something brief, like "Can we take the tray?", "Are you hungry?", or "Do you have any pain now?". Alternatively, the patient may have a question or two about their condition.
**During Clinical Procedures:** Imagine a clinical procedure where silence is mostly maintained, but occasionally the provider instructs the patient to do something: "Now breathe more heavily", "Can you please roll over to the left side", or “You’ll feel a small pinch with the needle”.
**Post-Op, Follow-Up:** For example, a patient who has undergone a colonoscopy and the provider wants to inform them that nothing was found, and all is well: "Your surgery went well, any questions?"
There are more anecdotal occurrences where there is a clear need for effective communication between provider and patient, even if it's a very brief exchange. The burden of securing an interpreter for these 3-4 sentence exchanges is even more apparent than in regular "long consult" cases. It seems that providers (and patients!) need more independence in their micro encounter communications, to streamline their communication in every LEP encounter, be it short or long.
This is where an instantly accessible, ad hoc application like No Barrier comes into play.
## FAQs
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
[Twitter icon\\
\\
Twitter](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/do-you-have-micro-encounters-with-limited-english-proficiency-patients#) [Facebook icon\\
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Facebook](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/do-you-have-micro-encounters-with-limited-english-proficiency-patients#) [Pinterest](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/do-you-have-micro-encounters-with-limited-english-proficiency-patients#) [LinkedIn icon\\
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Linkedin](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/do-you-have-micro-encounters-with-limited-english-proficiency-patients#) [Linkedin](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/do-you-have-micro-encounters-with-limited-english-proficiency-patients#)
[Telegram](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/do-you-have-micro-encounters-with-limited-english-proficiency-patients#) [Reddit](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/do-you-have-micro-encounters-with-limited-english-proficiency-patients#)
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# Do You Have Micro Encounters with Limited English Proficiency Patients?
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
March 14, 2024
4
Minute Read
In our journey to develop No Barrier, we've engaged with numerous healthcare providers to gain insights into language barriers in healthcare. When we explored various settings, the usual encounter categories emerged - outpatient consultation visits, emergency room visits, urgent care visits, inpatient consults, and more. These can be referred to as "long encounters" - lasting at least a few minutes, with a significant amount of information exchanged between the provider and the LEP patient, ideally with a human interpreter present.
However, providers also described many "in-between" situations. For simplicity, we'll call these "Micro Encounters". These are typically very short conversations, statements, or requests, sometimes consisting of just three sentences.
Let's review some examples providers reported:
**Routine Hospitalized Patient Care**: A nurse may need to enter the room and ask something brief, like "Can we take the tray?", "Are you hungry?", or "Do you have any pain now?". Alternatively, the patient may have a question or two about their condition.
**During Clinical Procedures:** Imagine a clinical procedure where silence is mostly maintained, but occasionally the provider instructs the patient to do something: "Now breathe more heavily", "Can you please roll over to the left side", or “You’ll feel a small pinch with the needle”.
**Post-Op, Follow-Up:** For example, a patient who has undergone a colonoscopy and the provider wants to inform them that nothing was found, and all is well: "Your surgery went well, any questions?"
There are more anecdotal occurrences where there is a clear need for effective communication between provider and patient, even if it's a very brief exchange. The burden of securing an interpreter for these 3-4 sentence exchanges is even more apparent than in regular "long consult" cases. It seems that providers (and patients!) need more independence in their micro encounter communications, to streamline their communication in every LEP encounter, be it short or long.
This is where an instantly accessible, ad hoc application like No Barrier comes into play.
## You’d also be interested in…
[**Slator 2025 Language AI 50 Under 50: No Barrier AI Recognized** \\
\\
Industry Insights & Trends\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
2\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Slator is a leading source for news, research and market intelligence across translation, localization, interpreting and language AI.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/2025-slator-language-ai-50-under-50)
[**Best Practices for Treating Patients from Different Cultures** \\
\\
Industry Insights & Trends\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Cultural competence in healthcare improves trust and outcomes. Understanding cultural differences, using interpreters, respecting beliefs, and involving families ensures effective, inclusive care.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/best-practices-for-treating-patients-from-different-cultures)
[**The Intersection of Low Health Literacy and Limited English Proficiency in Healthcare** \\
\\
Industry Insights & Trends\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Low health literacy and limited English proficiency create major healthcare barriers for millions of Americans, requiring innovative solutions to improve patient understanding.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-intersection-of-low-health-literacy-and-limited-english-proficiency-in-healthcare)
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/do-you-have-micro-encounters-with-limited-english-proficiency-patients#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## AI Medical Interpreting
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
AI & Technology in Healthcare Interpretation
# Generating New Revenue for Healthcare Organizations with Medical Interpreting Tech
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
August 10, 2024
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
2
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h2\\
\\
Example H2](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/generating-new-revenue-for-healthcare-organizations-with-ai-medical-interpreting#)
It’s not a secret that healthcare organizations are always looking for ways to generate more revenue and improve their financial performance.
For organizations that serve non-English speaking patients, medical interpreters are usually considered a cost driver. However with the rise of AI medical interpreting, there are actually new opportunities for increasing revenue.
Of course the natural association is around cost saving (probably around 70% lower cost). But, these technologies can also unlock **new revenue** opportunities that extend beyond just reducing expenses.
1. **Serve More Communities with Language Access Challenges**
Utilizing cost-effective medical interpretation technologies allow healthcare providers to effectively remove language barriers and serve patient populations that may have previously been underserved or inaccessible due to language limitations. By deploying AI-powered interpretation, organizations can expand their geographic reach and patient base -opening up new revenue streams through additional billable services, procedures, and treatments. For example - might be relevant to populations that used to get treatment in other language-accessed organizations. This increased patient volume can have a significant impact on the organization's top-line growth. As a side note, the availability of on-demand, multilingual interpretation can enhance patient satisfaction and loyalty. This can lead to increased repeat business and positive word-of-mouth referrals - both of which contribute to sustained revenue generation.
2. **Shorter Encounters, Greater Capacity**
AI-powered medical interpretation can shorten the duration of interpreter-based interaction by up to 15%. This efficiency boost has a direct impact on the healthcare organization's ability to see more patients and generate additional revenue. With shorter encounter times, providers and staff have more capacity to treat a greater number of patients within the same time frame and leverage its existing clinical resources, to serve a larger patient population without the need for significant additional investments.
By leveraging the language access and efficiency benefits of AI medical interpreters, healthcare organizations can not only achieve cost savings, but also **unlock new revenue streams** to drive overall financial performance. These AI-powered solutions present a strategic opportunity to enhance both the bottom line and top line, positioning the organization for long-term growth and sustainability.
## FAQs
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
[Twitter icon\\
\\
Twitter](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/generating-new-revenue-for-healthcare-organizations-with-ai-medical-interpreting#) [Facebook icon\\
\\
Facebook](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/generating-new-revenue-for-healthcare-organizations-with-ai-medical-interpreting#) [Pinterest](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/generating-new-revenue-for-healthcare-organizations-with-ai-medical-interpreting#) [LinkedIn icon\\
\\
Linkedin](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/generating-new-revenue-for-healthcare-organizations-with-ai-medical-interpreting#) [Linkedin](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/generating-new-revenue-for-healthcare-organizations-with-ai-medical-interpreting#)
[Telegram](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/generating-new-revenue-for-healthcare-organizations-with-ai-medical-interpreting#) [Reddit](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/generating-new-revenue-for-healthcare-organizations-with-ai-medical-interpreting#)
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# Generating New Revenue for Healthcare Organizations with Medical Interpreting Tech
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
August 10, 2024
2
Minute Read
It’s not a secret that healthcare organizations are always looking for ways to generate more revenue and improve their financial performance.
For organizations that serve non-English speaking patients, medical interpreters are usually considered a cost driver. However with the rise of AI medical interpreting, there are actually new opportunities for increasing revenue.
Of course the natural association is around cost saving (probably around 70% lower cost). But, these technologies can also unlock **new revenue** opportunities that extend beyond just reducing expenses.
1. **Serve More Communities with Language Access Challenges**
Utilizing cost-effective medical interpretation technologies allow healthcare providers to effectively remove language barriers and serve patient populations that may have previously been underserved or inaccessible due to language limitations. By deploying AI-powered interpretation, organizations can expand their geographic reach and patient base -opening up new revenue streams through additional billable services, procedures, and treatments. For example - might be relevant to populations that used to get treatment in other language-accessed organizations. This increased patient volume can have a significant impact on the organization's top-line growth. As a side note, the availability of on-demand, multilingual interpretation can enhance patient satisfaction and loyalty. This can lead to increased repeat business and positive word-of-mouth referrals - both of which contribute to sustained revenue generation.
2. **Shorter Encounters, Greater Capacity**
AI-powered medical interpretation can shorten the duration of interpreter-based interaction by up to 15%. This efficiency boost has a direct impact on the healthcare organization's ability to see more patients and generate additional revenue. With shorter encounter times, providers and staff have more capacity to treat a greater number of patients within the same time frame and leverage its existing clinical resources, to serve a larger patient population without the need for significant additional investments.
By leveraging the language access and efficiency benefits of AI medical interpreters, healthcare organizations can not only achieve cost savings, but also **unlock new revenue streams** to drive overall financial performance. These AI-powered solutions present a strategic opportunity to enhance both the bottom line and top line, positioning the organization for long-term growth and sustainability.
## You’d also be interested in…
[**No Barrier Raises $2.7M to Remove Language Barriers in Healthcare** \\
\\
AI & Technology in Healthcare Interpretation\\
\\
November 18, 2025\\
\\
3\\
\\
min read\\
\\
No Barrier secures $2.7M to scale instant AI medical interpretation that strengthens safety. cuts costs. and improves patient communication.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[**What Clinicians Really Think About Interpreters (And What AI Can Fix)** \\
\\
AI & Technology in Healthcare Interpretation\\
\\
November 10, 2025\\
\\
6\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Clinicians across the U.S. share real frustrations with language barriers in care. AI interpretation offers faster, more accurate, and culturally sensitive solutions.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/what-clinicians-really-think-about-interpreters)
[**AI in Medical Translation: Capabilities and Limitations** \\
\\
AI & Technology in Healthcare Interpretation\\
\\
October 9, 2025\\
\\
6\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Medical Translation in the AI Era: Understanding the Possibilities and Boundaries\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/ai-in-medical-translation-capabilities-and-limitations)
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/generating-new-revenue-for-healthcare-organizations-with-ai-medical-interpreting#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Google Translate HIPAA Risks
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
Compliance & Risk (HIPAA, Legal, Safety)
# Is Google Translate HIPAA Compliant? What Every Hospital Needs to Know
Why free translation tools put patient privacy at risk and what healthcare leaders should use instead.
By Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
September 3, 2025
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
2
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h2\\
\\
Quick summary for Healthcare leaders:](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/google-translate-risks#quick-summary-for-healthcare-leaders)
[h2\\
\\
Is Google Translate HIPAA Compliant?](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/google-translate-risks#is-google-translate-hipaa-compliant)
[h2\\
\\
HIPAA Compliance in Language Services: The Baseline](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/google-translate-risks#hipaa-compliance-in-language-services-the-baseline)
[h3\\
\\
Key criteria for compliance include](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/google-translate-risks#key-criteria-for-compliance-include)
[h2\\
\\
Where Google Translate Fails the HIPAA Test](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/google-translate-risks#where-google-translate-fails-the-hipaa-test)
[h2\\
\\
Clinical and Legal Consequences for Hospitals](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/google-translate-risks#clinical-and-legal-consequences-for-hospitals)
[h2\\
\\
Key Takeaways: HIPAA Compliance and Translation Critical Lessons for Healthcare Executives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/google-translate-risks#key-takeaways-hipaa-compliance-and-translation-critical-lessons-for-healthcare-executives)
## **Quick summary for Healthcare leaders:**
- Google Translate is not HIPAA compliant: it lacks BAAs, encryption, and audit controls, making its use in healthcare a direct compliance violation.
- High risks for hospitals: inaccurate translations can harm patients, while violations expose organizations to fines, malpractice claims, and reputational damage.
- Safer alternatives exist: CMOs must enforce policies and adopt HIPAA-compliant interpretation tools that protect both patients and providers.
## Is Google Translate HIPAA Compliant?
No. In an era of rapid digital adoption, healthcare leaders are under pressure to deliver faster, more cost-effective care. But with that speed comes risk. A growing number of frontline teams use free translation tools like **Google Translate** to bridge language barriers with patients.
For CMOs and compliance leaders, the question is simple: **Is Google Translate HIPAA compliant?** And if not, what are the legal, financial and patient-safety consequences of using it in clinical settings?
## **HIPAA Compliance in Language Services: The Baseline**
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requires that **all patient health information (PHI)** be handled with strict privacy and security standards. This applies not only to EHRs and telehealth platforms but also to **language access services**.
### **Key criteria for compliance include**
- Encryption of PHI during transfer and storage.
- Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) with service providers.
- Audit controls and activity logs.
- Training and policies to prevent unauthorized disclosure.
If a translation tool cannot provide these, it cannot be considered HIPAA compliant.
## **Where Google Translate Fails the HIPAA Test**
While Google Translate is fast, free and widely available, it does **not meet HIPAA requirements**:
- ❌ **No Business Associate Agreement (BAA):** Google does not sign BAAs for its free translation tools, meaning there is no legal framework for handling PHI.
- ❌ **Data Exposure Risk:** Translations may be stored or processed in environments outside healthcare-compliant systems.
- ❌ **No Encryption or Audit Controls for PHI:** Google Translate is not designed to meet healthcare security standards.
- ❌ **No Safeguards for Workforce Misuse:** Staff may use the tool casually, increasing the risk of non-compliance and liability.
For healthcare organizations, this is not a gray area: **using Google Translate for patient communication is a compliance violation**.
## **Clinical and Legal Consequences for Hospitals**
The risks extend beyond regulatory fines. For CMOs, the real concern is patient safety and system reputation.
- **Clinical Risk:** Inaccurate translations can lead to misdiagnoses, medication errors and poor adherence.
- **Financial Risk:** HIPAA violations can carry penalties up to **$1.5 million per year, per violation category**.
- **Legal Risk:** Hospitals are exposed to malpractice claims if patients suffer harm from miscommunication.
**Reputational Risk:** Public trust is eroded if non-compliant practices are exposed.
## **Key Takeaways: HIPAA Compliance and Translation Critical Lessons for Healthcare Executives**
- **Google Translate is not HIPAA compliant.** It lacks BAAs, encryption, and audit controls.
- **Using non-compliant tools introduces liability.** Both financial penalties and patient safety risks are on the table.
- **Compliance is a leadership issue.** CMOs and compliance officers must set policies and training for language access.
- **Alternatives exist.** HIPAA-compliant translation and interpretation tools are available and protect both patients and providers. ****
- **Proactive action is critical.** Hospitals that address this now avoid regulatory, legal and clinical fallout later.
## FAQs
### 1\. Is there any version of Google Translate that is HIPAA compliant?
No. Google does not offer a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) for Google Translate. Without a BAA, it cannot meet HIPAA standards.
### 2\. Can bilingual staff use Google Translate informally with patients?
No. Even informal use involves handling PHI. If staff input patient details into Google Translate, the organization is at risk of HIPAA violation.
### 3\. What are safer alternatives to Google Translate in clinical care?
Hospitals should use **HIPAA-compliant interpreter services or technology platforms** like the No Barrier AI Interpretation service that offer encryption, BAAs and audit controls.
### 4\. Who is liable if a patient is harmed due to mistranslation?
The hospital bears responsibility. Courts typically view reliance on non-compliant tools as negligence, exposing organizations to malpractice claims.
### 5\. How should CMOs enforce compliance with language access?
Policies should mandate approved interpreter solutions, prohibit unsecure tools and include **staff training + monitoring**.
By Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
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# Is Google Translate HIPAA Compliant? What Every Hospital Needs to Know
By Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
September 3, 2025
2
Minute Read
## **Quick summary for Healthcare leaders:**
- Google Translate is not HIPAA compliant: it lacks BAAs, encryption, and audit controls, making its use in healthcare a direct compliance violation.
- High risks for hospitals: inaccurate translations can harm patients, while violations expose organizations to fines, malpractice claims, and reputational damage.
- Safer alternatives exist: CMOs must enforce policies and adopt HIPAA-compliant interpretation tools that protect both patients and providers.
## Is Google Translate HIPAA Compliant?
No. In an era of rapid digital adoption, healthcare leaders are under pressure to deliver faster, more cost-effective care. But with that speed comes risk. A growing number of frontline teams use free translation tools like **Google Translate** to bridge language barriers with patients.
For CMOs and compliance leaders, the question is simple: **Is Google Translate HIPAA compliant?** And if not, what are the legal, financial and patient-safety consequences of using it in clinical settings?
## **HIPAA Compliance in Language Services: The Baseline**
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requires that **all patient health information (PHI)** be handled with strict privacy and security standards. This applies not only to EHRs and telehealth platforms but also to **language access services**.
### **Key criteria for compliance include**
- Encryption of PHI during transfer and storage.
- Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) with service providers.
- Audit controls and activity logs.
- Training and policies to prevent unauthorized disclosure.
If a translation tool cannot provide these, it cannot be considered HIPAA compliant.
## **Where Google Translate Fails the HIPAA Test**
While Google Translate is fast, free and widely available, it does **not meet HIPAA requirements**:
- ❌ **No Business Associate Agreement (BAA):** Google does not sign BAAs for its free translation tools, meaning there is no legal framework for handling PHI.
- ❌ **Data Exposure Risk:** Translations may be stored or processed in environments outside healthcare-compliant systems.
- ❌ **No Encryption or Audit Controls for PHI:** Google Translate is not designed to meet healthcare security standards.
- ❌ **No Safeguards for Workforce Misuse:** Staff may use the tool casually, increasing the risk of non-compliance and liability.
For healthcare organizations, this is not a gray area: **using Google Translate for patient communication is a compliance violation**.
## **Clinical and Legal Consequences for Hospitals**
The risks extend beyond regulatory fines. For CMOs, the real concern is patient safety and system reputation.
- **Clinical Risk:** Inaccurate translations can lead to misdiagnoses, medication errors and poor adherence.
- **Financial Risk:** HIPAA violations can carry penalties up to **$1.5 million per year, per violation category**.
- **Legal Risk:** Hospitals are exposed to malpractice claims if patients suffer harm from miscommunication.
**Reputational Risk:** Public trust is eroded if non-compliant practices are exposed.
## **Key Takeaways: HIPAA Compliance and Translation Critical Lessons for Healthcare Executives**
- **Google Translate is not HIPAA compliant.** It lacks BAAs, encryption, and audit controls.
- **Using non-compliant tools introduces liability.** Both financial penalties and patient safety risks are on the table.
- **Compliance is a leadership issue.** CMOs and compliance officers must set policies and training for language access.
- **Alternatives exist.** HIPAA-compliant translation and interpretation tools are available and protect both patients and providers. ****
- **Proactive action is critical.** Hospitals that address this now avoid regulatory, legal and clinical fallout later.
## You’d also be interested in…
[**The Executive Checklist for Choosing Your Next AI Interpreter Vendor** \\
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A concise, compliance-first checklist for healthcare leaders to evaluate AI interpreter vendors on HIPAA alignment, accuracy, ROI and patient experience before signing a contract.\\
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[**Could Your Bilingual Staff Double as Certified Medical Interpreters? Answers to Your Questions** \\
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Exploring practical considerations for healthcare organizations when certifying bilingual staff as medical interpreters.\\
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[**Are Your Non-English Speaking Patients Following Up on Your Discharge Notes?** \\
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Studies reveal many patients with limited English proficiency struggle to understand critical post-visit instructions, highlighting the need for accurate, accessible multilingual discharge notes.\\
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Language & Dialect
# Haitian Creole in U.S. Health Care: Strategic Imperatives & Risks
Haitian Creole is an advanced, context-driven language that makes certified medical interpreters scarce and AI translation uniquely challenging for U.S. healthcare systems.
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
October 28, 2025
**Updated:**
October 28, 2025
7
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h3\\
\\
Executive Summary](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/haitian-creole#executive-summary)
[h2\\
\\
Context & Significance](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/haitian-creole#context-and-significance)
[h3\\
\\
Demographics & Health Disparities](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/haitian-creole#demographics-and-health-disparities)
[h3\\
\\
Language & Cultural Dimensions](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/haitian-creole#language-and-cultural-dimensions)
[h2\\
\\
Risks & Liabilities of Inadequate Creole Access](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/haitian-creole#risks-and-liabilities-of-inadequate-creole-access)
[h3\\
\\
Patient Safety & Quality Risk](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/haitian-creole#patient-safety-and-quality-risk)
[h3\\
\\
Compliance & Legal Exposure](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/haitian-creole#compliance-and-legal-exposure)
[h3\\
\\
Reputational, ROI and Operational Risk](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/haitian-creole#reputational-roi-and-operational-risk)
[h2\\
\\
Strategic Framework & Best Practices](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/haitian-creole#strategic-framework-and-best-practices)
[h3\\
\\
Illustrative Use Case: Perinatal & Reproductive Health](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/haitian-creole#illustrative-use-case-perinatal-and-reproductive-health)
[h3\\
\\
Sample Creole Phrases for Clinicians](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/haitian-creole#sample-creole-phrases-for-clinicians)
[h2\\
\\
Implementation Challenges & Mitigation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/haitian-creole#implementation-challenges-and-mitigation)
[h3\\
\\
Interpreter Workforce Reality: Haitian Creole](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/haitian-creole#interpreter-workforce-reality-haitian-creole)
[h2\\
\\
Key Takeaways for CMOs / COOs / Compliance Leaders](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/haitian-creole#key-takeaways-for-cmos-coos-compliance-leaders)
### Executive Summary
- According to Slator, Haitian Creole is spoken in **“more than 1.1 million households”** in the U.S., based on U.S. Census American Community Survey data.
- In the state of Florida alone there are over **426,000** Haitian language speakers. ( [Axios](https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/06/06/haitian-third-most-spoken-language-florida-english-and-spanish))
- Limited English proficiency among Haitian Creole speakers creates critical communication gaps, raising **liability, safety and regulatory risks**.
- Investing in **professional Creole interpretation, translated materials and cultural competence training** drives **efficiency, patient trust and outcomes**, with ROI through reduced error, readmissions and legal exposure.
- Health systems should embed Creole-language strategy in population health, equity, compliance and quality programs to serve a growing Haitian-American population.
## Context & Significance
### Demographics & Health Disparities
- Haitian-Americans are one of the larger Black immigrant subpopulations in the U.S.; yet they are often subsumed under “African American” in data, masking unique needs. ( [Stanford Medicine](https://med.stanford.edu/content/dam/sm/schoolhealtheval/documents/FPierre_HaitianAmericans.pdf))
- They frequently face socioeconomic challenges, lower health literacy, insurance gaps and barriers to care. ( [Stanford Medicine](https://med.stanford.edu/content/dam/sm/schoolhealtheval/documents/FPierre_HaitianAmericans.pdf))
- Among Haitian immigrants, a substantial share report speaking English “less than very well,” increasing risk of miscommunication in medical settings. ( [Lakay Access Sante](https://lakayaccessante.org/improving-mental-health-among-haitian-immigrants-in-the-united-states/))
### Language & Cultural Dimensions
- Haitian Creole (Kreyòl Ayisyen) is distinct from French; many Haitians (even those who read French) prefer or feel more comfortable communicating sensitive health issues in Creole. ( [Minnesota Department of Health](https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/rih/coe/clinical/haitianbrief.html))
- Cultural beliefs, spiritual frameworks (including Vodou, traditional healing), views on illness and family decision patterns are important context for care. ( [Minnesota Department of Health](https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/rih/coe/clinical/haitianbrief.html))
- Language is not merely a translation barrier; it is interwoven with **identity, trust, power**, and **perceived dignity** in care encounters. ( [Phoenix Files](https://phoenixfiles.olin.edu/do/538/iiif/8af1903b-de8a-42d9-97f6-d4617b1c289b/full/full/0/baca_final.pdf))
## Risks & Liabilities of Inadequate Creole Access
### Patient Safety & Quality Risk
- Misdiagnoses, incorrect medication usage, consent forms misunderstood or follow-up instructions ignored are real threats when communication is flawed.
- In scenarios like acute care, mental health or emergencies, the inability to understand or be understood can have severe clinical harm.
### Compliance & Legal Exposure
- Title VI of the Civil Rights Act requires nondiscrimination, including language access, in entities receiving federal funds (e.g. Medicare, Medicaid).
- Obligations under state-level “Limited English Proficiency” (LEP) statutes or regulations may extend liability if a patient’s right to an interpreter is denied or delayed.
- Informed consent in a language the patient understands is a legal standard; failure to do so can lead to malpractice or regulatory action.
### Reputational, ROI and Operational Risk
- Poor patient experience leads to poor retention, complaints, claims or adverse accreditation findings.
- Unplanned rework (callbacks, readmissions, miscommunications) drives costs.
- Ignoring a linguistic subpopulation may hinder equity metrics, value-based care goals and strategic growth into communities.
## Strategic Framework & Best Practices
Below is a strategic, phased implementation framework targeted to CMOs, COOs and Compliance Leads.
### Illustrative Use Case: Perinatal & Reproductive Health
Haitian newcomer women may carry unique risks (e.g. immunization gaps, infectious diseases screening) and cultural sensitivities. Using Creole materials and Creole interpretation lead to better prenatal adherence, reduced complications and higher satisfaction. ( [Minnesota Department of Health](https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/rih/coe/haiti2.pdf))
### Sample Creole Phrases for Clinicians
While not a substitute for professional interpreters, clinicians knowing some Creole phrases can build rapport. (E.g. “Kijan ou santi ou jodi a?” = “How are you feeling today?”) ( [Creole Solutions Blog](https://blog.creolesolutions.com/haitian-creole-for-healthcare-20-essential-phrases-for-doctors-and-nurses))
## Implementation Challenges & Mitigation
- **Interpreter fatigue / availability**: use tele-interpretation to cover off-hours or remote locations. Also, AI interpretation offers instant, on-demand communication for Haitian Creole encounters, reducing wait times for language support. While medical accuracy is still improving, ongoing training is enhancing reliability. Over time, AI interpretation tools will provide faster and more precise translations.
- **Translation quality**: use back-translation to add an extra layer of control.
- **Staff resistance / workflow disruption**: pilot, collect user feedback, integrate AI and human interpreter workflows seamlessly.
- **Data invisibility**: because many systems lump Haitians under African American, you must ensure ethnicity / preferred “language” fields are collected. ( [Stanford Medicine](https://med.stanford.edu/content/dam/sm/schoolhealtheval/documents/FPierre_HaitianAmericans.pdf))
Important to have in mind, we search for the number of certified Haitian Creole medical interpreters in the US and **Assume the number is limited**: Because Haitian Creole is a less-commonly certified language compared to Spanish/Arabic, the pool of fully certified interpreters is likely smaller.
### Interpreter Workforce Reality: Haitian Creole
When assessing interpreter capacity, it’s important to recognize that **the number of certified Haitian Creole medical interpreters in the United States is extremely limited**. Haitian Creole is classified as a _less-commonly certified language_, unlike Spanish or Arabic, which dominate national certification programs such as the **Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI)** and the **National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (NBCMI)**.
As a result, many health systems face a **supply-demand gap** (a small pool of credentialed interpreters serving a rapidly growing Haitian-American population). This shortage **transverses healthcare settings nationwide**, affecting large academic hospitals, community health centers, and outpatient clinics alike. The deficit increases operational risk, lengthens patient throughput times and raises potential compliance exposure under **Title VI** and **Section 1557** language-access requirements.
**AI-based interpretation models for Haitian Creole are advancing but remain technically complex.** Haitian Creole is an **advanced, high-context language** whose nuanced phonology, layered idioms, and fluid code-switching between Creole and French make medical-grade translation especially demanding. Achieving consistent accuracy requires **specialized linguistic datasets and adaptive AI training**, ensuring that emerging tools meet clinical and compliance standards.
In practice, this means that while machine-assisted tools may eventually supplement workflows, **reliable, compliant communication with Creole-speaking patients still depends on qualified human interpreters**—a workforce that remains scarce and should be treated as a strategic investment area for hospitals, payers, and telehealth platforms.
## Key Takeaways for CMOs / COOs / Compliance Leaders
- Haitian Creole access is **not optional,** it is both a **compliance requirement** and a **clinical safety imperative**.
- **1 millions people speak Haitian Creole** in the US, mainly in the state of Florida.
- Investments in Creole-language infrastructure produce **cost-avoidance**, **patient trust** and **differentiation** in underserved markets.
- Success depends on **integration:** interpretation + translated content + cultural training + community bridges + metrics.
- Language equity must be built into **governance and oversight**, not left to ad hoc efforts but many health systems face a **supply-demand gaps** in Haitian Creole
## FAQs
### 1\. Why is Haitian Creole distinct from French in health care settings?
Haitian Creole is a separate language with its own grammar and vocabulary. Many Haitian patients prefer or understand Creole better than French when discussing health, especially sensitive topics. ( [Minnesota Department of Health](https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/rih/coe/clinical/haitianbrief.html))
### 2\. Is providing a family member as interpreter sufficient?
No. Relying on untrained interpreters risks errors, privacy breaches or omissions. Federal/State rules generally require **qualified** interpreters (AI and/or human) when serving LEP populations.
### 3\. Which departments should be prioritized for Creole language access?
Emergency, obstetrics/gynecology, chronic disease management, mental health and oncology are high-priority. Starting there yields faster safety and ROI gains.
### 4\. How can a health system measure ROI from Creole-language investment?
Track metrics such as reduced readmissions, fewer interpreter-related delays, patient satisfaction, malpractice claims and improved outcomes in Creole-speaking subpopulation.
### 5\. How can systems staff with enough Creole interpreters across all shifts?
Use a mix of in-person interpreters, telephonic/video remote interpretation (VRI) and compliant AI interpretation.
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
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# Haitian Creole in U.S. Health Care: Strategic Imperatives & Risks
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
October 28, 2025
7
Minute Read
### Executive Summary
- According to Slator, Haitian Creole is spoken in **“more than 1.1 million households”** in the U.S., based on U.S. Census American Community Survey data.
- In the state of Florida alone there are over **426,000** Haitian language speakers. ( [Axios](https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/06/06/haitian-third-most-spoken-language-florida-english-and-spanish))
- Limited English proficiency among Haitian Creole speakers creates critical communication gaps, raising **liability, safety and regulatory risks**.
- Investing in **professional Creole interpretation, translated materials and cultural competence training** drives **efficiency, patient trust and outcomes**, with ROI through reduced error, readmissions and legal exposure.
- Health systems should embed Creole-language strategy in population health, equity, compliance and quality programs to serve a growing Haitian-American population.
## Context & Significance
### Demographics & Health Disparities
- Haitian-Americans are one of the larger Black immigrant subpopulations in the U.S.; yet they are often subsumed under “African American” in data, masking unique needs. ( [Stanford Medicine](https://med.stanford.edu/content/dam/sm/schoolhealtheval/documents/FPierre_HaitianAmericans.pdf))
- They frequently face socioeconomic challenges, lower health literacy, insurance gaps and barriers to care. ( [Stanford Medicine](https://med.stanford.edu/content/dam/sm/schoolhealtheval/documents/FPierre_HaitianAmericans.pdf))
- Among Haitian immigrants, a substantial share report speaking English “less than very well,” increasing risk of miscommunication in medical settings. ( [Lakay Access Sante](https://lakayaccessante.org/improving-mental-health-among-haitian-immigrants-in-the-united-states/))
### Language & Cultural Dimensions
- Haitian Creole (Kreyòl Ayisyen) is distinct from French; many Haitians (even those who read French) prefer or feel more comfortable communicating sensitive health issues in Creole. ( [Minnesota Department of Health](https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/rih/coe/clinical/haitianbrief.html))
- Cultural beliefs, spiritual frameworks (including Vodou, traditional healing), views on illness and family decision patterns are important context for care. ( [Minnesota Department of Health](https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/rih/coe/clinical/haitianbrief.html))
- Language is not merely a translation barrier; it is interwoven with **identity, trust, power**, and **perceived dignity** in care encounters. ( [Phoenix Files](https://phoenixfiles.olin.edu/do/538/iiif/8af1903b-de8a-42d9-97f6-d4617b1c289b/full/full/0/baca_final.pdf))
## Risks & Liabilities of Inadequate Creole Access
### Patient Safety & Quality Risk
- Misdiagnoses, incorrect medication usage, consent forms misunderstood or follow-up instructions ignored are real threats when communication is flawed.
- In scenarios like acute care, mental health or emergencies, the inability to understand or be understood can have severe clinical harm.
### Compliance & Legal Exposure
- Title VI of the Civil Rights Act requires nondiscrimination, including language access, in entities receiving federal funds (e.g. Medicare, Medicaid).
- Obligations under state-level “Limited English Proficiency” (LEP) statutes or regulations may extend liability if a patient’s right to an interpreter is denied or delayed.
- Informed consent in a language the patient understands is a legal standard; failure to do so can lead to malpractice or regulatory action.
### Reputational, ROI and Operational Risk
- Poor patient experience leads to poor retention, complaints, claims or adverse accreditation findings.
- Unplanned rework (callbacks, readmissions, miscommunications) drives costs.
- Ignoring a linguistic subpopulation may hinder equity metrics, value-based care goals and strategic growth into communities.
## Strategic Framework & Best Practices
Below is a strategic, phased implementation framework targeted to CMOs, COOs and Compliance Leads.
### Illustrative Use Case: Perinatal & Reproductive Health
Haitian newcomer women may carry unique risks (e.g. immunization gaps, infectious diseases screening) and cultural sensitivities. Using Creole materials and Creole interpretation lead to better prenatal adherence, reduced complications and higher satisfaction. ( [Minnesota Department of Health](https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/rih/coe/haiti2.pdf))
### Sample Creole Phrases for Clinicians
While not a substitute for professional interpreters, clinicians knowing some Creole phrases can build rapport. (E.g. “Kijan ou santi ou jodi a?” = “How are you feeling today?”) ( [Creole Solutions Blog](https://blog.creolesolutions.com/haitian-creole-for-healthcare-20-essential-phrases-for-doctors-and-nurses))
## Implementation Challenges & Mitigation
- **Interpreter fatigue / availability**: use tele-interpretation to cover off-hours or remote locations. Also, AI interpretation offers instant, on-demand communication for Haitian Creole encounters, reducing wait times for language support. While medical accuracy is still improving, ongoing training is enhancing reliability. Over time, AI interpretation tools will provide faster and more precise translations.
- **Translation quality**: use back-translation to add an extra layer of control.
- **Staff resistance / workflow disruption**: pilot, collect user feedback, integrate AI and human interpreter workflows seamlessly.
- **Data invisibility**: because many systems lump Haitians under African American, you must ensure ethnicity / preferred “language” fields are collected. ( [Stanford Medicine](https://med.stanford.edu/content/dam/sm/schoolhealtheval/documents/FPierre_HaitianAmericans.pdf))
Important to have in mind, we search for the number of certified Haitian Creole medical interpreters in the US and **Assume the number is limited**: Because Haitian Creole is a less-commonly certified language compared to Spanish/Arabic, the pool of fully certified interpreters is likely smaller.
### Interpreter Workforce Reality: Haitian Creole
When assessing interpreter capacity, it’s important to recognize that **the number of certified Haitian Creole medical interpreters in the United States is extremely limited**. Haitian Creole is classified as a _less-commonly certified language_, unlike Spanish or Arabic, which dominate national certification programs such as the **Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI)** and the **National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (NBCMI)**.
As a result, many health systems face a **supply-demand gap** (a small pool of credentialed interpreters serving a rapidly growing Haitian-American population). This shortage **transverses healthcare settings nationwide**, affecting large academic hospitals, community health centers, and outpatient clinics alike. The deficit increases operational risk, lengthens patient throughput times and raises potential compliance exposure under **Title VI** and **Section 1557** language-access requirements.
**AI-based interpretation models for Haitian Creole are advancing but remain technically complex.** Haitian Creole is an **advanced, high-context language** whose nuanced phonology, layered idioms, and fluid code-switching between Creole and French make medical-grade translation especially demanding. Achieving consistent accuracy requires **specialized linguistic datasets and adaptive AI training**, ensuring that emerging tools meet clinical and compliance standards.
In practice, this means that while machine-assisted tools may eventually supplement workflows, **reliable, compliant communication with Creole-speaking patients still depends on qualified human interpreters**—a workforce that remains scarce and should be treated as a strategic investment area for hospitals, payers, and telehealth platforms.
## Key Takeaways for CMOs / COOs / Compliance Leaders
- Haitian Creole access is **not optional,** it is both a **compliance requirement** and a **clinical safety imperative**.
- **1 millions people speak Haitian Creole** in the US, mainly in the state of Florida.
- Investments in Creole-language infrastructure produce **cost-avoidance**, **patient trust** and **differentiation** in underserved markets.
- Success depends on **integration:** interpretation + translated content + cultural training + community bridges + metrics.
- Language equity must be built into **governance and oversight**, not left to ad hoc efforts but many health systems face a **supply-demand gaps** in Haitian Creole
## You’d also be interested in…
[**Frontline Emergency Care: How Teach-Back Prevents Language Errors in the ER** \\
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Language & Dialect\\
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October 17, 2025\\
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Language barriers in the ER put patients and hospitals at risk. Teach-back which is asking patients to repeat instructions improves safety, reduces liability and strengthens HIPAA compliance.\\
\\
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[**What is Interpreting Directionality?** \\
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Language & Dialect\\
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The L1<>L2 story and the impact of directionality on medical interpreting: human challenges and technological solutions\\
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**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/what-is-interpreting-directionality)
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/haitian-creole#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Medical Interpreter Accuracy
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
Language & Dialect Challenges
# How Many Mistakes Do Medical Interpreters Make?
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
June 18, 2024
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
3
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h3\\
\\
Accuracy: The Name of the Game](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-many-mistakes-do-medical-interpreters-make#accuracy-the-name-of-the-game)
In healthcare settings, effective communication between patients and providers is crucial, especially when dealing with limited English proficient (LEP) patients. This is where medical interpreters play a vital role, bridging the language gap and ensuring accurate information exchange, avoiding the risk of miscommunication, potentially leading to misdiagnosis, improper treatment, and adverse outcomes. However, the question arises: **How many mistakes do these interpreters make, and what are the potential consequences?**
Medical interpreters can be broadly categorized into three groups:
- **In-person professionals**, usually employed by healthcare institutions
- **Remote professionals** working through interpreting agencies (often via phone or video)
- **Ad hoc interpreters**, such as [family members](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/so-youre-using-family-members-as-medical-interpreters) or [bilingual medical staff](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/relying-on-bilingual-peers-for-language-interpretation--a-cautionary-tale).
### **Accuracy: The Name of the Game**
**** In the medical interpreting field, accuracy is paramount. A medical interpreter is expected to convey the communication's content and intentions precisely, without meaningfully adding or subtracting information. This accurate interpretation is critical to ensuring effective communication and delivering high-quality care.
We reviewed two research studies on interpreter accuracy evaluation (see references below). These studies specifically tested the accuracy of interpreters during medical encounters and drew insightful conclusions.
Some of the conclusions are:
1. Only **70%** of the conversation is considered as "accurate interpretation."
2. On average, an interpreter would make around **31 mistakes** in an encounter, with 19 of those mistakes potentially having clinical consequences (and in the other research, it is 27 errors with 2 highly clinically significant).
3. The most common error type is **omission**, where interpreters fail to convey certain information.
4. In-person interpreters have an approximately **25%** inaccurate interpretation rate, while ad-hoc interpreters exhibit a higher rate of around **50%** and tend to make more omissions.
These findings highlight the challenges medical interpreters face in ensuring accurate communication and the potential risks associated with interpretation errors. While interpreters play a crucial role in healthcare settings, ongoing training, quality assurance measures, and a deeper understanding of the common error types are essential to minimize mistakes and improve patient safety.
One of the alternatives to consider is to utilize a professional AI medical interpreter (like No Barrier) – where technology can potentially be more accurate than a human medical interpreter and avoid the most common mistake of omitting content throughout the medical encounter.
**References**:
[2015](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4610127/) study - Inaccurate Language Interpretation and its Clinical Significance in the Medical Encounters of Spanish-speaking Latinos
[2003](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12509547/) study - Errors in medical interpretation and their potential clinical consequences in pediatric encounters
## FAQs
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
[Twitter icon\\
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Twitter](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-many-mistakes-do-medical-interpreters-make#) [Facebook icon\\
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[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# How Many Mistakes Do Medical Interpreters Make?
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
June 18, 2024
3
Minute Read
In healthcare settings, effective communication between patients and providers is crucial, especially when dealing with limited English proficient (LEP) patients. This is where medical interpreters play a vital role, bridging the language gap and ensuring accurate information exchange, avoiding the risk of miscommunication, potentially leading to misdiagnosis, improper treatment, and adverse outcomes. However, the question arises: **How many mistakes do these interpreters make, and what are the potential consequences?**
Medical interpreters can be broadly categorized into three groups:
- **In-person professionals**, usually employed by healthcare institutions
- **Remote professionals** working through interpreting agencies (often via phone or video)
- **Ad hoc interpreters**, such as [family members](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/so-youre-using-family-members-as-medical-interpreters) or [bilingual medical staff](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/relying-on-bilingual-peers-for-language-interpretation--a-cautionary-tale).
### **Accuracy: The Name of the Game**
**** In the medical interpreting field, accuracy is paramount. A medical interpreter is expected to convey the communication's content and intentions precisely, without meaningfully adding or subtracting information. This accurate interpretation is critical to ensuring effective communication and delivering high-quality care.
We reviewed two research studies on interpreter accuracy evaluation (see references below). These studies specifically tested the accuracy of interpreters during medical encounters and drew insightful conclusions.
Some of the conclusions are:
1. Only **70%** of the conversation is considered as "accurate interpretation."
2. On average, an interpreter would make around **31 mistakes** in an encounter, with 19 of those mistakes potentially having clinical consequences (and in the other research, it is 27 errors with 2 highly clinically significant).
3. The most common error type is **omission**, where interpreters fail to convey certain information.
4. In-person interpreters have an approximately **25%** inaccurate interpretation rate, while ad-hoc interpreters exhibit a higher rate of around **50%** and tend to make more omissions.
These findings highlight the challenges medical interpreters face in ensuring accurate communication and the potential risks associated with interpretation errors. While interpreters play a crucial role in healthcare settings, ongoing training, quality assurance measures, and a deeper understanding of the common error types are essential to minimize mistakes and improve patient safety.
One of the alternatives to consider is to utilize a professional AI medical interpreter (like No Barrier) – where technology can potentially be more accurate than a human medical interpreter and avoid the most common mistake of omitting content throughout the medical encounter.
**References**:
[2015](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4610127/) study - Inaccurate Language Interpretation and its Clinical Significance in the Medical Encounters of Spanish-speaking Latinos
[2003](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12509547/) study - Errors in medical interpretation and their potential clinical consequences in pediatric encounters
## You’d also be interested in…
[**3 Languages, Many Dialects: Stories Every Clinic Should Know** \\
\\
Language & Dialect Challenges\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
2\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Coming from our main article on language vs. dialect? You asked for real cases. Below are three short, true‑to‑life stories.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/three-languages-many-dialects)
[**Language vs. Dialect: Why the Difference Matters** \\
\\
Language & Dialect Challenges\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
2\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Inspired by Care Culture Talk podcast with Dr. Ilan Shapiro, MD – Executive Medical Leader.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/dialect-vs-language)
[**Basic Spanish Isn't Enough: Why Healthcare Providers Still Need Professional Language Services** \\
\\
Language & Dialect Challenges\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
3\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Even with basic Spanish skills, healthcare providers can't risk 'getting by' without professional language services - including AI interpretation - as the stakes for patient care are too high\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/basic-spanish-isnt-enough-why-healthcare-providers-still-need-professional-language-services)
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-many-mistakes-do-medical-interpreters-make#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Privacy in Medical Interpreting
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
Compliance & Risk (HIPAA, Legal, Safety)
# How Private is a Medical Encounter with an Interpreter?
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
August 13, 2024
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
3
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h3\\
\\
The Interpreter's Dilemma](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-private-is-a-medical-encounter-with-an-interpreter#the-interpreters-dilemma)
[h4\\
\\
Sensitive Topics](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-private-is-a-medical-encounter-with-an-interpreter#sensitive-topics)
[h4\\
\\
Gender Dynamics](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-private-is-a-medical-encounter-with-an-interpreter#gender-dynamics)
[h4\\
\\
Mental Health Vulnerabilities](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-private-is-a-medical-encounter-with-an-interpreter#mental-health-vulnerabilities)
[h4\\
\\
Interpreter is from the same community](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-private-is-a-medical-encounter-with-an-interpreter#interpreter-is-from-the-same-community)
[h3\\
\\
Potential Consequences](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-private-is-a-medical-encounter-with-an-interpreter#potential-consequences)
[h3\\
\\
Striking a Balance](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-private-is-a-medical-encounter-with-an-interpreter#striking-a-balance)
[h3\\
\\
Conclusion](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-private-is-a-medical-encounter-with-an-interpreter#conclusion)
Patient privacy is a cornerstone of quality healthcare. Every individual has the right to keep their health information confidential and shared only on a need-to-know basis. However, for patients with limited English proficiency (LEP), unique challenges arise that can potentially compromise this fundamental right.
### The Interpreter's Dilemma
Imagine non-English speaking patient in a medical encounter, relying on an interpreter to facilitate communication. While interpreters are essential for providing equitable care, their presence introduces a third party into what should be a private conversation between patient and provider. This scenario can lead to discomfort and potential privacy breaches in several ways:
#### Sensitive Topics
Healthcare discussions often involve highly personal matters. From sexual activity to substance use issues, many topics can create tension when shared through an intermediary. The mere presence of an interpreter may cause patients to withhold crucial information out of embarrassment or cultural taboos.
#### Gender Dynamics
Gender mismatches between patient and interpreter can create privacy concerns. Our user interviews revealed instances of female patients reluctantly describing gynecological issues to male interpreters, and vice versa. These situations create unnecessary tension and may damage open communication.
#### Mental Health Vulnerabilities
Mental health discussions require a particular level of trust and vulnerability. Patients may need to share deeply personal feelings, fears, or unusual thought patterns. The addition of an interpreter in this delicate scenario can feel intrusive, potentially damaging the therapeutic process.
#### Interpreter is from the same community
In some cases, on-site interpreters may come from the same community as the patient. This could be a refugee community or a local neighborhood. There's potential for the interpreter and patient to know each other personally, which adds another layer of privacy concern.
### Potential Consequences
When patient privacy is compromised for LEP individuals, several negative outcomes may occur:
1. Embarrassment: The overall patient experience can be tainted by feelings of shame or discomfort.
2. Incomplete Disclosure: Patients may omit crucial health information, leading to potential misdiagnosis or inadequate treatment.
3. Reduced Trust: The healthcare system may be perceived as insensitive to cultural needs, discouraging future engagement.
### Striking a Balance
While interpreters are vital for providing equitable care to LEP patients, healthcare systems must be mindful of the privacy implications. One emerging solution is the utilization of AI medical interpreting technologies. These innovations have the potential to remove the need for a third-party interpreter, effectively restoring the original dynamic between patient and provider with the required level of intimacy.
### Conclusion
As we strive for more inclusive healthcare, we must not overlook the nuanced privacy needs of LEP patients. Healthcare providers, administrators, and policymakers must work together to create environments where all patients, regardless of their English proficiency, feel safe sharing the intimate details necessary for their health and well-being. This includes exploring and implementing the latest technologies to create a superior experience from privacy perspectives.
## FAQs
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
[Twitter icon\\
\\
Twitter](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-private-is-a-medical-encounter-with-an-interpreter#) [Facebook icon\\
\\
Facebook](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-private-is-a-medical-encounter-with-an-interpreter#) [Pinterest](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-private-is-a-medical-encounter-with-an-interpreter#) [LinkedIn icon\\
\\
Linkedin](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-private-is-a-medical-encounter-with-an-interpreter#) [Linkedin](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-private-is-a-medical-encounter-with-an-interpreter#)
[Telegram](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-private-is-a-medical-encounter-with-an-interpreter#) [Reddit](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-private-is-a-medical-encounter-with-an-interpreter#)
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# How Private is a Medical Encounter with an Interpreter?
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
August 13, 2024
3
Minute Read
Patient privacy is a cornerstone of quality healthcare. Every individual has the right to keep their health information confidential and shared only on a need-to-know basis. However, for patients with limited English proficiency (LEP), unique challenges arise that can potentially compromise this fundamental right.
### The Interpreter's Dilemma
Imagine non-English speaking patient in a medical encounter, relying on an interpreter to facilitate communication. While interpreters are essential for providing equitable care, their presence introduces a third party into what should be a private conversation between patient and provider. This scenario can lead to discomfort and potential privacy breaches in several ways:
#### Sensitive Topics
Healthcare discussions often involve highly personal matters. From sexual activity to substance use issues, many topics can create tension when shared through an intermediary. The mere presence of an interpreter may cause patients to withhold crucial information out of embarrassment or cultural taboos.
#### Gender Dynamics
Gender mismatches between patient and interpreter can create privacy concerns. Our user interviews revealed instances of female patients reluctantly describing gynecological issues to male interpreters, and vice versa. These situations create unnecessary tension and may damage open communication.
#### Mental Health Vulnerabilities
Mental health discussions require a particular level of trust and vulnerability. Patients may need to share deeply personal feelings, fears, or unusual thought patterns. The addition of an interpreter in this delicate scenario can feel intrusive, potentially damaging the therapeutic process.
#### Interpreter is from the same community
In some cases, on-site interpreters may come from the same community as the patient. This could be a refugee community or a local neighborhood. There's potential for the interpreter and patient to know each other personally, which adds another layer of privacy concern.
### Potential Consequences
When patient privacy is compromised for LEP individuals, several negative outcomes may occur:
1. Embarrassment: The overall patient experience can be tainted by feelings of shame or discomfort.
2. Incomplete Disclosure: Patients may omit crucial health information, leading to potential misdiagnosis or inadequate treatment.
3. Reduced Trust: The healthcare system may be perceived as insensitive to cultural needs, discouraging future engagement.
### Striking a Balance
While interpreters are vital for providing equitable care to LEP patients, healthcare systems must be mindful of the privacy implications. One emerging solution is the utilization of AI medical interpreting technologies. These innovations have the potential to remove the need for a third-party interpreter, effectively restoring the original dynamic between patient and provider with the required level of intimacy.
### Conclusion
As we strive for more inclusive healthcare, we must not overlook the nuanced privacy needs of LEP patients. Healthcare providers, administrators, and policymakers must work together to create environments where all patients, regardless of their English proficiency, feel safe sharing the intimate details necessary for their health and well-being. This includes exploring and implementing the latest technologies to create a superior experience from privacy perspectives.
## You’d also be interested in…
[**The Executive Checklist for Choosing Your Next AI Interpreter Vendor** \\
\\
Compliance & Risk (HIPAA, Legal, Safety)\\
\\
October 9, 2025\\
\\
7\\
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min read\\
\\
A concise, compliance-first checklist for healthcare leaders to evaluate AI interpreter vendors on HIPAA alignment, accuracy, ROI and patient experience before signing a contract.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-executive-checklist-for-choosing-your-next-ai-interpreter-vendor)
[**Is Google Translate HIPAA Compliant? What Every Hospital Needs to Know** \\
\\
Compliance & Risk (HIPAA, Legal, Safety)\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
2\\
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min read\\
\\
Google Translate is not HIPAA compliant. No BAAs, encryption or audit controls. Using it in healthcare creates compliance, safety and legal risks. \\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/google-translate-risks)
[**Could Your Bilingual Staff Double as Certified Medical Interpreters? Answers to Your Questions** \\
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Compliance & Risk (HIPAA, Legal, Safety)\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
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3\\
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\\
Exploring practical considerations for healthcare organizations when certifying bilingual staff as medical interpreters.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/could-your-bilingual-staff-double-as-certified-medical-interpreters-answers-to-your-questions)
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-private-is-a-medical-encounter-with-an-interpreter#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Spanish Dialects in Healthcare
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
Language & Dialect Challenges
# How Spanish Dialects Impact Patient Care?
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
December 10, 2024
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h2\\
\\
Learning the Spanish Spoken in the United States](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-spanish-dialects-impact-patient-care#learning-the-spanish-spoken-in-the-united-states)
[h2\\
\\
Key Differences Between Spanish Dialects](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-spanish-dialects-impact-patient-care#key-differences-between-spanish-dialects)
[h3\\
\\
1\. Vocabulary Differences](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-spanish-dialects-impact-patient-care#1-vocabulary-differences)
[h3\\
\\
2\. Pronunciation Patterns](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-spanish-dialects-impact-patient-care#2-pronunciation-patterns)
[h3\\
\\
3\. Speed and Rhythm](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-spanish-dialects-impact-patient-care#3-speed-and-rhythm)
[h3\\
\\
4\. Formal Speech vs. Informal Speech](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-spanish-dialects-impact-patient-care#4-formal-speech-vs-informal-speech)
[h2\\
\\
Why Dialect-Specific Interpretation Matters](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-spanish-dialects-impact-patient-care#why-dialect-specific-interpretation-matters)
[h3\\
\\
1\. Creating Comfort and Trust](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-spanish-dialects-impact-patient-care#1-creating-comfort-and-trust)
[h3\\
\\
2\. Ensuring Comprehension](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-spanish-dialects-impact-patient-care#2-ensuring-comprehension)
[h3\\
\\
3\. Supporting Emotional Well-being](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-spanish-dialects-impact-patient-care#3-supporting-emotional-well-being)
[h3\\
\\
4\. Addressing Practical Problems](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-spanish-dialects-impact-patient-care#4-addressing-practical-problems)
[h2\\
\\
Challenges with Current Remote Interpretation Services](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-spanish-dialects-impact-patient-care#challenges-with-current-remote-interpretation-services)
[h3\\
\\
1\. Dialect Disparity](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-spanish-dialects-impact-patient-care#1-dialect-disparity)
[h3\\
\\
2\. Miscommunication Risks](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-spanish-dialects-impact-patient-care#2-miscommunication-risks)
[h3\\
\\
3\. Patient Frustration](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-spanish-dialects-impact-patient-care#3-patient-frustration)
[h3\\
\\
4\. Provider Limitations](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-spanish-dialects-impact-patient-care#4-provider-limitations)
[h2\\
\\
How Technology Is Improving Healthcare for The Spanish-Speaking Community](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-spanish-dialects-impact-patient-care#how-technology-is-improving-healthcare-for-the-spanish-speaking-community)
[h3\\
\\
Bringing Clarity](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-spanish-dialects-impact-patient-care#bringing-clarity)
[h3\\
\\
Building Trust](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-spanish-dialects-impact-patient-care#building-trust)
[h3\\
\\
Improved Health Outcomes](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-spanish-dialects-impact-patient-care#improved-health-outcomes)
[h3\\
\\
Enhanced Experience for All](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-spanish-dialects-impact-patient-care#enhanced-experience-for-all)
[h3\\
\\
Eliminating Disparities In Language Access](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-spanish-dialects-impact-patient-care#eliminating-disparities-in-language-access)
[h3\\
\\
Provision Of Equal Care](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-spanish-dialects-impact-patient-care#provision-of-equal-care)
[h2\\
\\
Conclusion: Addressing the Spanish Dialect Gap in Healthcare](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-spanish-dialects-impact-patient-care#conclusion-addressing-the-spanish-dialect-gap-in-healthcare)
Think about a Spanish speaking patient who is coming to a hospital in the United States in order to explain his symptoms only to find the interpreter doesn't comprehend fully what he is trying to say.
This is not due to lack of effort or misunderstanding, but rather due to the fact that Spanish is not spoken the same in every geographical area. There are lineages, regions and colonies which have different words and accents.
In healthcare, these little variations can lead to huge mismanagement of information.
In this article, we will talk about some of the reasons why it is so important to understand Spanish dialects in the healthcare sector, what are the issues when trying to tackle this problem, and how modern technologies come in to help Spanish speaking patients.
## **Learning the Spanish Spoken in the United States**
With more than 41 million Americans speaking it, Spanish is the second most popular language in the US.
But Spanish language is not the same everywhere; rather it encompasses several diverse dialects which have evolved from many regions and cultures of Latin America.
There are different variations and expressions to each dialect with their utterance being the only similarity.
These are some of the most commonly known dialects of the Spanish language within the United States of America:
1. Mexican Spanish: The most populous group of Spanish speakers, lives mainly in the cities of California, Texas and Arizona.
2. Puerto Rican Spanish: Most commonly found in the States of New York, Florida and Pennsylvania.
3. Cuban Spanish: Has its base in Florida and Miami in particular.
4. Dominican Spanish: Can be spotted across the New York City area down to other northeastern regions.
5. Central American Spanish: Spans across our El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras communities, including the Californian and DC regions.
6. Colombian Spanish: Commonly heard from Colombian communities in Florida and New Jersey.
7. Venezuelan Spanish: Another dialect growing rich in Texas and Florida.
All of these particular groups have contributed to the linguistic and cultural wealth of the United States.
However, in the context of healthcare, such degree of diversity poses difficulties and does not permit effective communication across all groups.
## **Key Differences Between Spanish Dialects**
The uniqueness of the Spanish dialects lies not only in accents but also in belonging to a particular group through their culture. These contrasts can be a hindrance and a stumbling block to effective communication, especially in areas such as healthcare provision.
Let us look at how Spanish dialects differ:
### **1\. Vocabulary Differences**
One key area is that vocabulary can differ in Spanish across different countries. The same object or concept can be expressed differently across regions.
Here are some examples:
- In Mexico, they say "durazno" for "peach"
- In the Caribbean, they say "melocotón" for the same fruit
- In Mexico, they use "camión" for "bus"
- In Puerto Rico, they say "guagua" for "bus"
- In Mexico, "fresa" means "strawberry"
- In some Caribbean regions, they say "fresón" for "strawberry"
- In Mexico, "chamaco" means "kid" or "child"
- In other regions, "muchacho" means "kid" or "child"
### **2\. Pronunciation Patterns**
A major difference in dialect delivery is the use of 's' omission, where some dialects suppress the 's' sound.
For example:
- In Dominican Spanish, "estás" (meaning "you are") is pronounced as "etá"
- In Colombian Spanish, "yo" (meaning "I" or "me") is pronounced more like "jo"
- In Caribbean Spanish, "estar" (meaning "to be") often sounds like "ehtar"
- In many coastal regions, "gracias" (meaning "thank you") might sound like "gracia"
### **3\. Speed and Rhythm**
Caribbean Spanish everyday conversations are characterized by clipped usage and faster speech patterns. For example, "para la casa" (meaning "to the house") might sound like "pa'la casa."
Mexican Spanish, in contrast, tends to be spoken more smoothly, with clearer pronunciation of each syllable. For instance, "para la escuela" (meaning "to the school") is pronounced fully and clearly.
### **4\. Formal Speech vs. Informal Speech**
Within Central American countries, the informal "vos" (meaning "you") is frequently used instead of "tú" (also meaning "you"). This raises further confusion for patients from regions where use of "vos" isn't prevalent.
These are more than just differences in linguistics and language; they affect how people feel they are being heard and regarded.
## **Why Dialect-Specific Interpretation Matters**
Language is not just about saying things differently; it speaks volumes. For Spanish speakers, having their own dialect during a medical visit can significantly aid their care.
Here Are Four Reasons Why Dialect-Sensitive Interpretations Are Necessary In Healthcare:
### **1\. Creating Comfort and Trust**
The presence of an interpreter who speaks the patient's dialect helps ease anxiety. It reassures them that their concerns will be properly understood.
For example: A Puerto Rican patient hearing "guagua" (their familiar word for "bus") instead of "camión" (the Mexican term for "bus") is likely to feel more at ease.
### **2\. Ensuring Comprehension**
Wrong language usage when describing drug instructions can create potential health hazards. Misunderstandings in healthcare contexts can cause medical errors.
Common examples of dangerous misunderstandings include:
- "Embarazada" means "pregnant" in Spanish, not "embarrassed" as English speakers might assume
- "Constipado" in Spain means "having a cold," but in Latin America it's understood as "constipated"
- "Intoxicado" means "poisoned" or "drugged" in Spanish, not just "intoxicated" as in English
Proper dialect usage ensures patients don't miss important aspects of their treatment.
### **3\. Supporting Emotional Well-being**
Patients can be overwhelmed when visiting hospitals. When patients don't understand what the doctor says due to a language barrier, it can lead to feelings of isolation.
Using familiar language creates feelings of inclusion. When a patient hears their own dialect being spoken, it can provide comfort in an otherwise stressful situation.
### **4\. Addressing Practical Problems**
As observed by an oncology provider from New York:
Many Dominican patients cannot relate to interpreters from different regions of Latin America due to language barriers. These patients sometimes refuse to use interpreters because they feel they are not being understood, even though they need diagnosis and treatment in New York.
When healthcare professionals and patients share a language, treatment success is more likely.
The increase in dialect-speaking interpreters has improved both patient and provider satisfaction.
## **Challenges with Current Remote Interpretation Services**
Many interpreting services do not account for dialect specificity, which can cause frustration for providers and patients alike.
This creates several problems in healthcare practices:
### **1\. Dialect Disparity**
Many interpretation services only state "Spanish" as an option with no way to choose a specific dialect.
While interpreters may handle medical terminology well, general language interpretation can lead to misunderstanding when they use words and phrases the patient doesn't recognize.
### **2\. Miscommunication Risks**
Language has its subtleties which if missed can change meanings significantly, for example:
- "Guagua" means "bus" in Puerto Rican Spanish but means "baby" in some Central American regions
- "Papaya" is a fruit in most regions but can be a vulgar term in others
- "Torta" means "sandwich" in Mexico but "cake" in other countries
- "Bizarro" in many Spanish dialects means "brave" or "gallant," not "bizarre" as in English
Such mix-ups can confuse patients and make it difficult to follow physician's instructions properly.
### **3\. Patient Frustration**
Patients have voiced concerns where they feel unheard or not properly understood solely because the interpreter pronounces words differently or uses different vocabulary.
As New York oncology providers have emphasized in one of our interviews, some patients refuse to use translators because their interpretation differs so much that they'd rather risk communicating directly.
### **4\. Provider Limitations**
Given the complexity and diversity of locations and dialects, it's challenging to accommodate all variations, which is why skilled interpreters play a crucial role in providing support and connection.
When patients don't have someone who speaks their same dialect or understands them, it adds to provider tensions and workload.
There is a significant gap in addressing these challenges, which will only become more important as the Spanish-speaking population in America continues to grow.
## **How Technology Is Improving Healthcare for The Spanish-Speaking Community**
Spanish-speaking patients are witnessing transformation in how American physicians and doctors handle their cases thanks to new technological AI tools. Here's how:
### **Bringing Clarity**
Words and phrases are the heart of dialects. Whether it's Mexican Spanish, Dominican Spanish, Puerto Rican Spanish, Cuban Spanish, or Central American Spanish, each has its own cultural roots. With technology configured for linguistic differences, patients face fewer language barriers, making it easier to comprehend medical prescriptions, treatment plans, prognoses, and other healthcare-related instructions.
### **Building Trust**
A majority of patients trust their providers based upon the dialect/mode of communication used during consultation. When patients feel their language is honored, they reciprocate, making it easier for providers to get crucial details about their health status.
### **Improved Health Outcomes**
Good communication reduces errors and ensures effective recovery. For example, when a patient fully understands their medication prescription, including intake instructions and follow-up requirements, they're more likely to comply, enabling better outcomes.
### **Enhanced Experience for All**
The use of interpreters or technological tools with the correct dialect allows patients to feel at ease instead of frustrated. This means less time spent clarifying misunderstandings and more time providing quality care.
### **Eliminating Disparities In Language Access**
In many regions, finding interpreters who are knowledgeable about required dialects is challenging. Technology can help make communication accessible to more patients regardless of their location.
### **Provision Of Equal Care**
When dialectical differences are acknowledged and addressed by healthcare providers, Spanish-speaking patients can be confident of receiving the same level of care as English-speaking patients. This step toward equity is critical in enhancing relationships and health outcomes.
## **Conclusion: Addressing the Spanish Dialect Gap in Healthcare**
Here in the U.S, Spanish patients tend to struggle to find interpreters that don't have a problem understanding their specific dialect. These slight differences in vocabulary and accent as well with pronunciation can be a huge obstacle in treating patients in the healthcare industry.
Artificial Intelligence tools could be a game-changing solution to this challenge. AI can be trained to understand and translate multiple Spanish dialects simultaneously, helping bridge the communication gap between patients and healthcare providers. With the ability to process different regional variations, accents, and cultural nuances, AI technology could ensure more accurate and culturally sensitive medical communication. This would not only improve patient care but also reduce the strain on human interpreters who may be limited to specific dialects.
## FAQs
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
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# How Spanish Dialects Impact Patient Care?
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
December 10, 2024
Minute Read
Think about a Spanish speaking patient who is coming to a hospital in the United States in order to explain his symptoms only to find the interpreter doesn't comprehend fully what he is trying to say.
This is not due to lack of effort or misunderstanding, but rather due to the fact that Spanish is not spoken the same in every geographical area. There are lineages, regions and colonies which have different words and accents.
In healthcare, these little variations can lead to huge mismanagement of information.
In this article, we will talk about some of the reasons why it is so important to understand Spanish dialects in the healthcare sector, what are the issues when trying to tackle this problem, and how modern technologies come in to help Spanish speaking patients.
## **Learning the Spanish Spoken in the United States**
With more than 41 million Americans speaking it, Spanish is the second most popular language in the US.
But Spanish language is not the same everywhere; rather it encompasses several diverse dialects which have evolved from many regions and cultures of Latin America.
There are different variations and expressions to each dialect with their utterance being the only similarity.
These are some of the most commonly known dialects of the Spanish language within the United States of America:
1. Mexican Spanish: The most populous group of Spanish speakers, lives mainly in the cities of California, Texas and Arizona.
2. Puerto Rican Spanish: Most commonly found in the States of New York, Florida and Pennsylvania.
3. Cuban Spanish: Has its base in Florida and Miami in particular.
4. Dominican Spanish: Can be spotted across the New York City area down to other northeastern regions.
5. Central American Spanish: Spans across our El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras communities, including the Californian and DC regions.
6. Colombian Spanish: Commonly heard from Colombian communities in Florida and New Jersey.
7. Venezuelan Spanish: Another dialect growing rich in Texas and Florida.
All of these particular groups have contributed to the linguistic and cultural wealth of the United States.
However, in the context of healthcare, such degree of diversity poses difficulties and does not permit effective communication across all groups.
## **Key Differences Between Spanish Dialects**
The uniqueness of the Spanish dialects lies not only in accents but also in belonging to a particular group through their culture. These contrasts can be a hindrance and a stumbling block to effective communication, especially in areas such as healthcare provision.
Let us look at how Spanish dialects differ:
### **1\. Vocabulary Differences**
One key area is that vocabulary can differ in Spanish across different countries. The same object or concept can be expressed differently across regions.
Here are some examples:
- In Mexico, they say "durazno" for "peach"
- In the Caribbean, they say "melocotón" for the same fruit
- In Mexico, they use "camión" for "bus"
- In Puerto Rico, they say "guagua" for "bus"
- In Mexico, "fresa" means "strawberry"
- In some Caribbean regions, they say "fresón" for "strawberry"
- In Mexico, "chamaco" means "kid" or "child"
- In other regions, "muchacho" means "kid" or "child"
### **2\. Pronunciation Patterns**
A major difference in dialect delivery is the use of 's' omission, where some dialects suppress the 's' sound.
For example:
- In Dominican Spanish, "estás" (meaning "you are") is pronounced as "etá"
- In Colombian Spanish, "yo" (meaning "I" or "me") is pronounced more like "jo"
- In Caribbean Spanish, "estar" (meaning "to be") often sounds like "ehtar"
- In many coastal regions, "gracias" (meaning "thank you") might sound like "gracia"
### **3\. Speed and Rhythm**
Caribbean Spanish everyday conversations are characterized by clipped usage and faster speech patterns. For example, "para la casa" (meaning "to the house") might sound like "pa'la casa."
Mexican Spanish, in contrast, tends to be spoken more smoothly, with clearer pronunciation of each syllable. For instance, "para la escuela" (meaning "to the school") is pronounced fully and clearly.
### **4\. Formal Speech vs. Informal Speech**
Within Central American countries, the informal "vos" (meaning "you") is frequently used instead of "tú" (also meaning "you"). This raises further confusion for patients from regions where use of "vos" isn't prevalent.
These are more than just differences in linguistics and language; they affect how people feel they are being heard and regarded.
## **Why Dialect-Specific Interpretation Matters**
Language is not just about saying things differently; it speaks volumes. For Spanish speakers, having their own dialect during a medical visit can significantly aid their care.
Here Are Four Reasons Why Dialect-Sensitive Interpretations Are Necessary In Healthcare:
### **1\. Creating Comfort and Trust**
The presence of an interpreter who speaks the patient's dialect helps ease anxiety. It reassures them that their concerns will be properly understood.
For example: A Puerto Rican patient hearing "guagua" (their familiar word for "bus") instead of "camión" (the Mexican term for "bus") is likely to feel more at ease.
### **2\. Ensuring Comprehension**
Wrong language usage when describing drug instructions can create potential health hazards. Misunderstandings in healthcare contexts can cause medical errors.
Common examples of dangerous misunderstandings include:
- "Embarazada" means "pregnant" in Spanish, not "embarrassed" as English speakers might assume
- "Constipado" in Spain means "having a cold," but in Latin America it's understood as "constipated"
- "Intoxicado" means "poisoned" or "drugged" in Spanish, not just "intoxicated" as in English
Proper dialect usage ensures patients don't miss important aspects of their treatment.
### **3\. Supporting Emotional Well-being**
Patients can be overwhelmed when visiting hospitals. When patients don't understand what the doctor says due to a language barrier, it can lead to feelings of isolation.
Using familiar language creates feelings of inclusion. When a patient hears their own dialect being spoken, it can provide comfort in an otherwise stressful situation.
### **4\. Addressing Practical Problems**
As observed by an oncology provider from New York:
Many Dominican patients cannot relate to interpreters from different regions of Latin America due to language barriers. These patients sometimes refuse to use interpreters because they feel they are not being understood, even though they need diagnosis and treatment in New York.
When healthcare professionals and patients share a language, treatment success is more likely.
The increase in dialect-speaking interpreters has improved both patient and provider satisfaction.
## **Challenges with Current Remote Interpretation Services**
Many interpreting services do not account for dialect specificity, which can cause frustration for providers and patients alike.
This creates several problems in healthcare practices:
### **1\. Dialect Disparity**
Many interpretation services only state "Spanish" as an option with no way to choose a specific dialect.
While interpreters may handle medical terminology well, general language interpretation can lead to misunderstanding when they use words and phrases the patient doesn't recognize.
### **2\. Miscommunication Risks**
Language has its subtleties which if missed can change meanings significantly, for example:
- "Guagua" means "bus" in Puerto Rican Spanish but means "baby" in some Central American regions
- "Papaya" is a fruit in most regions but can be a vulgar term in others
- "Torta" means "sandwich" in Mexico but "cake" in other countries
- "Bizarro" in many Spanish dialects means "brave" or "gallant," not "bizarre" as in English
Such mix-ups can confuse patients and make it difficult to follow physician's instructions properly.
### **3\. Patient Frustration**
Patients have voiced concerns where they feel unheard or not properly understood solely because the interpreter pronounces words differently or uses different vocabulary.
As New York oncology providers have emphasized in one of our interviews, some patients refuse to use translators because their interpretation differs so much that they'd rather risk communicating directly.
### **4\. Provider Limitations**
Given the complexity and diversity of locations and dialects, it's challenging to accommodate all variations, which is why skilled interpreters play a crucial role in providing support and connection.
When patients don't have someone who speaks their same dialect or understands them, it adds to provider tensions and workload.
There is a significant gap in addressing these challenges, which will only become more important as the Spanish-speaking population in America continues to grow.
## **How Technology Is Improving Healthcare for The Spanish-Speaking Community**
Spanish-speaking patients are witnessing transformation in how American physicians and doctors handle their cases thanks to new technological AI tools. Here's how:
### **Bringing Clarity**
Words and phrases are the heart of dialects. Whether it's Mexican Spanish, Dominican Spanish, Puerto Rican Spanish, Cuban Spanish, or Central American Spanish, each has its own cultural roots. With technology configured for linguistic differences, patients face fewer language barriers, making it easier to comprehend medical prescriptions, treatment plans, prognoses, and other healthcare-related instructions.
### **Building Trust**
A majority of patients trust their providers based upon the dialect/mode of communication used during consultation. When patients feel their language is honored, they reciprocate, making it easier for providers to get crucial details about their health status.
### **Improved Health Outcomes**
Good communication reduces errors and ensures effective recovery. For example, when a patient fully understands their medication prescription, including intake instructions and follow-up requirements, they're more likely to comply, enabling better outcomes.
### **Enhanced Experience for All**
The use of interpreters or technological tools with the correct dialect allows patients to feel at ease instead of frustrated. This means less time spent clarifying misunderstandings and more time providing quality care.
### **Eliminating Disparities In Language Access**
In many regions, finding interpreters who are knowledgeable about required dialects is challenging. Technology can help make communication accessible to more patients regardless of their location.
### **Provision Of Equal Care**
When dialectical differences are acknowledged and addressed by healthcare providers, Spanish-speaking patients can be confident of receiving the same level of care as English-speaking patients. This step toward equity is critical in enhancing relationships and health outcomes.
## **Conclusion: Addressing the Spanish Dialect Gap in Healthcare**
Here in the U.S, Spanish patients tend to struggle to find interpreters that don't have a problem understanding their specific dialect. These slight differences in vocabulary and accent as well with pronunciation can be a huge obstacle in treating patients in the healthcare industry.
Artificial Intelligence tools could be a game-changing solution to this challenge. AI can be trained to understand and translate multiple Spanish dialects simultaneously, helping bridge the communication gap between patients and healthcare providers. With the ability to process different regional variations, accents, and cultural nuances, AI technology could ensure more accurate and culturally sensitive medical communication. This would not only improve patient care but also reduce the strain on human interpreters who may be limited to specific dialects.
## You’d also be interested in…
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Cost & Efficiency
# How to Solve the “One Patient, Multiple Interpreters” Challenge in Healthcare
Move beyond fragmented interpreting with a fully integrated language access model that keeps patients understood from intake to discharge.
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
June 17, 2025
**Updated:**
November 26, 2025
2
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h2\\
\\
What Is the “One Patient, Multiple Interpreters” Problem?](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-to-solve-the-one-patient-multiple-interpreters-challenge-in-healthcare#what-is-the-one-patient-multiple-interpreters-problem)
[h2\\
\\
Current Interpretation Models: Always-On vs. On-Demand](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-to-solve-the-one-patient-multiple-interpreters-challenge-in-healthcare#current-interpretation-models-always-on-vs-on-demand)
[h2\\
\\
A Team-Based Workflow](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-to-solve-the-one-patient-multiple-interpreters-challenge-in-healthcare#a-team-based-workflow)
[h2\\
\\
Embedding Certified Medical Interpreters Into Care Teams](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-to-solve-the-one-patient-multiple-interpreters-challenge-in-healthcare#embedding-certified-medical-interpreters-into-care-teams)
[h2\\
\\
The Future of Healthcare Interpretation: Continuous, Integrated and Patient-Centered](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-to-solve-the-one-patient-multiple-interpreters-challenge-in-healthcare#the-future-of-healthcare-interpretation-continuous-integrated-and-patient-centered)
[h2\\
\\
Learn More from Healthcare Leaders](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-to-solve-the-one-patient-multiple-interpreters-challenge-in-healthcare#learn-more-from-healthcare-leaders)
**Creating Continuous and Seamless Language Access for Patients**
## **What Is the “One Patient, Multiple Interpreters” Problem?**
In many healthcare settings, patients with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) encounter a different medical interpreter at each stage of their visit. From registration and triage to nursing assessments, physician exams, diagnostic testing, specialist consultations, and discharge instructions, interpretation is often treated as a series of isolated transactions rather than a continuous service.
This fragmented approach forces patients to repeat their medical history multiple times, which not only causes frustration but also increases the risk of miscommunication and clinical errors. Furthermore, each time a new interpreter is connected, there is typically a wait time that delays care and disrupts clinical workflows.
## **Current Interpretation Models: Always-On vs. On-Demand**
.jpg)
Hospitals typically rely on one of two interpretation models, each with significant tradeoffs:
- **Always-On Interpretation:** Some hospitals keep an interpreter connected continuously for the duration of the patient’s stay, usually via a dedicated tablet or video device. While this ensures immediate interpreter availability, it is costly and inefficient because interpreters may be idle for long periods.
- **On-Demand Interpretation:** Other hospitals connect interpreters only when needed. This reduces costs but causes patients to interact with different interpreters at every step, resulting in longer wait times and fragmented communication.
While some healthcare teams use smart scheduling—keeping interpreters connected between closely timed provider visits to reduce wait times—this remains a limited workaround rather than a full solution.
## **A Team-Based Workflow**
One emerging solution is **coordinated team-based interpretation**. This model involves bringing all members of the care team together with a single interpreter for a joint session with the patient. By doing so, everyone hears the same information simultaneously, eliminating repeated patient storytelling and reducing interpreter wait times.
Coordinated interpretation improves shared understanding among providers and fosters real-time collaboration. Although this approach requires thoughtful scheduling and coordination, the benefits include significant time savings and a better overall patient experience.
## **Embedding Certified Medical Interpreters Into Care Teams**
Another promising strategy is **training bilingual healthcare staff as certified medical interpreters**. This approach integrates interpretation directly into the care team, removing the need to rely on external interpreters.
Certified staff interpreters bring advantages such as familiarity with clinical workflows, cultural competence, and established trust with patients. This model is especially effective in clinics serving linguistically diverse communities and offers a sustainable, high-quality language access solution.
## **The Future of Healthcare Interpretation: Continuous, Integrated and Patient-Centered**
To eliminate language barriers effectively, healthcare systems must shift from fragmented, transactional interpreting toward continuous and integrated language support. Whether through coordinated team-based sessions or embedding certified interpreters within care teams, language access can become seamless, efficient, and truly patient-centered.
## **Learn More from Healthcare Leaders**
These insights are drawn from frontline healthcare providers and leaders who have shared their experiences on _Care Culture Talks_. To dive deeper into innovative interpretation models and their impact on patient care, listen to episodes featuring:
- [Sam Frenkel, MD](https://www.nobarrier.ai/episodes/seconds-count-dr-sam-frenkels-frontline-perspectives-on-language-barriers-in-emergency-medicine)
- [Louis D. Simmons, MHA, FACHE, CMPE](https://www.nobarrier.ai/episodes/language-access-in-community-centers-improving-care-with-medical-translation-with-louis-d-simmons)
## FAQs
### 1\. Does continuous language access improve operational efficiency?
Yes. Language access reduces repeated interpreter connections, shortens wait times and streamlines clinical workflows.
### 2\. Is the No Barrier solution scalable across multiple clinics or hospital departments?
Yes. It is designed to standardize language access at system level with centralized controls. [Read Case Study](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center) from Community Clinic which deployed No Barrier across more than 30 medical sites.
### 3\. Can we track usage, performance and cost savings in real time?
Yes. CIO dashboards provide visibility into interpreter activity, response times and financial impact. No Barrier allows a 70% average cost reduction.
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
[Twitter icon\\
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Twitter](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-to-solve-the-one-patient-multiple-interpreters-challenge-in-healthcare#) [Facebook icon\\
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[Telegram](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-to-solve-the-one-patient-multiple-interpreters-challenge-in-healthcare#) [Reddit](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-to-solve-the-one-patient-multiple-interpreters-challenge-in-healthcare#)
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# How to Solve the “One Patient, Multiple Interpreters” Challenge in Healthcare
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
June 17, 2025
2
Minute Read
**Creating Continuous and Seamless Language Access for Patients**
## **What Is the “One Patient, Multiple Interpreters” Problem?**
In many healthcare settings, patients with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) encounter a different medical interpreter at each stage of their visit. From registration and triage to nursing assessments, physician exams, diagnostic testing, specialist consultations, and discharge instructions, interpretation is often treated as a series of isolated transactions rather than a continuous service.
This fragmented approach forces patients to repeat their medical history multiple times, which not only causes frustration but also increases the risk of miscommunication and clinical errors. Furthermore, each time a new interpreter is connected, there is typically a wait time that delays care and disrupts clinical workflows.
## **Current Interpretation Models: Always-On vs. On-Demand**
.jpg)
Hospitals typically rely on one of two interpretation models, each with significant tradeoffs:
- **Always-On Interpretation:** Some hospitals keep an interpreter connected continuously for the duration of the patient’s stay, usually via a dedicated tablet or video device. While this ensures immediate interpreter availability, it is costly and inefficient because interpreters may be idle for long periods.
- **On-Demand Interpretation:** Other hospitals connect interpreters only when needed. This reduces costs but causes patients to interact with different interpreters at every step, resulting in longer wait times and fragmented communication.
While some healthcare teams use smart scheduling—keeping interpreters connected between closely timed provider visits to reduce wait times—this remains a limited workaround rather than a full solution.
## **A Team-Based Workflow**
One emerging solution is **coordinated team-based interpretation**. This model involves bringing all members of the care team together with a single interpreter for a joint session with the patient. By doing so, everyone hears the same information simultaneously, eliminating repeated patient storytelling and reducing interpreter wait times.
Coordinated interpretation improves shared understanding among providers and fosters real-time collaboration. Although this approach requires thoughtful scheduling and coordination, the benefits include significant time savings and a better overall patient experience.
## **Embedding Certified Medical Interpreters Into Care Teams**
Another promising strategy is **training bilingual healthcare staff as certified medical interpreters**. This approach integrates interpretation directly into the care team, removing the need to rely on external interpreters.
Certified staff interpreters bring advantages such as familiarity with clinical workflows, cultural competence, and established trust with patients. This model is especially effective in clinics serving linguistically diverse communities and offers a sustainable, high-quality language access solution.
## **The Future of Healthcare Interpretation: Continuous, Integrated and Patient-Centered**
To eliminate language barriers effectively, healthcare systems must shift from fragmented, transactional interpreting toward continuous and integrated language support. Whether through coordinated team-based sessions or embedding certified interpreters within care teams, language access can become seamless, efficient, and truly patient-centered.
## **Learn More from Healthcare Leaders**
These insights are drawn from frontline healthcare providers and leaders who have shared their experiences on _Care Culture Talks_. To dive deeper into innovative interpretation models and their impact on patient care, listen to episodes featuring:
- [Sam Frenkel, MD](https://www.nobarrier.ai/episodes/seconds-count-dr-sam-frenkels-frontline-perspectives-on-language-barriers-in-emergency-medicine)
- [Louis D. Simmons, MHA, FACHE, CMPE](https://www.nobarrier.ai/episodes/language-access-in-community-centers-improving-care-with-medical-translation-with-louis-d-simmons)
## You’d also be interested in…
[**Optimizing Patient Flow: ER Operations Win Minutes with Tech** \\
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Crowding in the ER isn’t random; it’s governed by math. Little’s Law: patients in system = arrival rate × time. Reduce time in the system, reduce the queue.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/patient-flow-ops)
[**6 Medical Translation Challenges Patients Face With Interpreters** \\
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October 17, 2025\\
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Language barriers make healthcare hard, but better interpreter services and clear communication can help patients get better care.\\
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**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-medical-translation-challenges-patients-face-with-interpreters)
[**6 Big Problems in Medical Interpretation: What Healthcare Providers Tell Us** \\
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Cost & Efficiency\\
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October 17, 2025\\
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5\\
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Hospitals risk liability when medical translation fails. Gricelda Zamora’s case shows how missed interpretation can breach ACA 1557 making language access vital for safety and ROI.\\
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**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-big-problems-in-medical-interpretation-what-healthcare-providers-tell-us)
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-to-solve-the-one-patient-multiple-interpreters-challenge-in-healthcare#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Language Barriers in Healthcare
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
Industry Insights & Trends
# Language as a Social Determinant of Health: Addressing Inequities for LEP Patients
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
October 28, 2024
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
4
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h2\\
\\
Insights on Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) and Limited English Proficiency (LEP)](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/language-as-a-social-determinant-of-health-addressing-inequities-for-lep-patients#insights-on-social-determinants-of-health-sdoh-and-limited-english-proficiency-lep)
[h3\\
\\
What Are Social Determinants of Health?](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/language-as-a-social-determinant-of-health-addressing-inequities-for-lep-patients#what-are-social-determinants-of-health)
[h3\\
\\
The LEP Population: Challenges and Vulnerabilities](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/language-as-a-social-determinant-of-health-addressing-inequities-for-lep-patients#the-lep-population-challenges-and-vulnerabilities)
[h4\\
\\
Hard Facts and Statistics: Healthcare Disparities Among LEP Populations](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/language-as-a-social-determinant-of-health-addressing-inequities-for-lep-patients#hard-facts-and-statistics-healthcare-disparities-among-lep-populations)
[h4\\
\\
Ambulatory Care Access](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/language-as-a-social-determinant-of-health-addressing-inequities-for-lep-patients#ambulatory-care-access)
[h4\\
\\
Hospital Care and Emergency Services](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/language-as-a-social-determinant-of-health-addressing-inequities-for-lep-patients#hospital-care-and-emergency-services)
[h4\\
\\
Preventive Care and Screening](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/language-as-a-social-determinant-of-health-addressing-inequities-for-lep-patients#preventive-care-and-screening)
[h4\\
\\
Critical Care Outcomes](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/language-as-a-social-determinant-of-health-addressing-inequities-for-lep-patients#critical-care-outcomes)
[h4\\
\\
Specific Medical Conditions](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/language-as-a-social-determinant-of-health-addressing-inequities-for-lep-patients#specific-medical-conditions)
[h4\\
\\
Economic Impact and Healthcare Utilization](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/language-as-a-social-determinant-of-health-addressing-inequities-for-lep-patients#economic-impact-and-healthcare-utilization)
[h3\\
\\
Bridging the Chasm: How New Technologies Fit In](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/language-as-a-social-determinant-of-health-addressing-inequities-for-lep-patients#bridging-the-chasm-how-new-technologies-fit-in)
[h3\\
\\
Final Thoughts](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/language-as-a-social-determinant-of-health-addressing-inequities-for-lep-patients#final-thoughts)
## Insights on Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) and Limited English Proficiency (LEP)
Social determinants of health (SDOH) are more easily identified as one views the healthcare disparities common among limited English proficient (LEP) individuals. Addressing these inequalities requires an understanding of the language barrier and other areas of social disadvantage which determine health outcomes. This overview draws on insights from recent resources about how language barriers affect the health of individuals with different disorders in several ways.
### What Are Social Determinants of Health?
These are broad factors that are not directly health-related, which include:
- Socioeconomic status
- Education level
- Access to health care
- Neighborhood and environmental factors
- Availability of community-based resources
These factors are of great importance, sometimes even more important than medical treatment. For at-risk populations like LEP individuals, these determinants play a significant role.
### The LEP Population: Challenges and Vulnerabilities
Low English proficiency individuals face barriers that make it difficult to attain better quality health care. Such barriers are equally driven by other social deficiencies like lack of adequate housing, low educational levels, and public benefit cutoffs which combine to increase health gaps.
#### Hard Facts and Statistics: Healthcare Disparities Among LEP Populations
Here are just a **few examples** of poor health outcomes among LEP populations.
#### Ambulatory Care Access
- LEP patients are significantly less likely to have a regular source of care compared to English-proficient (EP) counterparts.
- EP individuals consistently show higher rates of physician visits.
- Hispanic LEP individuals spend $1,463 less on medical care compared to Hispanic EP counterparts and $2,802 less than non-Hispanic EP individuals.
- LEP patients are more likely to forgo necessary medical care and less likely to receive preventive care.
#### Hospital Care and Emergency Services
- LEP patients experience significantly longer hospital stays, particularly in palliative care and total joint arthroplasty cases.
- LEP status correlates with increased hospital length of stay for traumatic injuries.
- LEP patients show higher odds of ED visits in the last 30 and 180 days of life.
- Higher 30-day readmission rates within the last 90 and 180 days of life.
- LEP patients are more likely to be admitted upon visiting the emergency department.
#### Preventive Care and Screening
Adults aged 18-64 years with LEP are more likely to:
- Have delayed blood pressure checks (more than a year ago or never).
- Be overdue for cholesterol screening (more than 5 years ago or never).
- Miss timely pap-smear tests.
- Be overdue for colorectal cancer screening.
- Miss annual flu vaccinations.
#### Critical Care Outcomes
- Higher ICU admission rates (82.0% vs. 52.8% for EP patients).
- Higher ICU mortality rates (61.8% vs. 35.1% for EP patients).
- Increased CPR administration (10.1% vs. 3.6% for EP patients).
- Higher rates of mechanical ventilation or ECMO (82.2% vs. 61.8% for EP patients).
#### Specific Medical Conditions
- Increased rates of traumatic brain injury compared to EP patients.
- Longer hospital stays for various conditions.
- Higher likelihood of discharge to skilled nursing facilities or with home health services.
- Lower rates of advance care planning documentation.
- Higher odds of in-hospital death.
#### Economic Impact and Healthcare Utilization
- LEP patients tend to have $1,463 less in annual medical expenditures compared to EP patients.
- The LEP population is three times more likely to be uninsured.
- Higher rates of delayed or foregone care due to cost barriers.
- Increased likelihood of emergency department utilization for primary care needs.
### Bridging the Chasm: How New Technologies Fit In
Addressing the disparities faced by LEP populations requires improved language access within the healthcare system. AI technologies, such as translation tools and smart health apps, can enhance communication, enabling healthcare institutions to provide more effective and equitable care for all patients.
### Final Thoughts
The statistics paint a clear picture: LEP patients face significant barriers in accessing healthcare services, leading to poorer health outcomes across multiple dimensions of care. From delayed preventive services to increased mortality rates, the impact of language barriers extends far beyond simple communication challenges. Addressing these disparities requires a comprehensive approach that combines improved language access with targeted interventions to address social determinants of health. Only through such coordinated efforts can we hope to achieve true health equity for all populations.
**_Resources:_**
1. _The Impact of Limited English Proficiency on Healthcare Access and Outcomes in the U.S.: A Scoping Review -_ [_here_](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10855368/pdf/healthcare-12-00364.pdf) __
2. _Examination of social determinants of health among patients with limited English proficiency -_ [_here_](https://bmcresnotes.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13104-021-05720-7)
## FAQs
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
[Twitter icon\\
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[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# Language as a Social Determinant of Health: Addressing Inequities for LEP Patients
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
October 28, 2024
4
Minute Read
## Insights on Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) and Limited English Proficiency (LEP)
Social determinants of health (SDOH) are more easily identified as one views the healthcare disparities common among limited English proficient (LEP) individuals. Addressing these inequalities requires an understanding of the language barrier and other areas of social disadvantage which determine health outcomes. This overview draws on insights from recent resources about how language barriers affect the health of individuals with different disorders in several ways.
### What Are Social Determinants of Health?
These are broad factors that are not directly health-related, which include:
- Socioeconomic status
- Education level
- Access to health care
- Neighborhood and environmental factors
- Availability of community-based resources
These factors are of great importance, sometimes even more important than medical treatment. For at-risk populations like LEP individuals, these determinants play a significant role.
### The LEP Population: Challenges and Vulnerabilities
Low English proficiency individuals face barriers that make it difficult to attain better quality health care. Such barriers are equally driven by other social deficiencies like lack of adequate housing, low educational levels, and public benefit cutoffs which combine to increase health gaps.
#### Hard Facts and Statistics: Healthcare Disparities Among LEP Populations
Here are just a **few examples** of poor health outcomes among LEP populations.
#### Ambulatory Care Access
- LEP patients are significantly less likely to have a regular source of care compared to English-proficient (EP) counterparts.
- EP individuals consistently show higher rates of physician visits.
- Hispanic LEP individuals spend $1,463 less on medical care compared to Hispanic EP counterparts and $2,802 less than non-Hispanic EP individuals.
- LEP patients are more likely to forgo necessary medical care and less likely to receive preventive care.
#### Hospital Care and Emergency Services
- LEP patients experience significantly longer hospital stays, particularly in palliative care and total joint arthroplasty cases.
- LEP status correlates with increased hospital length of stay for traumatic injuries.
- LEP patients show higher odds of ED visits in the last 30 and 180 days of life.
- Higher 30-day readmission rates within the last 90 and 180 days of life.
- LEP patients are more likely to be admitted upon visiting the emergency department.
#### Preventive Care and Screening
Adults aged 18-64 years with LEP are more likely to:
- Have delayed blood pressure checks (more than a year ago or never).
- Be overdue for cholesterol screening (more than 5 years ago or never).
- Miss timely pap-smear tests.
- Be overdue for colorectal cancer screening.
- Miss annual flu vaccinations.
#### Critical Care Outcomes
- Higher ICU admission rates (82.0% vs. 52.8% for EP patients).
- Higher ICU mortality rates (61.8% vs. 35.1% for EP patients).
- Increased CPR administration (10.1% vs. 3.6% for EP patients).
- Higher rates of mechanical ventilation or ECMO (82.2% vs. 61.8% for EP patients).
#### Specific Medical Conditions
- Increased rates of traumatic brain injury compared to EP patients.
- Longer hospital stays for various conditions.
- Higher likelihood of discharge to skilled nursing facilities or with home health services.
- Lower rates of advance care planning documentation.
- Higher odds of in-hospital death.
#### Economic Impact and Healthcare Utilization
- LEP patients tend to have $1,463 less in annual medical expenditures compared to EP patients.
- The LEP population is three times more likely to be uninsured.
- Higher rates of delayed or foregone care due to cost barriers.
- Increased likelihood of emergency department utilization for primary care needs.
### Bridging the Chasm: How New Technologies Fit In
Addressing the disparities faced by LEP populations requires improved language access within the healthcare system. AI technologies, such as translation tools and smart health apps, can enhance communication, enabling healthcare institutions to provide more effective and equitable care for all patients.
### Final Thoughts
The statistics paint a clear picture: LEP patients face significant barriers in accessing healthcare services, leading to poorer health outcomes across multiple dimensions of care. From delayed preventive services to increased mortality rates, the impact of language barriers extends far beyond simple communication challenges. Addressing these disparities requires a comprehensive approach that combines improved language access with targeted interventions to address social determinants of health. Only through such coordinated efforts can we hope to achieve true health equity for all populations.
**_Resources:_**
1. _The Impact of Limited English Proficiency on Healthcare Access and Outcomes in the U.S.: A Scoping Review -_ [_here_](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10855368/pdf/healthcare-12-00364.pdf) __
2. _Examination of social determinants of health among patients with limited English proficiency -_ [_here_](https://bmcresnotes.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13104-021-05720-7)
## You’d also be interested in…
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Cultural competence in healthcare improves trust and outcomes. Understanding cultural differences, using interpreters, respecting beliefs, and involving families ensures effective, inclusive care.\\
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**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/best-practices-for-treating-patients-from-different-cultures)
[**The Intersection of Low Health Literacy and Limited English Proficiency in Healthcare** \\
\\
Industry Insights & Trends\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
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4\\
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Low health literacy and limited English proficiency create major healthcare barriers for millions of Americans, requiring innovative solutions to improve patient understanding.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-intersection-of-low-health-literacy-and-limited-english-proficiency-in-healthcare)
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/language-as-a-social-determinant-of-health-addressing-inequities-for-lep-patients#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## AI in Medical Interpreting
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
AI & Technology in Healthcare Interpretation
# Medical Interpreter - Human vs AI: The Memory Aspect
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
September 11, 2024
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
2
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h2\\
\\
Example H2](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreter---human-vs-ai-the-memory-aspect#)
As medical interpreting technology emerges, some clear advantages arise, such as cost reduction and 24/7 accessibility. However, there are some more interesting factors that put AI in a positive light, which come down to some basic differences between machines and humans that can play a vital role in medical interpreting domain.
1. **Ability to "remember" medical jargon**
Even an experienced medical interpreter, who encounters various situations while facilitating communication, cannot master the full medical jargon of every specialty, procedure, medicine, diagnosis, etc. Imagine medical terminology with 200,000 words that also need to be translated. One of the points providers mentioned to us is the lack of quality consistency between different interpreters. In contrast, a machine's capability to "store" vast amounts of data is one of its basic advantages over humans.
2. **Ability to process long dialogue acts**
One of the issues providers mentioned in our user interviews is the need to "feed" the interpreter with sentences slowly. For example, imagine a doctor needs to explain something for 2 minutes about a procedure, its properties, protocols, risks, and other relevant information. It's almost impossible for the average medical interpreter to process a 2-minute chunk and precisely translate it into another language. Providers mentioned that in those sections, there were many instances of "Can you repeat, please?" from the medical interpreters. For machines, this is easy – a different aspect of "memory," including processing. The ability to have more natural conversations where providers and patients don't need to limit their dialogue acts and can speak freely streamlines the conversations and makes them more effective.
3. **Ability to work across many languages**
Even a multilingual person who speaks five languages has limitations – not all languages are at the same level, and there are many others they won't cover. This means more resources are needed to cover a wide range of languages. In that sense, a machine can handle dozens of languages at once.
**To summarize**: Like in many other fields, in the medical interpreting domain, technology has some clear advantages over humans when it comes to "processing data" and the required memory for that action.
## FAQs
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
[Twitter icon\\
\\
Twitter](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreter---human-vs-ai-the-memory-aspect#) [Facebook icon\\
\\
Facebook](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreter---human-vs-ai-the-memory-aspect#) [Pinterest](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreter---human-vs-ai-the-memory-aspect#) [LinkedIn icon\\
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Linkedin](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreter---human-vs-ai-the-memory-aspect#) [Linkedin](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreter---human-vs-ai-the-memory-aspect#)
[Telegram](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreter---human-vs-ai-the-memory-aspect#) [Reddit](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreter---human-vs-ai-the-memory-aspect#)
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# Medical Interpreter - Human vs AI: The Memory Aspect
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
September 11, 2024
2
Minute Read
As medical interpreting technology emerges, some clear advantages arise, such as cost reduction and 24/7 accessibility. However, there are some more interesting factors that put AI in a positive light, which come down to some basic differences between machines and humans that can play a vital role in medical interpreting domain.
1. **Ability to "remember" medical jargon**
Even an experienced medical interpreter, who encounters various situations while facilitating communication, cannot master the full medical jargon of every specialty, procedure, medicine, diagnosis, etc. Imagine medical terminology with 200,000 words that also need to be translated. One of the points providers mentioned to us is the lack of quality consistency between different interpreters. In contrast, a machine's capability to "store" vast amounts of data is one of its basic advantages over humans.
2. **Ability to process long dialogue acts**
One of the issues providers mentioned in our user interviews is the need to "feed" the interpreter with sentences slowly. For example, imagine a doctor needs to explain something for 2 minutes about a procedure, its properties, protocols, risks, and other relevant information. It's almost impossible for the average medical interpreter to process a 2-minute chunk and precisely translate it into another language. Providers mentioned that in those sections, there were many instances of "Can you repeat, please?" from the medical interpreters. For machines, this is easy – a different aspect of "memory," including processing. The ability to have more natural conversations where providers and patients don't need to limit their dialogue acts and can speak freely streamlines the conversations and makes them more effective.
3. **Ability to work across many languages**
Even a multilingual person who speaks five languages has limitations – not all languages are at the same level, and there are many others they won't cover. This means more resources are needed to cover a wide range of languages. In that sense, a machine can handle dozens of languages at once.
**To summarize**: Like in many other fields, in the medical interpreting domain, technology has some clear advantages over humans when it comes to "processing data" and the required memory for that action.
## You’d also be interested in…
[**No Barrier Raises $2.7M to Remove Language Barriers in Healthcare** \\
\\
AI & Technology in Healthcare Interpretation\\
\\
November 18, 2025\\
\\
3\\
\\
min read\\
\\
No Barrier secures $2.7M to scale instant AI medical interpretation that strengthens safety. cuts costs. and improves patient communication.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[**What Clinicians Really Think About Interpreters (And What AI Can Fix)** \\
\\
AI & Technology in Healthcare Interpretation\\
\\
November 10, 2025\\
\\
6\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Clinicians across the U.S. share real frustrations with language barriers in care. AI interpretation offers faster, more accurate, and culturally sensitive solutions.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/what-clinicians-really-think-about-interpreters)
[**AI in Medical Translation: Capabilities and Limitations** \\
\\
AI & Technology in Healthcare Interpretation\\
\\
October 9, 2025\\
\\
6\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Medical Translation in the AI Era: Understanding the Possibilities and Boundaries\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/ai-in-medical-translation-capabilities-and-limitations)
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreter---human-vs-ai-the-memory-aspect#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Medical Interpreter Underutilization
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
Cost & Efficiency
# Medical Interpreter Underutilization: Understanding the Gap
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
December 24, 2024
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
4
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h2\\
\\
The Evidence of the Underutilization of Interpreters is Broader Than Comprehend](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreter-underutilization-understanding-the-gap#the-evidence-of-the-underutilization-of-interpreters-is-broader-than-comprehend)
[h2\\
\\
Getting to The Bottom of the Issues](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreter-underutilization-understanding-the-gap#getting-to-the-bottom-of-the-issues)
[h3\\
\\
Workflow Time Consideration](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreter-underutilization-understanding-the-gap#workflow-time-consideration)
[h3\\
\\
Accessibility and Availability](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreter-underutilization-understanding-the-gap#accessibility-and-availability)
[h3\\
\\
Technical Infrastructure](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreter-underutilization-understanding-the-gap#technical-infrastructure)
[h3\\
\\
Providers' Awareness](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreter-underutilization-understanding-the-gap#providers-awareness)
[h3\\
\\
Cultural and Organizational Barriers](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreter-underutilization-understanding-the-gap#cultural-and-organizational-barriers)
[h2\\
\\
The Cost of Underutilization](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreter-underutilization-understanding-the-gap#the-cost-of-underutilization)
[h2\\
\\
Can we get to 100% Utilization?](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreter-underutilization-understanding-the-gap#can-we-get-to-100percent-utilization)
Medical interpreters stand out to be critical players as they promote the delivery of appropriate medical care to patients diagnosed with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) patients; however as much as they play this critical role healthcare services fail to fully utilize them. This not only results in the inability to deliver ideal quality care to patients but also raises grave questions in relation to providing equal opportunity to access healthcare resources and the safety of these patients.
## The Evidence of the Underutilization of Interpreters is Broader Than Comprehend
Numerous literature has confirmed that patients who are LEP have always been deemed to have, for the lack of better word, been a challenge for the healthcare services, however the issue relates to the effective deployment and utilization of interpreters. Many of the patients' appointments have not witnessed the presence of interpreters, however they are still recorded as having an interpreter during the appointment. Moreover, there is ample evidence to suggest that providers are known to use the interpreters only on a handful of occasions.
As highlighted by the 2023 Canadian study highlighted, it was found that out of a total sample of 37000 visits from patients who are deemed to be LEP, only 0.31% utilized language interpretation services. These findings are not confined to Canada only as they have been recorded in other nations such as US and UK where a majority of LEP patients have not been able to effectively communicate.
Such figures become more worrisome when we focus on particular health care sectors. A 2021 publication in Pediatrics which studied the use of interpreters recalls a 2021 view of an inner city children's hospital:
- 91.8% of healthcare personnel admitted that at one point they would provide care to limited English proficient (LEP) families without an interpreter being present
- Only 0.7% of providers said that they used interpreters in all clinical situations
- Interpreters were used 'infrequently' for regular checks in almost 79% of the cases
## Getting to The Bottom of the Issues
### Workflow Time Consideration
Even when providers are aware of interpretation services, they face significant time pressures. The time needed to achieve the required interpretation services seems to be a deterrent to normal usage particularly when carried out in everyday clinics.
### Accessibility and Availability
The study showed that there is a problem with interpreter gap especially during specific time periods and for some languages. In the words of one provider, "It is difficult to get interpreters for languages other than Spanish outside of daytime hours." As a result, some LEP patients receive an unequal opportunity of access to the language services than others.
### Technical Infrastructure
Technology, which is meant to provide more access to interpretation services, becomes a hindrance in the first place. The study reveals that "Both the interpreting computers as well as interpreting phones we currently use almost never work." Such unreliability may cause providers to look for hazardous options such as interpreters during the daytime who happen to be family members or even children which alters the intended objective of the service provisioning.
### Providers' Awareness
A fundamental barrier to interpreter use is awareness. According to the Canadian study, 80% of providers who never used the interpretation services simply did not know there was such a service despite seeing LEP patients. This is the ideal space where improvements can be made through more efficient provider training and onboarding.
### Cultural and Organizational Barriers
Of lamentation is the increasing trend of LEP patients to be provided with inadequate medical care. The research also revealed concerning practices such as rounding where LEP families are not included. One healthcare aide commented as follows "Physicians will round outside of the room and not include the family sometimes." Such systematic exclusion suggests that there are other organizational cultural problems that need to be solved.
## The Cost of Underutilization
Efforts made to properly leverage the interpretation services are guaranteed to yield positive outcomes, but the same cannot be said for their absence. The consequences of such issues are manifold:
- Greater Rate of Admission and Readmission To The Hospitals
- Overcrowding and Raised Pressure in Emergency Departments
- An Increasing Likelihood of Ever Surviving an Adverse Medication Reaction
- Recommended Diagnostic Tests Are Not At All Provided in Certain Situations
- The Chances of Being Discharged Without Any Follow Up Are Higher
- Overall lower patient experience or dissatisfaction
## Can we get to 100% Utilization?
Today's interpretation solutions face several barriers, which actually many times encourage providers to "get by" and find other ad-hoc solutions on the frontline (family member, bilingual peer, hand gestures). The current landscape of interpretation services, while well-intentioned, often pushes healthcare providers toward risky workarounds.
New technological advancements, like No Barrier, will become more and more spread in 2025 to facilitate immediate, real-time communication between providers and LEP patients - by facing the current solutions challenges - of workflow burden, need for speed and high and accurate medical communication. These emerging solutions promise to:
- Eliminate wait times through instant access
- Integrate seamlessly into existing clinical workflows
- Provide consistent, high-quality medical interpretation
- Support a broader range of languages 24/7
- Make every provider linguistically autonomous
While achieving 100% utilization requires both technological innovation and cultural change, new solutions that remove barriers rather than create them could finally make universal language access a reality in healthcare settings. The key is ensuring these solutions enhance rather than complicate the provider-patient relationship, making interpretation the easiest choice rather than a burdensome requirement.
**References**
- Addressing Health Inequities for Limited English Proficiency Patients: Interpreter Use and Beyond - here
- Interpretation Services in a Canadian Emergency Department: How Often Are They Utilized for Patients With Limited English Proficiency? [_here_](https://www.cureus.com/articles/124389-interpretation-services-in-a-canadian-emergency-department-how-often-are-they-utilized-for-patients-with-limited-english-proficiency#!/)
## FAQs
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
[Twitter icon\\
\\
Twitter](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreter-underutilization-understanding-the-gap#) [Facebook icon\\
\\
Facebook](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreter-underutilization-understanding-the-gap#) [Pinterest](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreter-underutilization-understanding-the-gap#) [LinkedIn icon\\
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Linkedin](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreter-underutilization-understanding-the-gap#) [Linkedin](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreter-underutilization-understanding-the-gap#)
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[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# Medical Interpreter Underutilization: Understanding the Gap
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
December 24, 2024
4
Minute Read
Medical interpreters stand out to be critical players as they promote the delivery of appropriate medical care to patients diagnosed with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) patients; however as much as they play this critical role healthcare services fail to fully utilize them. This not only results in the inability to deliver ideal quality care to patients but also raises grave questions in relation to providing equal opportunity to access healthcare resources and the safety of these patients.
## The Evidence of the Underutilization of Interpreters is Broader Than Comprehend
Numerous literature has confirmed that patients who are LEP have always been deemed to have, for the lack of better word, been a challenge for the healthcare services, however the issue relates to the effective deployment and utilization of interpreters. Many of the patients' appointments have not witnessed the presence of interpreters, however they are still recorded as having an interpreter during the appointment. Moreover, there is ample evidence to suggest that providers are known to use the interpreters only on a handful of occasions.
As highlighted by the 2023 Canadian study highlighted, it was found that out of a total sample of 37000 visits from patients who are deemed to be LEP, only 0.31% utilized language interpretation services. These findings are not confined to Canada only as they have been recorded in other nations such as US and UK where a majority of LEP patients have not been able to effectively communicate.
Such figures become more worrisome when we focus on particular health care sectors. A 2021 publication in Pediatrics which studied the use of interpreters recalls a 2021 view of an inner city children's hospital:
- 91.8% of healthcare personnel admitted that at one point they would provide care to limited English proficient (LEP) families without an interpreter being present
- Only 0.7% of providers said that they used interpreters in all clinical situations
- Interpreters were used 'infrequently' for regular checks in almost 79% of the cases
## Getting to The Bottom of the Issues
### Workflow Time Consideration
Even when providers are aware of interpretation services, they face significant time pressures. The time needed to achieve the required interpretation services seems to be a deterrent to normal usage particularly when carried out in everyday clinics.
### Accessibility and Availability
The study showed that there is a problem with interpreter gap especially during specific time periods and for some languages. In the words of one provider, "It is difficult to get interpreters for languages other than Spanish outside of daytime hours." As a result, some LEP patients receive an unequal opportunity of access to the language services than others.
### Technical Infrastructure
Technology, which is meant to provide more access to interpretation services, becomes a hindrance in the first place. The study reveals that "Both the interpreting computers as well as interpreting phones we currently use almost never work." Such unreliability may cause providers to look for hazardous options such as interpreters during the daytime who happen to be family members or even children which alters the intended objective of the service provisioning.
### Providers' Awareness
A fundamental barrier to interpreter use is awareness. According to the Canadian study, 80% of providers who never used the interpretation services simply did not know there was such a service despite seeing LEP patients. This is the ideal space where improvements can be made through more efficient provider training and onboarding.
### Cultural and Organizational Barriers
Of lamentation is the increasing trend of LEP patients to be provided with inadequate medical care. The research also revealed concerning practices such as rounding where LEP families are not included. One healthcare aide commented as follows "Physicians will round outside of the room and not include the family sometimes." Such systematic exclusion suggests that there are other organizational cultural problems that need to be solved.
## The Cost of Underutilization
Efforts made to properly leverage the interpretation services are guaranteed to yield positive outcomes, but the same cannot be said for their absence. The consequences of such issues are manifold:
- Greater Rate of Admission and Readmission To The Hospitals
- Overcrowding and Raised Pressure in Emergency Departments
- An Increasing Likelihood of Ever Surviving an Adverse Medication Reaction
- Recommended Diagnostic Tests Are Not At All Provided in Certain Situations
- The Chances of Being Discharged Without Any Follow Up Are Higher
- Overall lower patient experience or dissatisfaction
## Can we get to 100% Utilization?
Today's interpretation solutions face several barriers, which actually many times encourage providers to "get by" and find other ad-hoc solutions on the frontline (family member, bilingual peer, hand gestures). The current landscape of interpretation services, while well-intentioned, often pushes healthcare providers toward risky workarounds.
New technological advancements, like No Barrier, will become more and more spread in 2025 to facilitate immediate, real-time communication between providers and LEP patients - by facing the current solutions challenges - of workflow burden, need for speed and high and accurate medical communication. These emerging solutions promise to:
- Eliminate wait times through instant access
- Integrate seamlessly into existing clinical workflows
- Provide consistent, high-quality medical interpretation
- Support a broader range of languages 24/7
- Make every provider linguistically autonomous
While achieving 100% utilization requires both technological innovation and cultural change, new solutions that remove barriers rather than create them could finally make universal language access a reality in healthcare settings. The key is ensuring these solutions enhance rather than complicate the provider-patient relationship, making interpretation the easiest choice rather than a burdensome requirement.
**References**
- Addressing Health Inequities for Limited English Proficiency Patients: Interpreter Use and Beyond - here
- Interpretation Services in a Canadian Emergency Department: How Often Are They Utilized for Patients With Limited English Proficiency? [_here_](https://www.cureus.com/articles/124389-interpretation-services-in-a-canadian-emergency-department-how-often-are-they-utilized-for-patients-with-limited-english-proficiency#!/)
## You’d also be interested in…
[**Optimizing Patient Flow: ER Operations Win Minutes with Tech** \\
\\
Cost & Efficiency\\
\\
September 28, 2025\\
\\
6\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Crowding in the ER isn’t random; it’s governed by math. Little’s Law: patients in system = arrival rate × time. Reduce time in the system, reduce the queue.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/patient-flow-ops)
[**How to Solve the “One Patient, Multiple Interpreters” Challenge in Healthcare** \\
\\
Cost & Efficiency\\
\\
November 26, 2025\\
\\
2\\
\\
min read\\
\\
LEP patients face fragmented care. Integrated interpreter models create smoother, patient-centered communication.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-to-solve-the-one-patient-multiple-interpreters-challenge-in-healthcare)
[**6 Medical Translation Challenges Patients Face With Interpreters** \\
\\
Cost & Efficiency\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Language barriers make healthcare hard, but better interpreter services and clear communication can help patients get better care.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-medical-translation-challenges-patients-face-with-interpreters)
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreter-underutilization-understanding-the-gap#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Medical Interpreting Reimbursement
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
Compliance & Risk (HIPAA, Legal, Safety)
# Medical Interpreting - Reimbursement State
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
July 29, 2024
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
2
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h3\\
\\
Medicaid Reimbursements](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreting-reimbursement-state#medicaid-reimbursements)
Legally - healthcare institutions must pay for language services. In some cases there are imbursement paths.
When billing for interpreter services, the assistance should be billed under [T1013](https://hcpcs.codes/t-codes/T1013/) sign language or oral interpretive services, per 15 minutes.
However - in practice, there’s almost no reimbursement on that part of care. Let’s dive into the details.
There are very limited sources of third party funding for interpreters according to one study (1). According to this study it seems like most funding for language services comes from general revenues. And it seems that most commercial insurers are reluctant to reimburse providers for language services.
### **Medicaid Reimbursements**
Some states cover the cost of [language services for Medicaid patients](https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/financial-management/medicaid-administrative-claiming/translation-and-interpretation-services/index.html) as part of the underlying cost of the direct medical service, and will reimburse the cost of a medical interpreter as a result.
Currently, there are 14 states and 1 district that offer reimbursements for this service, including Connecticut, District of Columbia, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, Texas (only sign language), Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wyoming.
Regardless of whether your state offers reimbursement, it's important to keep in mind that all providers must offer language services to anyone who needs it.
In states that do reimburse for the service, providers can claim an administrative match for 50% to 75% of translation and interpretation "claimed as an administrative expense" if they are not already reimbursed as part of the direct service rates. The specific matching rate available depends on your state's policies.
**Bottom line** \- given that the chances that the medical interpreting cost would be the burden of the healthcare institution - there is a need to find more cost-effective solutions for language accessibility, and tech-enabled, AI-driven solutions would probably be the most scaled and available ones.
Resources:
[2023](https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/article/882031) \- The Use of Interpreters in Health Centers
## FAQs
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
[Twitter icon\\
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Twitter](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreting-reimbursement-state#) [Facebook icon\\
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Facebook](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreting-reimbursement-state#) [Pinterest](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreting-reimbursement-state#) [LinkedIn icon\\
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Linkedin](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreting-reimbursement-state#) [Linkedin](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreting-reimbursement-state#)
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[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# Medical Interpreting - Reimbursement State
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
July 29, 2024
2
Minute Read
Legally - healthcare institutions must pay for language services. In some cases there are imbursement paths.
When billing for interpreter services, the assistance should be billed under [T1013](https://hcpcs.codes/t-codes/T1013/) sign language or oral interpretive services, per 15 minutes.
However - in practice, there’s almost no reimbursement on that part of care. Let’s dive into the details.
There are very limited sources of third party funding for interpreters according to one study (1). According to this study it seems like most funding for language services comes from general revenues. And it seems that most commercial insurers are reluctant to reimburse providers for language services.
### **Medicaid Reimbursements**
Some states cover the cost of [language services for Medicaid patients](https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/financial-management/medicaid-administrative-claiming/translation-and-interpretation-services/index.html) as part of the underlying cost of the direct medical service, and will reimburse the cost of a medical interpreter as a result.
Currently, there are 14 states and 1 district that offer reimbursements for this service, including Connecticut, District of Columbia, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, Texas (only sign language), Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wyoming.
Regardless of whether your state offers reimbursement, it's important to keep in mind that all providers must offer language services to anyone who needs it.
In states that do reimburse for the service, providers can claim an administrative match for 50% to 75% of translation and interpretation "claimed as an administrative expense" if they are not already reimbursed as part of the direct service rates. The specific matching rate available depends on your state's policies.
**Bottom line** \- given that the chances that the medical interpreting cost would be the burden of the healthcare institution - there is a need to find more cost-effective solutions for language accessibility, and tech-enabled, AI-driven solutions would probably be the most scaled and available ones.
Resources:
[2023](https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/article/882031) \- The Use of Interpreters in Health Centers
## You’d also be interested in…
[**The Executive Checklist for Choosing Your Next AI Interpreter Vendor** \\
\\
Compliance & Risk (HIPAA, Legal, Safety)\\
\\
October 9, 2025\\
\\
7\\
\\
min read\\
\\
A concise, compliance-first checklist for healthcare leaders to evaluate AI interpreter vendors on HIPAA alignment, accuracy, ROI and patient experience before signing a contract.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-executive-checklist-for-choosing-your-next-ai-interpreter-vendor)
[**Is Google Translate HIPAA Compliant? What Every Hospital Needs to Know** \\
\\
Compliance & Risk (HIPAA, Legal, Safety)\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
2\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Google Translate is not HIPAA compliant. No BAAs, encryption or audit controls. Using it in healthcare creates compliance, safety and legal risks. \\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/google-translate-risks)
[**Could Your Bilingual Staff Double as Certified Medical Interpreters? Answers to Your Questions** \\
\\
Compliance & Risk (HIPAA, Legal, Safety)\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
3\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Exploring practical considerations for healthcare organizations when certifying bilingual staff as medical interpreters.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/could-your-bilingual-staff-double-as-certified-medical-interpreters-answers-to-your-questions)
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/medical-interpreting-reimbursement-state#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## No Barrier Funding Announcement
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
AI & Technology in Healthcare Interpretation
# No Barrier Raises $2.7M to Remove Language Barriers in Healthcare
No Barrier secures $2.7M to scale instant AI medical interpretation that strengthens compliance, reduces costs and improves communication across every step of patient care.
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
November 18, 2025
**Updated:**
November 18, 2025
3
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h2\\
\\
Our Mission: A Human Story of Connection](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding#our-mission-a-human-story-of-connection)
[h3\\
\\
How 15 Years of Voice AI Became a Mission for Healthcare Equity](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding#how-15-years-of-voice-ai-became-a-mission-for-healthcare-equity)
[h2\\
\\
Why We Built No Barrier](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding#why-we-built-no-barrier)
[h2\\
\\
Announcement: Our $2.7M Seed Round](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding#announcement-our-dollar27m-seed-round)
[h2\\
\\
Bringing AI Interpretation to Every Moment of Care](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding#bringing-ai-interpretation-to-every-moment-of-care)
[h2\\
\\
Key Takeaways for Healthcare Leaders](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding#key-takeaways-for-healthcare-leaders)
Born from years of friendship, technology and purpose, we’re building AI medical interpretation so language never decides the quality of care someone receives.
## **Our Mission: A Human Story of Connection**
### **How 15 Years of Voice AI Became a Mission for Healthcare Equity**
Our story began in 2010. The three of us, Eyal, Moe, and Tomer met while working on early voice analytics systems. Over 15 years, we built technology used across regulated industries, call centers and enterprises around the world. That work taught us something simple and profound:
**Language isn’t just a feature of communication.**
**Language _is_ the connection.**
In 2023, we turned our attention to healthcare, the place where communication matters most and breaks most easily.
Across the United States, **25.7 million people have limited English proficiency**. Research shows that even professional human interpreters average around **75% accuracy**, with omissions being the most common and most significant errors. The burden is enormous and the consequences are real.
But none of this prepared us for what we heard on the front lines.
Clinicians, nurses, social workers and community health leaders shared stories we couldn’t ignore:
- Patients waiting 30–45 minutes in the ED for an interpreter while in pain.
- A 9-year-old son was interpreting for his mother because the team was “getting by.”
- A female patient was unable to speak about sexual health because the interpreter on the phone was a male.
- Providers keeping the interpreter on the line for the next patient, just to avoid another long wait (and another high-minute charge).
- Calls where the audio was so poor that half the encounter became: _“Can you repeat that?”_
- Clinics pay heavily for interpretation services that make many visits financially unsustainable.
Behind every story was something deeper: **language barriers disproportionately harm underserved communities**, who often come to the system carrying fear, shame or a feeling of not being heard.
What we learned was clear:
**\- This isn’t simply a translation problem.**
**\- It’s a communication problem.**
**\- A safety problem.**
**\- An equity problem.**
**\- A human problem.**
And it was one we felt responsible and uniquely equipped to tackle.
## **Why We Built No Barrier**
After months of listening and shadowing real clinical workflows, one truth became impossible to ignore:
**The interpreter model that exists today is financially unsustainable, operationally mismatched and emotionally taxing for everyone involved.**
Clinicians were improvising and experiencing what many described as “language burnout.”
Patients often could not access care in a timely manner.
And health systems were paying more while getting less.
We knew technology could help if it respected clinical reality, compliance, privacy and cultural nuance. We partnered with clinical leaders to pressure test every design decision and ensure No Barrier fit real-world care.
So we built No Barrier to deliver instant, accurate, private AI interpretation that seamlessly fits into clinical work.
Because language should never be the reason someone receives worse care.
## **Announcement: Our $2.7M Seed Round**
We are proud to share that No Barrier has raised an oversubscribed **$2.7M Seed Round** led by **A Squared Ventures** and **Esplanade Ventures**, with support from **Rock Health** and **Fusion**.
This milestone enables us to expand AI-powered medical interpretation across every step of the patient journey.
## **Bringing AI Interpretation to Every Moment of Care**
Our platform integrates directly into clinical workflows, delivering real-time interpretation across **40+ languages and dialects**, with zero wait time.
Providers use No Barrier from:
- check-in and triage
- to diagnosis and treatment conversations
- to follow-up and discharge
Health systems are already seeing measurable results:
- Immediate start of clinical encounters
- Interpretation costs reduced by up to **70%**
- Higher patient satisfaction
- Lower clinician burden
- Reliable, private conversations at every step
No Barrier is fully **HIPAA** and **SOC 2** compliant, ensuring every word remains protected.
Across **100+ sites in 12 states**-including mental health, reproductive care, pediatrics and infectious disease-teams rely on No Barrier to make communication simpler, safer, and more human.
## **Key Takeaways for Healthcare Leaders**
- Language access is a core driver of safety, quality and performance.
- No Barrier delivers instant interpretation with up to **70% cost reduction**.
- Our $2.7M Seed Round accelerates expansion across the entire patient journey.
- Hybrid AI–human interpretation ensures long-term accuracy and compliance.
- Proven across 100 sites: when communication improves, outcomes improve.
## FAQs
### 1\. What is No Barrier’s mission?
To remove language barriers in healthcare so that access, safety and quality improve for all patients.
### 2\. How does the AI interpretation work?
It integrates into clinician workflows to deliver real-time interpretation across 40+ languages and dialects.
### 3\. How will the $2.7M Seed Round be used?
Funding accelerates expansion across all communication points-from check-in to diagnosis and treatment planning.
### 4\. Is it compliant with patient privacy standards?
Yes. The platform is HIPAA and SOC 2 compliant, ensuring sensitive information remains fully protected.
### 5\. What concrete results have providers seen?
Zero-wait interpretation, 70% cost savings, improved accuracy and reduced cognitive burden for teams.
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
[Twitter icon\\
\\
Twitter](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding#) [Facebook icon\\
\\
Facebook](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding#) [Pinterest](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding#) [LinkedIn icon\\
\\
Linkedin](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding#) [Linkedin](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding#)
[Telegram](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding#) [Reddit](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding#)
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# No Barrier Raises $2.7M to Remove Language Barriers in Healthcare
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
November 18, 2025
3
Minute Read
Born from years of friendship, technology and purpose, we’re building AI medical interpretation so language never decides the quality of care someone receives.
## **Our Mission: A Human Story of Connection**
### **How 15 Years of Voice AI Became a Mission for Healthcare Equity**
Our story began in 2010. The three of us, Eyal, Moe, and Tomer met while working on early voice analytics systems. Over 15 years, we built technology used across regulated industries, call centers and enterprises around the world. That work taught us something simple and profound:
**Language isn’t just a feature of communication.**
**Language _is_ the connection.**
In 2023, we turned our attention to healthcare, the place where communication matters most and breaks most easily.
Across the United States, **25.7 million people have limited English proficiency**. Research shows that even professional human interpreters average around **75% accuracy**, with omissions being the most common and most significant errors. The burden is enormous and the consequences are real.
But none of this prepared us for what we heard on the front lines.
Clinicians, nurses, social workers and community health leaders shared stories we couldn’t ignore:
- Patients waiting 30–45 minutes in the ED for an interpreter while in pain.
- A 9-year-old son was interpreting for his mother because the team was “getting by.”
- A female patient was unable to speak about sexual health because the interpreter on the phone was a male.
- Providers keeping the interpreter on the line for the next patient, just to avoid another long wait (and another high-minute charge).
- Calls where the audio was so poor that half the encounter became: _“Can you repeat that?”_
- Clinics pay heavily for interpretation services that make many visits financially unsustainable.
Behind every story was something deeper: **language barriers disproportionately harm underserved communities**, who often come to the system carrying fear, shame or a feeling of not being heard.
What we learned was clear:
**\- This isn’t simply a translation problem.**
**\- It’s a communication problem.**
**\- A safety problem.**
**\- An equity problem.**
**\- A human problem.**
And it was one we felt responsible and uniquely equipped to tackle.
## **Why We Built No Barrier**
After months of listening and shadowing real clinical workflows, one truth became impossible to ignore:
**The interpreter model that exists today is financially unsustainable, operationally mismatched and emotionally taxing for everyone involved.**
Clinicians were improvising and experiencing what many described as “language burnout.”
Patients often could not access care in a timely manner.
And health systems were paying more while getting less.
We knew technology could help if it respected clinical reality, compliance, privacy and cultural nuance. We partnered with clinical leaders to pressure test every design decision and ensure No Barrier fit real-world care.
So we built No Barrier to deliver instant, accurate, private AI interpretation that seamlessly fits into clinical work.
Because language should never be the reason someone receives worse care.
## **Announcement: Our $2.7M Seed Round**
We are proud to share that No Barrier has raised an oversubscribed **$2.7M Seed Round** led by **A Squared Ventures** and **Esplanade Ventures**, with support from **Rock Health** and **Fusion**.
This milestone enables us to expand AI-powered medical interpretation across every step of the patient journey.
## **Bringing AI Interpretation to Every Moment of Care**
Our platform integrates directly into clinical workflows, delivering real-time interpretation across **40+ languages and dialects**, with zero wait time.
Providers use No Barrier from:
- check-in and triage
- to diagnosis and treatment conversations
- to follow-up and discharge
Health systems are already seeing measurable results:
- Immediate start of clinical encounters
- Interpretation costs reduced by up to **70%**
- Higher patient satisfaction
- Lower clinician burden
- Reliable, private conversations at every step
No Barrier is fully **HIPAA** and **SOC 2** compliant, ensuring every word remains protected.
Across **100+ sites in 12 states**-including mental health, reproductive care, pediatrics and infectious disease-teams rely on No Barrier to make communication simpler, safer, and more human.
## **Key Takeaways for Healthcare Leaders**
- Language access is a core driver of safety, quality and performance.
- No Barrier delivers instant interpretation with up to **70% cost reduction**.
- Our $2.7M Seed Round accelerates expansion across the entire patient journey.
- Hybrid AI–human interpretation ensures long-term accuracy and compliance.
- Proven across 100 sites: when communication improves, outcomes improve.
## You’d also be interested in…
[**What Clinicians Really Think About Interpreters (And What AI Can Fix)** \\
\\
AI & Technology in Healthcare Interpretation\\
\\
November 10, 2025\\
\\
6\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Clinicians across the U.S. share real frustrations with language barriers in care. AI interpretation offers faster, more accurate, and culturally sensitive solutions.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/what-clinicians-really-think-about-interpreters)
[**AI in Medical Translation: Capabilities and Limitations** \\
\\
AI & Technology in Healthcare Interpretation\\
\\
October 9, 2025\\
\\
6\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Medical Translation in the AI Era: Understanding the Possibilities and Boundaries\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/ai-in-medical-translation-capabilities-and-limitations)
[**No Barrier AI Outperforms Traditional Medical Interpreters in First Study** \\
\\
AI & Technology in Healthcare Interpretation\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
3\\
\\
min read\\
\\
An independent evaluation of NoBarrier's AI technology demonstrates its medical interpreter surpasses professional human interpreters in accuracy\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/nobarrier-ai-outperforms-traditional-medical-interpreters-in-first-scientific-study)
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## AI Outperforms Medical Interpreters
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
AI & Technology in Healthcare Interpretation
# No Barrier AI Outperforms Traditional Medical Interpreters in First Study
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
November 1, 2024
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
3
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h2\\
\\
The Study Design](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/nobarrier-ai-outperforms-traditional-medical-interpreters-in-first-scientific-study#the-study-design)
[h2\\
\\
Key Findings](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/nobarrier-ai-outperforms-traditional-medical-interpreters-in-first-scientific-study#key-findings)
[h3\\
\\
Overall Accuracy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/nobarrier-ai-outperforms-traditional-medical-interpreters-in-first-scientific-study#overall-accuracy)
[h3\\
\\
Error Analysis](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/nobarrier-ai-outperforms-traditional-medical-interpreters-in-first-scientific-study#error-analysis)
[h3\\
\\
Breaking Down Error Types](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/nobarrier-ai-outperforms-traditional-medical-interpreters-in-first-scientific-study#breaking-down-error-types)
[h2\\
\\
The Language Direction Breakthrough](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/nobarrier-ai-outperforms-traditional-medical-interpreters-in-first-scientific-study#the-language-direction-breakthrough)
[h2\\
\\
Why This Matters for Healthcare](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/nobarrier-ai-outperforms-traditional-medical-interpreters-in-first-scientific-study#why-this-matters-for-healthcare)
[h2\\
\\
Looking Forward](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/nobarrier-ai-outperforms-traditional-medical-interpreters-in-first-scientific-study#looking-forward)
[h2\\
\\
Want to Learn More?](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/nobarrier-ai-outperforms-traditional-medical-interpreters-in-first-scientific-study#want-to-learn-more)
In what we believe is the first comperative study of its kind, NoBarrier AI's medical interpreter has demonstrated superior performance over traditional phone interpretation services, marking a significant milestone in healthcare communication technology.
## **The Study Design**
Our research team developed a comprehensive benchmark of 91 medical sentences that mirror typical provider-patient conversations. The text reflected real-world conversation between an English speaking doctor and a Spanish speaking patient. They included common patient expressions like describing symptoms ("I've been having sharp chest pain at night"), medical history questions from providers ("Have you had any previous surgeries?"), treatment explanations ("You'll need to take this medication twice daily with food"), and diagnostic information exchange.
We engaged two established global medical interpretation agencies, connecting with their phone interpreters just as healthcare providers do daily. The same sentences were processed through NoBarrier AI's interpretation system. To ensure unbiased evaluation, all interpretations were blindly assessed by two external certified medical interpreters. The results were analysed by Dr. Michal Schuster, a medical interpreting expert.
## **Key Findings**
### **Overall Accuracy**
The results were remarkable. On a 7-point accuracy scale, with 7 being perfect translation and 1 being completely incorrect, NoBarrier AI achieved a 6.38 average score, significantly outperforming traditional agencies which scored 5.59 and 4.93 respectively. This represents a 25.3% higher accuracy rate for NoBarrier AI compared to the average of traditional services.
### **Error Analysis**
The total error count revealed an even more striking difference. Across all 91 sentences tested in both directions:
- NoBarrier AI: 64 total errors
- Vendor 1: 135 errors
- Vendor 2: 187 errors
This means NoBarrier AI made less than half the errors of traditional services, a crucial difference in medical settings where accuracy is paramount.
### **Breaking Down Error Types**
Our analysis identified four main categories of errors:
1. **Information Omissions** \- leaving out important details from the original messagesome text
- Traditional Agencies: 53-70 omissions
- NoBarrier AI: Only 17 omissions
2. **Medical Terminology Accuracy** \- incorrectly translating specific medical termssome text
- Traditional Agencies: 18-23 errors
- NoBarrier AI: Only 5 errors
3. **Unnecessary Additions** \- adding information not present in the original messagesome text
- Traditional Agencies: 32-55 instances
- NoBarrier AI: 14 instances
4. **Word Substitutions** \- using incorrect word choicessome text
- Traditional Agencies: 32-39 instances
- NoBarrier AI: 28 instances
## **The Language Direction Breakthrough**
One of the most significant findings was in language directionality. Human interpreters typically perform better when working into their native language. However, NoBarrier AI demonstrated remarkable consistency across both translation directions:
- Spanish to English: **6.51** average score
- English to Spanish: **6.26** average score
In contrast, the human interpreters showed marked differences in performance depending on direction:
- First vendor: **6.2** (Spanish to English) vs. **4.99** (English to Spanish)
- Second vendor: **5.69** (Spanish to English) vs. **3.93** (English to Spanish)
This consistency is crucial for medical settings, where accurate interpretation is needed in both directions of the conversation. While human interpreters showed notable performance drops when working into their non-native direction, NoBarrier AI maintained nearly equal quality regardless of the translation direction.
## **Why This Matters for Healthcare**
The implications of these findings are profound for healthcare delivery. When interpreters miss information or mistranslate medical terms, it can lead to serious consequences:
- Delayed or incorrect diagnoses
- Misunderstood treatment plans
- Compromised patient consent
- Increased liability risks
Consider a patient saying, "I've been having sharp chest pain at night." If the timing ("at night") is omitted or the type of pain ("sharp") is mistranslated, it could significantly impact the diagnosis and treatment path.
NoBarrier AI's superior performance, particularly in reducing information omissions and medical terminology errors, directly addresses these critical challenges.
## **Looking Forward**
This study represents a watershed moment in medical interpretation. While human interpreters have been the backbone of medical interpretation services, AI technology has now demonstrated its ability to not only match but exceed traditional interpretation quality.
The consistency, accuracy, and availability of AI interpretation could help address the concerning statistic that over 70% of US physicians report inconsistent use of interpretation services. By providing a more reliable, accurate, and accessible solution, we can work toward better health outcomes for limited English proficiency patients.
Our commitment at NoBarrier remains unwavering: to break down language barriers in healthcare through innovative technology while maintaining the highest standards of accuracy and reliability. This study confirms we're on the right path.
## **_Want to Learn More?_**
- _Interested in the detailed methodology of our study?_
- _Want to see more specific examples of medical interpretations?_
- _Curious about how we can implement this technology in your healthcare setting?_
_Contact our research team at info@nobarrier.ai for the complete study results and to discuss how No Barrier can help improve medical interpretation in your organization._
## FAQs
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
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[Telegram](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/nobarrier-ai-outperforms-traditional-medical-interpreters-in-first-scientific-study#) [Reddit](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/nobarrier-ai-outperforms-traditional-medical-interpreters-in-first-scientific-study#)
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# No Barrier AI Outperforms Traditional Medical Interpreters in First Study
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
November 1, 2024
3
Minute Read
In what we believe is the first comperative study of its kind, NoBarrier AI's medical interpreter has demonstrated superior performance over traditional phone interpretation services, marking a significant milestone in healthcare communication technology.
## **The Study Design**
Our research team developed a comprehensive benchmark of 91 medical sentences that mirror typical provider-patient conversations. The text reflected real-world conversation between an English speaking doctor and a Spanish speaking patient. They included common patient expressions like describing symptoms ("I've been having sharp chest pain at night"), medical history questions from providers ("Have you had any previous surgeries?"), treatment explanations ("You'll need to take this medication twice daily with food"), and diagnostic information exchange.
We engaged two established global medical interpretation agencies, connecting with their phone interpreters just as healthcare providers do daily. The same sentences were processed through NoBarrier AI's interpretation system. To ensure unbiased evaluation, all interpretations were blindly assessed by two external certified medical interpreters. The results were analysed by Dr. Michal Schuster, a medical interpreting expert.
## **Key Findings**
### **Overall Accuracy**
The results were remarkable. On a 7-point accuracy scale, with 7 being perfect translation and 1 being completely incorrect, NoBarrier AI achieved a 6.38 average score, significantly outperforming traditional agencies which scored 5.59 and 4.93 respectively. This represents a 25.3% higher accuracy rate for NoBarrier AI compared to the average of traditional services.
### **Error Analysis**
The total error count revealed an even more striking difference. Across all 91 sentences tested in both directions:
- NoBarrier AI: 64 total errors
- Vendor 1: 135 errors
- Vendor 2: 187 errors
This means NoBarrier AI made less than half the errors of traditional services, a crucial difference in medical settings where accuracy is paramount.
### **Breaking Down Error Types**
Our analysis identified four main categories of errors:
1. **Information Omissions** \- leaving out important details from the original messagesome text
- Traditional Agencies: 53-70 omissions
- NoBarrier AI: Only 17 omissions
2. **Medical Terminology Accuracy** \- incorrectly translating specific medical termssome text
- Traditional Agencies: 18-23 errors
- NoBarrier AI: Only 5 errors
3. **Unnecessary Additions** \- adding information not present in the original messagesome text
- Traditional Agencies: 32-55 instances
- NoBarrier AI: 14 instances
4. **Word Substitutions** \- using incorrect word choicessome text
- Traditional Agencies: 32-39 instances
- NoBarrier AI: 28 instances
## **The Language Direction Breakthrough**
One of the most significant findings was in language directionality. Human interpreters typically perform better when working into their native language. However, NoBarrier AI demonstrated remarkable consistency across both translation directions:
- Spanish to English: **6.51** average score
- English to Spanish: **6.26** average score
In contrast, the human interpreters showed marked differences in performance depending on direction:
- First vendor: **6.2** (Spanish to English) vs. **4.99** (English to Spanish)
- Second vendor: **5.69** (Spanish to English) vs. **3.93** (English to Spanish)
This consistency is crucial for medical settings, where accurate interpretation is needed in both directions of the conversation. While human interpreters showed notable performance drops when working into their non-native direction, NoBarrier AI maintained nearly equal quality regardless of the translation direction.
## **Why This Matters for Healthcare**
The implications of these findings are profound for healthcare delivery. When interpreters miss information or mistranslate medical terms, it can lead to serious consequences:
- Delayed or incorrect diagnoses
- Misunderstood treatment plans
- Compromised patient consent
- Increased liability risks
Consider a patient saying, "I've been having sharp chest pain at night." If the timing ("at night") is omitted or the type of pain ("sharp") is mistranslated, it could significantly impact the diagnosis and treatment path.
NoBarrier AI's superior performance, particularly in reducing information omissions and medical terminology errors, directly addresses these critical challenges.
## **Looking Forward**
This study represents a watershed moment in medical interpretation. While human interpreters have been the backbone of medical interpretation services, AI technology has now demonstrated its ability to not only match but exceed traditional interpretation quality.
The consistency, accuracy, and availability of AI interpretation could help address the concerning statistic that over 70% of US physicians report inconsistent use of interpretation services. By providing a more reliable, accurate, and accessible solution, we can work toward better health outcomes for limited English proficiency patients.
Our commitment at NoBarrier remains unwavering: to break down language barriers in healthcare through innovative technology while maintaining the highest standards of accuracy and reliability. This study confirms we're on the right path.
## **_Want to Learn More?_**
- _Interested in the detailed methodology of our study?_
- _Want to see more specific examples of medical interpretations?_
- _Curious about how we can implement this technology in your healthcare setting?_
_Contact our research team at info@nobarrier.ai for the complete study results and to discuss how No Barrier can help improve medical interpretation in your organization._
## You’d also be interested in…
[**No Barrier Raises $2.7M to Remove Language Barriers in Healthcare** \\
\\
AI & Technology in Healthcare Interpretation\\
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November 18, 2025\\
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3\\
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min read\\
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No Barrier secures $2.7M to scale instant AI medical interpretation that strengthens safety. cuts costs. and improves patient communication.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[**What Clinicians Really Think About Interpreters (And What AI Can Fix)** \\
\\
AI & Technology in Healthcare Interpretation\\
\\
November 10, 2025\\
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6\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Clinicians across the U.S. share real frustrations with language barriers in care. AI interpretation offers faster, more accurate, and culturally sensitive solutions.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/what-clinicians-really-think-about-interpreters)
[**AI in Medical Translation: Capabilities and Limitations** \\
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AI & Technology in Healthcare Interpretation\\
\\
October 9, 2025\\
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6\\
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min read\\
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Medical Translation in the AI Era: Understanding the Possibilities and Boundaries\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/ai-in-medical-translation-capabilities-and-limitations)
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
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[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/nobarrier-ai-outperforms-traditional-medical-interpreters-in-first-scientific-study#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
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@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Nurses and LEP Patients
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
Cost & Efficiency
# Nurses and Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Patients
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
September 8, 2024
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
4
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h3\\
\\
Challenges Faced by Nurses with LEP Patients](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/nurses-and-limited-english-proficiency-lep-patients#challenges-faced-by-nurses-with-lep-patients)
[h3\\
\\
Role of the Medical Interpreter](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/nurses-and-limited-english-proficiency-lep-patients#role-of-the-medical-interpreter)
[h3\\
\\
Similarities and Discrepancies in Nurse and Doctor Communication.](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/nurses-and-limited-english-proficiency-lep-patients#similarities-and-discrepancies-in-nurse-and-doctor-communication)
[h3\\
\\
Relating this to LEP Patients](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/nurses-and-limited-english-proficiency-lep-patients#relating-this-to-lep-patients)
[h3\\
\\
Technological Advancements in Communication](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/nurses-and-limited-english-proficiency-lep-patients#technological-advancements-in-communication)
[h3\\
\\
Conclusion](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/nurses-and-limited-english-proficiency-lep-patients#conclusion)
As we seek to identify the issues faced by nurses in caring for limited English proficient (LEP) patients, we have interacted with several healthcare providers who shared their experiences and also possessed literature regarding the issue.
When it comes to ensuring that patients comprehend their treatment plans, feel safe and cared for, and most importantly, comply, the nurse’s role is critical particularly in advocating for the patient’s education.
### Challenges Faced by Nurses with LEP Patients
During the course of our discussions, stress was one of the frequent victims regarding language barriers and nurses’ care. Discussed below are some of the major challenges they tend to face in almost all of the disparities that we mentioned earlier:
**Emotional Distress**: Effective communication between LEP patients and nurses is a necessity; however many nurses have alluded that this is not always possible. Their communication frustrations caused many of these nurses to feel aggravated emotions of pervading despair, anger or simply feeling depleted in those efforts they made to communicate with their LEP patients.
**Missed Connections**: Rapport building with patients is a fundamental aspect of nursing care. When patients and their caregivers are on opposite ends of a language spectrum, nurses often have a hard time developing rapport where it is most needed. This may cause relationships to deteriorate as well as cause adverse effects in the quality of care provided.
**Restricted Engagement of Medical Interpreters**: Although medical interpreters are effective tools in many crucial communication events, it is common to find nurses in day-to-day clinical encounters not working with interpreters.
### Role of the Medical Interpreter
Medical interpreters help in eliminating the communication barrier that exists between the nurses and the LEP patients.
This all depends on the setting. Maybe in outpatient, though in the ED and inpatient, nurses spend far more time at patient bedsides. In the ED, one physician may see 20-30 patients in 8 hours. A nurse will have seen maybe 5-10 and do a long intake
**Time Constraints**: Poor nurse to patient ratio and the pain and discomfort that patients feel sometimes make nurses to use ad hoc interpreters or not use an interpreter at all. For instance, one of the nurses explained, “Sometimes, if there’s no time, you can’t wait for an interpreter. If you have five patients sitting in five rooms(…), timing out the process of getting an interpreter is not always an option.”
**Communication Errors:** It is sad to state that this is not the case. Interpreters who are not formally trained May hinder rather than ease the communication between patients and healthcare providers. These mistakes are particularly problematic when they entail significant information.
### Similarities and Discrepancies in Nurse and Doctor Communication.
It is vitally important to recognize that the distinct roles of nurses and doctors in communication are geared toward one goal; which is focused on the care of the clients.
**Nurses Communication**: Nurses take care of the basic caring, reassuring, and observation of the patients. This involves describing procedures, medications, and care instructions to patients so that they comprehend. These are usually very short, for example telling someone who is being discharged that they need to follow this note to avoid being read to in a single sentence. For these short interactions, it is customary not to use live interpretation services because the exchanges are too short to use verbal interpretation services formally.
**Doctors Communication**: In comparison, what doctors do is more focused on the diagnosis, devising treatment strategies, and planning areas around patient care that influence patient outcomes. Such involvement is mainly of formal nature and is likely to take place during planned meetings or follow up visits. This can pose further challenges to LEP patients who may require clarifying medical treatment decisions made during these appointment meetings.
### Relating this to LEP Patients
Since nurses have direct contact with patients at all times, they are considered the first line of contact with and for LEP patients and their subsequent care. In as much as the information needs to be conveyed, the personnel are always in quick exchanges and it is important to ensure adequate time for comfort and understanding is given.
In this scenario, although doctors have considerable roles in valuing patients through giving information such as diagnosis and treatment, physical contact between doctors on one side and the patients on the other may be less frequent and more formal. This is a situation that creates a communication breakdown that needs more ears than mouths to enhance understanding from LEP patients that are also in need of many explanations and encouragement.
### Technological Advancements in Communication
New novel technologies such as AI medical interpreters allow nursing staff to use extremely low contact time with the LEP patients while still providing care services. For instance, while discharging a patient a nurse can be asked to summarize risk factors in one or two sentences and there is no need to connect with an interpreter to get that executed with the use of AI. This is very useful especially during micro encounters which can be governed by time.
### Conclusion
With such challenges still existing, one of the targeted population by appropriate medical care is the people with limited English proficiency. It is nurses who are better placed to cope with this problem and its constraints since it involves physical and emotional challenges. To address these demands of the Limited English Proficiency, healthcare institutions must turn to use qualified medical translators and integrate AI innovations to improve patient-nurse interaction. It is apparent that caregivers, put differently, nurses and doctors play different roles when it comes to sharing information with patients and therefore coordination in patient management can be enhanced
Resources
1. Nurses' Perceptions of Technology Used in Language Interpretation for Patients with Limited English Proficiency - [here](https://journals.lww.com/ajnonline/abstract/2020/09000/nurses__perceptions_of_technology_used_in_language.29.aspx)
2. Prevalent practices amongst healthcare professionals in paediatric settings in using medical interpreters for families with limited national language proficiency: A narrative scoping review [here](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666142X22000480#bib0044)
3. Patterns and Predictors of Professional Interpreter Use in the Pediatric Emergency Department - [here](https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/147/2/e20193312/77048/Patterns-and-Predictors-of-Professional?autologincheck=redirected)
4. Pharmacists, nurses, and physicians’ perspectives and use of formal and informal interpreters during medication management in the inpatient setting - [here](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9877185/#:~:text=Use%20of%20trained%2C%20formal%20interpreters,interpreters%20%5B7%2C%208%5D)
## FAQs
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
[Twitter icon\\
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[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# Nurses and Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Patients
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
September 8, 2024
4
Minute Read
As we seek to identify the issues faced by nurses in caring for limited English proficient (LEP) patients, we have interacted with several healthcare providers who shared their experiences and also possessed literature regarding the issue.
When it comes to ensuring that patients comprehend their treatment plans, feel safe and cared for, and most importantly, comply, the nurse’s role is critical particularly in advocating for the patient’s education.
### Challenges Faced by Nurses with LEP Patients
During the course of our discussions, stress was one of the frequent victims regarding language barriers and nurses’ care. Discussed below are some of the major challenges they tend to face in almost all of the disparities that we mentioned earlier:
**Emotional Distress**: Effective communication between LEP patients and nurses is a necessity; however many nurses have alluded that this is not always possible. Their communication frustrations caused many of these nurses to feel aggravated emotions of pervading despair, anger or simply feeling depleted in those efforts they made to communicate with their LEP patients.
**Missed Connections**: Rapport building with patients is a fundamental aspect of nursing care. When patients and their caregivers are on opposite ends of a language spectrum, nurses often have a hard time developing rapport where it is most needed. This may cause relationships to deteriorate as well as cause adverse effects in the quality of care provided.
**Restricted Engagement of Medical Interpreters**: Although medical interpreters are effective tools in many crucial communication events, it is common to find nurses in day-to-day clinical encounters not working with interpreters.
### Role of the Medical Interpreter
Medical interpreters help in eliminating the communication barrier that exists between the nurses and the LEP patients.
This all depends on the setting. Maybe in outpatient, though in the ED and inpatient, nurses spend far more time at patient bedsides. In the ED, one physician may see 20-30 patients in 8 hours. A nurse will have seen maybe 5-10 and do a long intake
**Time Constraints**: Poor nurse to patient ratio and the pain and discomfort that patients feel sometimes make nurses to use ad hoc interpreters or not use an interpreter at all. For instance, one of the nurses explained, “Sometimes, if there’s no time, you can’t wait for an interpreter. If you have five patients sitting in five rooms(…), timing out the process of getting an interpreter is not always an option.”
**Communication Errors:** It is sad to state that this is not the case. Interpreters who are not formally trained May hinder rather than ease the communication between patients and healthcare providers. These mistakes are particularly problematic when they entail significant information.
### Similarities and Discrepancies in Nurse and Doctor Communication.
It is vitally important to recognize that the distinct roles of nurses and doctors in communication are geared toward one goal; which is focused on the care of the clients.
**Nurses Communication**: Nurses take care of the basic caring, reassuring, and observation of the patients. This involves describing procedures, medications, and care instructions to patients so that they comprehend. These are usually very short, for example telling someone who is being discharged that they need to follow this note to avoid being read to in a single sentence. For these short interactions, it is customary not to use live interpretation services because the exchanges are too short to use verbal interpretation services formally.
**Doctors Communication**: In comparison, what doctors do is more focused on the diagnosis, devising treatment strategies, and planning areas around patient care that influence patient outcomes. Such involvement is mainly of formal nature and is likely to take place during planned meetings or follow up visits. This can pose further challenges to LEP patients who may require clarifying medical treatment decisions made during these appointment meetings.
### Relating this to LEP Patients
Since nurses have direct contact with patients at all times, they are considered the first line of contact with and for LEP patients and their subsequent care. In as much as the information needs to be conveyed, the personnel are always in quick exchanges and it is important to ensure adequate time for comfort and understanding is given.
In this scenario, although doctors have considerable roles in valuing patients through giving information such as diagnosis and treatment, physical contact between doctors on one side and the patients on the other may be less frequent and more formal. This is a situation that creates a communication breakdown that needs more ears than mouths to enhance understanding from LEP patients that are also in need of many explanations and encouragement.
### Technological Advancements in Communication
New novel technologies such as AI medical interpreters allow nursing staff to use extremely low contact time with the LEP patients while still providing care services. For instance, while discharging a patient a nurse can be asked to summarize risk factors in one or two sentences and there is no need to connect with an interpreter to get that executed with the use of AI. This is very useful especially during micro encounters which can be governed by time.
### Conclusion
With such challenges still existing, one of the targeted population by appropriate medical care is the people with limited English proficiency. It is nurses who are better placed to cope with this problem and its constraints since it involves physical and emotional challenges. To address these demands of the Limited English Proficiency, healthcare institutions must turn to use qualified medical translators and integrate AI innovations to improve patient-nurse interaction. It is apparent that caregivers, put differently, nurses and doctors play different roles when it comes to sharing information with patients and therefore coordination in patient management can be enhanced
Resources
1. Nurses' Perceptions of Technology Used in Language Interpretation for Patients with Limited English Proficiency - [here](https://journals.lww.com/ajnonline/abstract/2020/09000/nurses__perceptions_of_technology_used_in_language.29.aspx)
2. Prevalent practices amongst healthcare professionals in paediatric settings in using medical interpreters for families with limited national language proficiency: A narrative scoping review [here](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666142X22000480#bib0044)
3. Patterns and Predictors of Professional Interpreter Use in the Pediatric Emergency Department - [here](https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/147/2/e20193312/77048/Patterns-and-Predictors-of-Professional?autologincheck=redirected)
4. Pharmacists, nurses, and physicians’ perspectives and use of formal and informal interpreters during medication management in the inpatient setting - [here](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9877185/#:~:text=Use%20of%20trained%2C%20formal%20interpreters,interpreters%20%5B7%2C%208%5D)
## You’d also be interested in…
[**Optimizing Patient Flow: ER Operations Win Minutes with Tech** \\
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Crowding in the ER isn’t random; it’s governed by math. Little’s Law: patients in system = arrival rate × time. Reduce time in the system, reduce the queue.\\
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[**How to Solve the “One Patient, Multiple Interpreters” Challenge in Healthcare** \\
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LEP patients face fragmented care. Integrated interpreter models create smoother, patient-centered communication.\\
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Language barriers make healthcare hard, but better interpreter services and clear communication can help patients get better care.\\
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**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-medical-translation-challenges-patients-face-with-interpreters)
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/nurses-and-limited-english-proficiency-lep-patients#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Hybrid Interpreting Solutions
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
Cost & Efficiency
# Deploy Human Interpreters Side by Side with AI Interpreters - The Hybrid Approach
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
September 29, 2024
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
3
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h3\\
\\
Dual Usability Examples](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/organization-hybrid-approach---deploy-human-interpreters-side-by-side-with-ai-interpreters#dual-usability-examples)
[h3\\
\\
Summary](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/organization-hybrid-approach---deploy-human-interpreters-side-by-side-with-ai-interpreters#summary)
As AI medical interpreting tech is emerging it is essential to think on what is the right strategy to integrate it in the workflow, alongside with professional medical interpreters. There are many good reasons why for the next couple of years there is a sense to have both solutions side by side.
Different situations on the spectrum of human medical interpreters and AI
### Dual Usability Examples
1. **Providers' adoption** \- though using AI interpreters is simple and straight-forward, there are providers that would utilize human interpreters even if their institution supplies AI solutions due to habits and years of experience with the traditional workflow.
2. **Patients' preferences** \- same for patients - the majority appreciate the fast access to care of AI, some might rather have humans that speak their language. From our experience there were very few cases where patients preferred humans.
3. **ASL** \- AI is not yet in position to fully communicate in ASL - so on that front there would be a need for human interpreters in the next couple of years.
4. **Patient condition**, ability to communicate, situation sensitivity - there would be situations where the communication with a patient is not fluent, requires many repetitions and clarity for example - elderly and hard hearing.
5. **Urgency** \- for situations where time is of the essence - AI would probably be the front line.
6. **Languages that AI less performs** \- there are languages that AI does not shine - and will require human medical interpreters. Popular languages - where AI performs better than the average medical interpreter - there would be probably a tendency to AI utilization.
### **Summary**
**** The side-by-side approach seems the most adequate one where **AI can take the majority of the workload**, supply fast access to care with cost-effective workflow while humans can bridge the gaps in the other cases as the examples above.
## FAQs
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
[Twitter icon\\
\\
Twitter](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/organization-hybrid-approach---deploy-human-interpreters-side-by-side-with-ai-interpreters#) [Facebook icon\\
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Facebook](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/organization-hybrid-approach---deploy-human-interpreters-side-by-side-with-ai-interpreters#) [Pinterest](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/organization-hybrid-approach---deploy-human-interpreters-side-by-side-with-ai-interpreters#) [LinkedIn icon\\
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[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# Deploy Human Interpreters Side by Side with AI Interpreters - The Hybrid Approach
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
September 29, 2024
3
Minute Read
As AI medical interpreting tech is emerging it is essential to think on what is the right strategy to integrate it in the workflow, alongside with professional medical interpreters. There are many good reasons why for the next couple of years there is a sense to have both solutions side by side.
Different situations on the spectrum of human medical interpreters and AI
### Dual Usability Examples
1. **Providers' adoption** \- though using AI interpreters is simple and straight-forward, there are providers that would utilize human interpreters even if their institution supplies AI solutions due to habits and years of experience with the traditional workflow.
2. **Patients' preferences** \- same for patients - the majority appreciate the fast access to care of AI, some might rather have humans that speak their language. From our experience there were very few cases where patients preferred humans.
3. **ASL** \- AI is not yet in position to fully communicate in ASL - so on that front there would be a need for human interpreters in the next couple of years.
4. **Patient condition**, ability to communicate, situation sensitivity - there would be situations where the communication with a patient is not fluent, requires many repetitions and clarity for example - elderly and hard hearing.
5. **Urgency** \- for situations where time is of the essence - AI would probably be the front line.
6. **Languages that AI less performs** \- there are languages that AI does not shine - and will require human medical interpreters. Popular languages - where AI performs better than the average medical interpreter - there would be probably a tendency to AI utilization.
### **Summary**
**** The side-by-side approach seems the most adequate one where **AI can take the majority of the workload**, supply fast access to care with cost-effective workflow while humans can bridge the gaps in the other cases as the examples above.
## You’d also be interested in…
[**Optimizing Patient Flow: ER Operations Win Minutes with Tech** \\
\\
Cost & Efficiency\\
\\
September 28, 2025\\
\\
6\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Crowding in the ER isn’t random; it’s governed by math. Little’s Law: patients in system = arrival rate × time. Reduce time in the system, reduce the queue.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/patient-flow-ops)
[**How to Solve the “One Patient, Multiple Interpreters” Challenge in Healthcare** \\
\\
Cost & Efficiency\\
\\
November 26, 2025\\
\\
2\\
\\
min read\\
\\
LEP patients face fragmented care. Integrated interpreter models create smoother, patient-centered communication.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-to-solve-the-one-patient-multiple-interpreters-challenge-in-healthcare)
[**6 Medical Translation Challenges Patients Face With Interpreters** \\
\\
Cost & Efficiency\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Language barriers make healthcare hard, but better interpreter services and clear communication can help patients get better care.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-medical-translation-challenges-patients-face-with-interpreters)
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/organization-hybrid-approach---deploy-human-interpreters-side-by-side-with-ai-interpreters#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Optimizing Patient Flow
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
Cost & Efficiency
# Optimizing Patient Flow: ER Operations Win Minutes with Tech
From triage to discharge, see how tech-driven workflows save critical minutes in emergency care.
By Moe Abramovitch
Co-founder and COO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
September 3, 2025
**Updated:**
September 28, 2025
6
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h2\\
\\
Executive Summary (for CMOs and COOs)](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/patient-flow-ops#executive-summary-for-cmos-and-coos)
[h2\\
\\
Why ER Patient Flow Is a C-Suite Issue](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/patient-flow-ops#why-er-patient-flow-is-a-c-suite-issue)
[h3\\
\\
For executives, poor flow translates into:](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/patient-flow-ops#for-executives-poor-flow-translates-into)
[h2\\
\\
From Tech Ops to Hospital Ops: What Transfers](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/patient-flow-ops#from-tech-ops-to-hospital-ops-what-transfers)
[h3\\
\\
The same playbook applies in hospitals:](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/patient-flow-ops#the-same-playbook-applies-in-hospitals)
[h2\\
\\
Case Study: A Hidden Ops Blocker](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/patient-flow-ops#case-study-a-hidden-ops-blocker)
[h2\\
\\
Removing Friction at Points of Maximum Delay](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/patient-flow-ops#removing-friction-at-points-of-maximum-delay)
[h3\\
\\
Metrics executives should track:](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/patient-flow-ops#metrics-executives-should-track)
[h2\\
\\
The U.S. “AI Plan” and Compliance Implications](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/patient-flow-ops#the-us-ai-plan-and-compliance-implications)
[h3\\
\\
For CMOs and COOs this means:](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/patient-flow-ops#for-cmos-and-coos-this-means)
[h2\\
\\
Key Takeaways: Emergency Department Patient Flow](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/patient-flow-ops#key-takeaways-emergency-department-patient-flow)
## **Executive Summary (for CMOs and COOs)**
- **Patient flow is an operations problem, not just a staffing issue.** Queues form when arrivals outpace departures; patient flow is the lever.
- **Ops excellence isn’t healthcare-only.** Lessons from Lean and aviation apply directly to ER bottlenecks. ****
- **Tech helps when it saves minutes.** Dialect-aware interpreting at triage and predictive bed management reduce delays and risk.
## **Why ER Patient Flow Is a C-Suite Issue**
Crowding in the ER isn’t random; it’s governed by math. **Little’s Law**: patients in system = arrival rate × time. Reduce time in the system, reduce the queue.
- The U.S. sees **~155 million ED visits annually**, yet fewer than half of patients are seen within 15 minutes.
- **Boarding** (admitted patients stuck in the ED) worsens crowding and correlates with higher patient harm 【AHA†source】.
- Every additional wait minute compounds both **clinical risk and operational cost**.
### For executives, poor flow translates into:
- Higher **left-without-being-seen rates**.
- **Compliance risk** (Joint Commission requires timely, effective communication). ****
- **Financial penalties** under value-based reimbursement when wait times drive readmissions or poor outcomes.
## **From Tech Ops to Hospital Ops: What Transfers**
I learned ops discipline first in software and telecom. At Verint and later AirCall, my teams faced a different kind of urgency: millions of users expecting services to be up 24/7. When systems slowed, queues formed; whether it was API calls stacking up or support tickets waiting. The only way to survive was to treat ops as a science.
### **The same playbook applies in hospitals:**
- **Design the flow.** In tech, we mapped every call path; in hospitals, you map bottlenecks before they create queues.
- **Measure relentlessly.** In DevOps, metrics told us the truth; in ERs, time-to-triage or boarding hours matter more than anecdotes.
- **Automate where safe.** In software, scripts replaced repetitive manual tasks; in healthcare, automation frees nurses and physicians for high-value work. ****
- **Repeat continuously.** Ops isn’t a one-off project — in cloud computing or in emergency medicine, you iterate daily.
The twist in healthcare is that **time = safety**. In cloud ops, speed was about customer experience. In the ER, shaving minutes off triage or hours off boarding is not just productivity: it can mean preventing harm and protecting lives.
## **Case Study: A Hidden Ops Blocker**
**Before:** Nurses asked about pain but not preferred language at triage. Non-English speakers waited **8–12 minutes** for a phone interpreter. Orders started late. Patients repeated their story.
**After:** Intake added two questions:
1. What language do you speak?
2. Where does it hurt?
Result:
- **Dialect-aware interpreter** launched instantly.
- **Single-pass history** captured, orders triggered immediately. ****
- **Minutes saved** per patient, downstream flow improved.
This approach mirrors **national AI governance guidance** (NIST, White House) by focusing on **safety, human-in-the-loop oversight and measurable ROI**.
## **Removing Friction at Points of Maximum Delay**
Where patient flow breaks down, communication is usually at fault.
- **At triage:** Dialect-aware interpreting prevents bottlenecks.
- **At discharge:** Clear communication reduces 72-hour returns. ****
- **At consent:** Faster, accurate explanations shorten cycle time.
### **Metrics executives should track:**
- Door-to-doc time.
- Time-to-triage complete (LEP vs. non-LEP).
- Boarding hours.
- 72-hour return rate.
## **The U.S. “AI Plan” and Compliance Implications**
**America’s AI Action Plan (2025)** pushes AI from pilots to **managed operations** 【White House†source】.
### For CMOs and COOs this means:
- Treat AI as an **operational capability**, not a side project.
- Require **HIPAA BAAs, audit trails and PHI minimization** in contracts.
- Define metrics upfront (LOS, equity gaps) and audit quarterly.
## **Key Takeaways: Emergency Department Patient Flow**
- **Patient flow is measurable and fixable.** It’s an ops discipline, not just a staffing crisis.
- **Ops methods work in healthcare.** Lean, DevOps and SRE principles directly improve ER throughput.
- **Language access is an operations issue.** LEP bottlenecks clog flow; instant interpreter access removes hidden queues.
- **Tech must deliver time savings.** If it adds clicks, it slows care; if it reduces minutes, it protects safety. ****
- **Leadership owns the outcome.** CMOs/COOs must set SLAs, monitor flow metrics, and align ops with compliance.
## FAQs
### 1\. What is patient flow in emergency departments?
It refers to how patients move through the ED: from arrival to triage, treatment and discharge or admission.
### 2\. Why is patient flow critical for CMOs and COOs?
Because delays affect safety, compliance, financial outcomes and hospital reputation. Poor flow increases risk exposure.
### 3\. How can technology improve patient flow?
By predicting bed availability, automating interpreter access at triage and reducing repeated histories.
### 4\. What role do language barriers play in patient flow?
LEP patients experience longer triage and discharge times. Addressing language needs instantly removes a hidden operational queue.
### 5\. What metrics should leaders track to measure improvement?
Door-to-doc time, left-without-being-seen rate, length of stay (LOS), boarding hours and 72-hour returns.
By Moe Abramovitch
Co-founder and COO, building No Barrier
Moe, COO of No Barrier AI, is a senior technology leader with a strong background in software development and operations. He specializes in bridging advanced AI with real-world healthcare workflows, ensuring technology fits into clinical environments. Beyond operations, Moe documents his journey and shares practical tips with healthcare leaders, offering guidance on AI adoption, organizational change, and operational excellence.
## Share this article
[Twitter icon\\
\\
Twitter](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/patient-flow-ops#) [Facebook icon\\
\\
Facebook](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/patient-flow-ops#) [Pinterest](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/patient-flow-ops#) [LinkedIn icon\\
\\
Linkedin](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/patient-flow-ops#) [Linkedin](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/patient-flow-ops#)
[Telegram](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/patient-flow-ops#) [Reddit](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/patient-flow-ops#)
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# Optimizing Patient Flow: ER Operations Win Minutes with Tech
By Moe Abramovitch
Co-founder and COO, building No Barrier
September 3, 2025
6
Minute Read
## **Executive Summary (for CMOs and COOs)**
- **Patient flow is an operations problem, not just a staffing issue.** Queues form when arrivals outpace departures; patient flow is the lever.
- **Ops excellence isn’t healthcare-only.** Lessons from Lean and aviation apply directly to ER bottlenecks. ****
- **Tech helps when it saves minutes.** Dialect-aware interpreting at triage and predictive bed management reduce delays and risk.
## **Why ER Patient Flow Is a C-Suite Issue**
Crowding in the ER isn’t random; it’s governed by math. **Little’s Law**: patients in system = arrival rate × time. Reduce time in the system, reduce the queue.
- The U.S. sees **~155 million ED visits annually**, yet fewer than half of patients are seen within 15 minutes.
- **Boarding** (admitted patients stuck in the ED) worsens crowding and correlates with higher patient harm 【AHA†source】.
- Every additional wait minute compounds both **clinical risk and operational cost**.
### For executives, poor flow translates into:
- Higher **left-without-being-seen rates**.
- **Compliance risk** (Joint Commission requires timely, effective communication). ****
- **Financial penalties** under value-based reimbursement when wait times drive readmissions or poor outcomes.
## **From Tech Ops to Hospital Ops: What Transfers**
I learned ops discipline first in software and telecom. At Verint and later AirCall, my teams faced a different kind of urgency: millions of users expecting services to be up 24/7. When systems slowed, queues formed; whether it was API calls stacking up or support tickets waiting. The only way to survive was to treat ops as a science.
### **The same playbook applies in hospitals:**
- **Design the flow.** In tech, we mapped every call path; in hospitals, you map bottlenecks before they create queues.
- **Measure relentlessly.** In DevOps, metrics told us the truth; in ERs, time-to-triage or boarding hours matter more than anecdotes.
- **Automate where safe.** In software, scripts replaced repetitive manual tasks; in healthcare, automation frees nurses and physicians for high-value work. ****
- **Repeat continuously.** Ops isn’t a one-off project — in cloud computing or in emergency medicine, you iterate daily.
The twist in healthcare is that **time = safety**. In cloud ops, speed was about customer experience. In the ER, shaving minutes off triage or hours off boarding is not just productivity: it can mean preventing harm and protecting lives.
## **Case Study: A Hidden Ops Blocker**
**Before:** Nurses asked about pain but not preferred language at triage. Non-English speakers waited **8–12 minutes** for a phone interpreter. Orders started late. Patients repeated their story.
**After:** Intake added two questions:
1. What language do you speak?
2. Where does it hurt?
Result:
- **Dialect-aware interpreter** launched instantly.
- **Single-pass history** captured, orders triggered immediately. ****
- **Minutes saved** per patient, downstream flow improved.
This approach mirrors **national AI governance guidance** (NIST, White House) by focusing on **safety, human-in-the-loop oversight and measurable ROI**.
## **Removing Friction at Points of Maximum Delay**
Where patient flow breaks down, communication is usually at fault.
- **At triage:** Dialect-aware interpreting prevents bottlenecks.
- **At discharge:** Clear communication reduces 72-hour returns. ****
- **At consent:** Faster, accurate explanations shorten cycle time.
### **Metrics executives should track:**
- Door-to-doc time.
- Time-to-triage complete (LEP vs. non-LEP).
- Boarding hours.
- 72-hour return rate.
## **The U.S. “AI Plan” and Compliance Implications**
**America’s AI Action Plan (2025)** pushes AI from pilots to **managed operations** 【White House†source】.
### For CMOs and COOs this means:
- Treat AI as an **operational capability**, not a side project.
- Require **HIPAA BAAs, audit trails and PHI minimization** in contracts.
- Define metrics upfront (LOS, equity gaps) and audit quarterly.
## **Key Takeaways: Emergency Department Patient Flow**
- **Patient flow is measurable and fixable.** It’s an ops discipline, not just a staffing crisis.
- **Ops methods work in healthcare.** Lean, DevOps and SRE principles directly improve ER throughput.
- **Language access is an operations issue.** LEP bottlenecks clog flow; instant interpreter access removes hidden queues.
- **Tech must deliver time savings.** If it adds clicks, it slows care; if it reduces minutes, it protects safety. ****
- **Leadership owns the outcome.** CMOs/COOs must set SLAs, monitor flow metrics, and align ops with compliance.
## You’d also be interested in…
[**How to Solve the “One Patient, Multiple Interpreters” Challenge in Healthcare** \\
\\
Cost & Efficiency\\
\\
November 26, 2025\\
\\
2\\
\\
min read\\
\\
LEP patients face fragmented care. Integrated interpreter models create smoother, patient-centered communication.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-to-solve-the-one-patient-multiple-interpreters-challenge-in-healthcare)
[**6 Medical Translation Challenges Patients Face With Interpreters** \\
\\
Cost & Efficiency\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Language barriers make healthcare hard, but better interpreter services and clear communication can help patients get better care.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-medical-translation-challenges-patients-face-with-interpreters)
[**6 Big Problems in Medical Interpretation: What Healthcare Providers Tell Us** \\
\\
Cost & Efficiency\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
5\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Hospitals risk liability when medical translation fails. Gricelda Zamora’s case shows how missed interpretation can breach ACA 1557 making language access vital for safety and ROI.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-big-problems-in-medical-interpretation-what-healthcare-providers-tell-us)
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/patient-flow-ops#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## AI Language Access Strategy
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
Industry Insights & Trends
# Planning Your 2025 Language Access Strategy with AI-Powered Oral Interpretation
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
August 4, 2024
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
3
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h3\\
\\
Conduct a Thorough Needs Assessment](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/planning-your-2025-language-access-strategy-with-ai-powered-oral-interpretation#conduct-a-thorough-needs-assessment)
[h3\\
\\
Embrace AI-Powered Oral Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/planning-your-2025-language-access-strategy-with-ai-powered-oral-interpretation#embrace-ai-powered-oral-interpretation)
[h3\\
\\
Develop a Written Policy and Procedures](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/planning-your-2025-language-access-strategy-with-ai-powered-oral-interpretation#develop-a-written-policy-and-procedures)
[h3\\
\\
Align with Organizational Goals](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/planning-your-2025-language-access-strategy-with-ai-powered-oral-interpretation#align-with-organizational-goals)
[h3\\
\\
Project Financial Impact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/planning-your-2025-language-access-strategy-with-ai-powered-oral-interpretation#project-financial-impact)
[h3\\
\\
Plan for Continuous Improvement](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/planning-your-2025-language-access-strategy-with-ai-powered-oral-interpretation#plan-for-continuous-improvement)
[h3\\
\\
Conclusion](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/planning-your-2025-language-access-strategy-with-ai-powered-oral-interpretation#conclusion)
If you're a healthcare institution that cares for patients with Limited English Proficiency, you probably already have a language access plan and solutions to interact with patients such as in-house interpreters or remote agencies in place.
As we approach 2025, many healthcare institutions are revisiting their language access plans. In this blog post, we'll explore how to create a forward-thinking language access plan for 2025, with a special focus on leveraging cutting-edge **AI medical interpretation technology for oral interpretation**. The main reason is that usually oral interpretation is much more frequently used than document written translation - a fact that impacts the budget and workflow of providers every day.
### Conduct a Thorough Needs Assessment
Before diving into the specifics of your 2025 language access plan, it's crucial to understand your current landscape:
- Analyze your patient demographics to identify the most common languages spoken
- Evaluate your existing language access services, particularly in oral interpretation
- Assess your staff's ability to utilize and provide language support
- Determine the need for professional interpreters, both human and AI-powered
Pro tip: Utilize internal data from your EHR system or from your current interpreting agency data on most frequent non-English languages.
### Embrace AI-Powered Oral Interpretation
As we look towards 2025, AI-powered medical interpretation is set to transform the healthcare industry. Our startup's innovative, HIPAA-compliant solution offers real-time, accurate, and culturally sensitive oral interpretation, addressing many of the challenges faced by traditional interpretation methods:
- Instant availability: No more waiting for human interpreters to arrive or connect
- Consistency: AI-based interpretation solutions maintain the same level of accuracy throughout long sessions
- Cost-effectiveness: Reduce interpretation costs dramatically (~70%)
- Scalability: Easily handle multiple languages and dialects without additional resources
### Develop a Written Policy and Procedures
Create a written policy that outlines:
- The objectives of your language access plan
- Roles and responsibilities of staff and your AI interpretation service provider
- Training requirements for staff to effectively use AI interpretation tools. Training of AI technology usually is very short.
- Processes for informing patients about available language assistance
- Methods for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of your AI-powered interpretation services
### Align with Organizational Goals
When presenting your 2025 language access plan to stakeholders, emphasize how AI-powered interpretation aligns with broader organizational objectives:
- Increased efficiency and cost savings
- Improved patient satisfaction and outcomes
- Improve providers’ satisfaction from the new workflow
- Enhanced regulatory compliance
- Reduced risk of miscommunication-related medical errors
### Project Financial Impact
Utilize data to demonstrate the return on investment of implementing AI-powered interpretation:
- Estimate the reduction in interpretation costs compared to traditional methods
- Calculate potential savings from reduced appointment times
- Quantify the potential decrease in readmission rates due to improved communication
### Plan for Continuous Improvement
Implement a process for ongoing evaluation of your AI-powered language access services:
- Continuous monitoring of user feedback, both from patients and healthcare providers
- Periodic review of community demographics to ensure your AI system covers emerging language needs
### Conclusion
As we approach 2025, the integration of AI-powered oral interpretation into your language access plan represents a significant leap forward in providing equitable, efficient, and high-quality care to non-English speaking patients. By embracing this technology, healthcare providers can overcome language barriers, improve patient outcomes, and stay ahead in an increasingly diverse healthcare landscape.
## FAQs
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
[Twitter icon\\
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[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# Planning Your 2025 Language Access Strategy with AI-Powered Oral Interpretation
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
August 4, 2024
3
Minute Read
If you're a healthcare institution that cares for patients with Limited English Proficiency, you probably already have a language access plan and solutions to interact with patients such as in-house interpreters or remote agencies in place.
As we approach 2025, many healthcare institutions are revisiting their language access plans. In this blog post, we'll explore how to create a forward-thinking language access plan for 2025, with a special focus on leveraging cutting-edge **AI medical interpretation technology for oral interpretation**. The main reason is that usually oral interpretation is much more frequently used than document written translation - a fact that impacts the budget and workflow of providers every day.
### Conduct a Thorough Needs Assessment
Before diving into the specifics of your 2025 language access plan, it's crucial to understand your current landscape:
- Analyze your patient demographics to identify the most common languages spoken
- Evaluate your existing language access services, particularly in oral interpretation
- Assess your staff's ability to utilize and provide language support
- Determine the need for professional interpreters, both human and AI-powered
Pro tip: Utilize internal data from your EHR system or from your current interpreting agency data on most frequent non-English languages.
### Embrace AI-Powered Oral Interpretation
As we look towards 2025, AI-powered medical interpretation is set to transform the healthcare industry. Our startup's innovative, HIPAA-compliant solution offers real-time, accurate, and culturally sensitive oral interpretation, addressing many of the challenges faced by traditional interpretation methods:
- Instant availability: No more waiting for human interpreters to arrive or connect
- Consistency: AI-based interpretation solutions maintain the same level of accuracy throughout long sessions
- Cost-effectiveness: Reduce interpretation costs dramatically (~70%)
- Scalability: Easily handle multiple languages and dialects without additional resources
### Develop a Written Policy and Procedures
Create a written policy that outlines:
- The objectives of your language access plan
- Roles and responsibilities of staff and your AI interpretation service provider
- Training requirements for staff to effectively use AI interpretation tools. Training of AI technology usually is very short.
- Processes for informing patients about available language assistance
- Methods for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of your AI-powered interpretation services
### Align with Organizational Goals
When presenting your 2025 language access plan to stakeholders, emphasize how AI-powered interpretation aligns with broader organizational objectives:
- Increased efficiency and cost savings
- Improved patient satisfaction and outcomes
- Improve providers’ satisfaction from the new workflow
- Enhanced regulatory compliance
- Reduced risk of miscommunication-related medical errors
### Project Financial Impact
Utilize data to demonstrate the return on investment of implementing AI-powered interpretation:
- Estimate the reduction in interpretation costs compared to traditional methods
- Calculate potential savings from reduced appointment times
- Quantify the potential decrease in readmission rates due to improved communication
### Plan for Continuous Improvement
Implement a process for ongoing evaluation of your AI-powered language access services:
- Continuous monitoring of user feedback, both from patients and healthcare providers
- Periodic review of community demographics to ensure your AI system covers emerging language needs
### Conclusion
As we approach 2025, the integration of AI-powered oral interpretation into your language access plan represents a significant leap forward in providing equitable, efficient, and high-quality care to non-English speaking patients. By embracing this technology, healthcare providers can overcome language barriers, improve patient outcomes, and stay ahead in an increasingly diverse healthcare landscape.
## You’d also be interested in…
[**Slator 2025 Language AI 50 Under 50: No Barrier AI Recognized** \\
\\
Industry Insights & Trends\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
2\\
\\
min read\\
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Slator is a leading source for news, research and market intelligence across translation, localization, interpreting and language AI.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/2025-slator-language-ai-50-under-50)
[**Best Practices for Treating Patients from Different Cultures** \\
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Industry Insights & Trends\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
min read\\
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Cultural competence in healthcare improves trust and outcomes. Understanding cultural differences, using interpreters, respecting beliefs, and involving families ensures effective, inclusive care.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/best-practices-for-treating-patients-from-different-cultures)
[**The Intersection of Low Health Literacy and Limited English Proficiency in Healthcare** \\
\\
Industry Insights & Trends\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Low health literacy and limited English proficiency create major healthcare barriers for millions of Americans, requiring innovative solutions to improve patient understanding.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-intersection-of-low-health-literacy-and-limited-english-proficiency-in-healthcare)
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/planning-your-2025-language-access-strategy-with-ai-powered-oral-interpretation#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## LEP Burnout in Healthcare
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
Compliance & Risk (HIPAA, Legal, Safety)
# Provider - Do You Have LEP Burnout?
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
March 14, 2024
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
4
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h4\\
\\
1\. Challenges related to Interpreter Services](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/provider-do-you-have-lep-burnout#1-challenges-related-to-interpreter-services)
[h4\\
\\
2\. Time Pressure and Longer Encounters](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/provider-do-you-have-lep-burnout#2-time-pressure-and-longer-encounters)
[h4\\
\\
3\. Burden of Ensuring Accurate Communication](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/provider-do-you-have-lep-burnout#3-burden-of-ensuring-accurate-communication)
[h4\\
\\
4\. Navigating Cultural Differences](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/provider-do-you-have-lep-burnout#4-navigating-cultural-differences)
Healthcare providers are well-acquainted with the phenomenon of burnout. It's a systemic issue, exacerbated by a multitude of factors, such as administrative responsibilities, time constraints, high expectations, and a demanding work environment. However, one challenge often overlooked is the strain related to serving patients with Limited English Proficiency (LEP).
In our discussions with healthcare providers, we've identified several substantial challenges associated with language barriers:
#### 1\. Challenges related to Interpreter Services
The process of procuring interpreter services is often seen as a cumbersome workflow that heightens stress levels. Providers consistently reported delays in acquiring interpretation assistance whether via a telephone language line or a video translator service. Waiting times often depend on the language in question, with some interpreters becoming available within 1-2 minutes, while others may take 5-10 minutes or more. This is especially the case for less common languages or specific dialects, and during off-hours.
After the interpreter becomes available, additional time is consumed by procedural necessities, such as introductions, disclaimers, and other formalities. Moreover, healthcare providers are required to document the name and identification number of the interpreter in the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) as proof of involving an interpreter in the encounter, further contributing to the complexity and length of each appointment.
#### 2\. Time Pressure and Longer Encounters
The lengthy process of securing and working with an interpreter inevitably leads to longer patient encounters. Each exchange must pass through an interpretative filter, with every sentence translated twice — once for the patient and once for the provider. This, coupled with the occasional need for repetition due to misunderstandings, amplifies the length of each session. As a result, an average patient encounter, under normal conditions completed within a 15-minute slot, can extend to as much as 30-40 minutes when working with LEP patients.
#### 3\. Burden of Ensuring Accurate Communication
Effective communication forms the crux of healthcare provision. However, with language barriers, the fear of not having the message delivered as intended weighs heavy on providers. They find themselves unsure if their instructions were accurately understood or whether crucial details were lost, misinterpreted, or possibly "softened" during the translation.
Moreover, inconsistencies in translation quality can further deepen the unease. Providers have shared instances where interpreters, due to their expertise level or understanding of the context, were unable to accurately express the provider's instructions.
#### 4\. Navigating Cultural Differences
Diverse cultural beliefs and practices can pose another challenge in healthcare provision. Cultural differences can sometimes contradict medical advice, potentially resulting in non-compliance with the recommended course of treatment. Additionally, some cultural norms and taboos can inhibit full disclosure of symptoms or concerns that could be crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Recognizing these challenges, it becomes imperative to acknowledge a distinct form of burnout: the **"LEP Burnout".** This is a specific form of stress and fatigue that healthcare providers face when dealing with patients who have limited English proficiency.
Identifying LEP Burnout as a specific issue under the broader umbrella of healthcare provider burnout can guide us in finding targeted solutions. One such solution is the development of the first AI Medical Interpreter. This AI tool can alleviate some of the communication challenges, leading to clearer, more accurate, and more efficient interactions between providers and LEP patients, thereby helping to reduce instances of LEP Burnout.
## FAQs
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
[Twitter icon\\
\\
Twitter](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/provider-do-you-have-lep-burnout#) [Facebook icon\\
\\
Facebook](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/provider-do-you-have-lep-burnout#) [Pinterest](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/provider-do-you-have-lep-burnout#) [LinkedIn icon\\
\\
Linkedin](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/provider-do-you-have-lep-burnout#) [Linkedin](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/provider-do-you-have-lep-burnout#)
[Telegram](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/provider-do-you-have-lep-burnout#) [Reddit](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/provider-do-you-have-lep-burnout#)
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# Provider - Do You Have LEP Burnout?
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
March 14, 2024
4
Minute Read
Healthcare providers are well-acquainted with the phenomenon of burnout. It's a systemic issue, exacerbated by a multitude of factors, such as administrative responsibilities, time constraints, high expectations, and a demanding work environment. However, one challenge often overlooked is the strain related to serving patients with Limited English Proficiency (LEP).
In our discussions with healthcare providers, we've identified several substantial challenges associated with language barriers:
#### 1\. Challenges related to Interpreter Services
The process of procuring interpreter services is often seen as a cumbersome workflow that heightens stress levels. Providers consistently reported delays in acquiring interpretation assistance whether via a telephone language line or a video translator service. Waiting times often depend on the language in question, with some interpreters becoming available within 1-2 minutes, while others may take 5-10 minutes or more. This is especially the case for less common languages or specific dialects, and during off-hours.
After the interpreter becomes available, additional time is consumed by procedural necessities, such as introductions, disclaimers, and other formalities. Moreover, healthcare providers are required to document the name and identification number of the interpreter in the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) as proof of involving an interpreter in the encounter, further contributing to the complexity and length of each appointment.
#### 2\. Time Pressure and Longer Encounters
The lengthy process of securing and working with an interpreter inevitably leads to longer patient encounters. Each exchange must pass through an interpretative filter, with every sentence translated twice — once for the patient and once for the provider. This, coupled with the occasional need for repetition due to misunderstandings, amplifies the length of each session. As a result, an average patient encounter, under normal conditions completed within a 15-minute slot, can extend to as much as 30-40 minutes when working with LEP patients.
#### 3\. Burden of Ensuring Accurate Communication
Effective communication forms the crux of healthcare provision. However, with language barriers, the fear of not having the message delivered as intended weighs heavy on providers. They find themselves unsure if their instructions were accurately understood or whether crucial details were lost, misinterpreted, or possibly "softened" during the translation.
Moreover, inconsistencies in translation quality can further deepen the unease. Providers have shared instances where interpreters, due to their expertise level or understanding of the context, were unable to accurately express the provider's instructions.
#### 4\. Navigating Cultural Differences
Diverse cultural beliefs and practices can pose another challenge in healthcare provision. Cultural differences can sometimes contradict medical advice, potentially resulting in non-compliance with the recommended course of treatment. Additionally, some cultural norms and taboos can inhibit full disclosure of symptoms or concerns that could be crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Recognizing these challenges, it becomes imperative to acknowledge a distinct form of burnout: the **"LEP Burnout".** This is a specific form of stress and fatigue that healthcare providers face when dealing with patients who have limited English proficiency.
Identifying LEP Burnout as a specific issue under the broader umbrella of healthcare provider burnout can guide us in finding targeted solutions. One such solution is the development of the first AI Medical Interpreter. This AI tool can alleviate some of the communication challenges, leading to clearer, more accurate, and more efficient interactions between providers and LEP patients, thereby helping to reduce instances of LEP Burnout.
## You’d also be interested in…
[**The Executive Checklist for Choosing Your Next AI Interpreter Vendor** \\
\\
Compliance & Risk (HIPAA, Legal, Safety)\\
\\
October 9, 2025\\
\\
7\\
\\
min read\\
\\
A concise, compliance-first checklist for healthcare leaders to evaluate AI interpreter vendors on HIPAA alignment, accuracy, ROI and patient experience before signing a contract.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-executive-checklist-for-choosing-your-next-ai-interpreter-vendor)
[**Is Google Translate HIPAA Compliant? What Every Hospital Needs to Know** \\
\\
Compliance & Risk (HIPAA, Legal, Safety)\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
2\\
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min read\\
\\
Google Translate is not HIPAA compliant. No BAAs, encryption or audit controls. Using it in healthcare creates compliance, safety and legal risks. \\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/google-translate-risks)
[**Could Your Bilingual Staff Double as Certified Medical Interpreters? Answers to Your Questions** \\
\\
Compliance & Risk (HIPAA, Legal, Safety)\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
3\\
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min read\\
\\
Exploring practical considerations for healthcare organizations when certifying bilingual staff as medical interpreters.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/could-your-bilingual-staff-double-as-certified-medical-interpreters-answers-to-your-questions)
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/provider-do-you-have-lep-burnout#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Bilingual Peers in Healthcare
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
Compliance & Risk (HIPAA, Legal, Safety)
# Relying on Bilingual Peers for Language Interpretation - A Cautionary Tale
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
March 14, 2024
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
4
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h2\\
\\
Example H2](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/relying-on-bilingual-peers-for-language-interpretation--a-cautionary-tale#)
As we embarked on the journey of creating No Barrier, a common thread woven through our discussions was the leveraging of bilingual staff as impromptu interpreters during patient consultations. In principle, this practice seems reasonable. Some team members have even pursued professional certification to become medical interpreters. Many hospitals actively encourage their personnel to acquire language skills, like completing a 40-hour comprehensive course in medical Spanish. Primed with linguistic proficiency, these bilingual staff members step in to enable smooth communication.
Nonetheless, there's a less apparent side to this story. The 'informal' interpreters frequently find themselves shouldering unexpected responsibilities. Imagine the situation - a monolingual doctor urgently needs their help, and they must drop their tasks abruptly to aid. During our talks with these bilingual individuals, many implied that extra compensation could be appropriate for this unanticipated assistive role.
Take, for example, the instance of Dr. Jackson (an alias to maintain anonymity), a multilingual physician from California proficient in three languages. He shared his experiences of the pressures of working in an environment where many of his patients and his colleagues' patients are Limited English Proficient (LEP), reflecting the demographic reality of the area.
Proud of his linguistic arsenal, Dr. Jackson confessed that it often feels misused. He's consistently drawn from his busy schedule to support non-English-speaking patients of his peers, which in turn led to longer workdays devoid of breaks. As these interruptions became a constant feature, Dr. Jackson noticed the toll it was taking on his patients' care and personal life.
Dr. Jackson began to counter this trend, refusing to interpret and reminding colleagues of readily available resources like courses in medical Spanish and interpreter assistance lines.
While he acknowledges the necessity for physicians to bridge language barriers with patients, he believes the burden shouldn't rest solely on multilingual staff. Hospitals need to strive for equitable healthcare access while also prioritizing staff wellbeing, by offering robust training, hiring professional interpreters, using technological tools, and promoting shared responsibility.
The invaluable role of language skills in healthcare isn't under dispute. However, like Dr. Jackson's story, it demonstrates the need for a holistic approach. Tackling language barriers multifacetedly proves to be more beneficial to both patients and staff alike.
The next time you, as a healthcare provider, encounter language barriers, consider turning to No Barrier. Not only will you gain linguistic independence, freeing up your bilingual colleagues to focus on their core roles, but you'll also be transforming the healthcare narrative, one LEP patient at a time. Welcome to No Barrier, navigating the complexities of the multilingual healthcare landscape.
## FAQs
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
[Twitter icon\\
\\
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Linkedin](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/relying-on-bilingual-peers-for-language-interpretation--a-cautionary-tale#) [Linkedin](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/relying-on-bilingual-peers-for-language-interpretation--a-cautionary-tale#)
[Telegram](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/relying-on-bilingual-peers-for-language-interpretation--a-cautionary-tale#) [Reddit](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/relying-on-bilingual-peers-for-language-interpretation--a-cautionary-tale#)
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# Relying on Bilingual Peers for Language Interpretation - A Cautionary Tale
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
March 14, 2024
4
Minute Read
As we embarked on the journey of creating No Barrier, a common thread woven through our discussions was the leveraging of bilingual staff as impromptu interpreters during patient consultations. In principle, this practice seems reasonable. Some team members have even pursued professional certification to become medical interpreters. Many hospitals actively encourage their personnel to acquire language skills, like completing a 40-hour comprehensive course in medical Spanish. Primed with linguistic proficiency, these bilingual staff members step in to enable smooth communication.
Nonetheless, there's a less apparent side to this story. The 'informal' interpreters frequently find themselves shouldering unexpected responsibilities. Imagine the situation - a monolingual doctor urgently needs their help, and they must drop their tasks abruptly to aid. During our talks with these bilingual individuals, many implied that extra compensation could be appropriate for this unanticipated assistive role.
Take, for example, the instance of Dr. Jackson (an alias to maintain anonymity), a multilingual physician from California proficient in three languages. He shared his experiences of the pressures of working in an environment where many of his patients and his colleagues' patients are Limited English Proficient (LEP), reflecting the demographic reality of the area.
Proud of his linguistic arsenal, Dr. Jackson confessed that it often feels misused. He's consistently drawn from his busy schedule to support non-English-speaking patients of his peers, which in turn led to longer workdays devoid of breaks. As these interruptions became a constant feature, Dr. Jackson noticed the toll it was taking on his patients' care and personal life.
Dr. Jackson began to counter this trend, refusing to interpret and reminding colleagues of readily available resources like courses in medical Spanish and interpreter assistance lines.
While he acknowledges the necessity for physicians to bridge language barriers with patients, he believes the burden shouldn't rest solely on multilingual staff. Hospitals need to strive for equitable healthcare access while also prioritizing staff wellbeing, by offering robust training, hiring professional interpreters, using technological tools, and promoting shared responsibility.
The invaluable role of language skills in healthcare isn't under dispute. However, like Dr. Jackson's story, it demonstrates the need for a holistic approach. Tackling language barriers multifacetedly proves to be more beneficial to both patients and staff alike.
The next time you, as a healthcare provider, encounter language barriers, consider turning to No Barrier. Not only will you gain linguistic independence, freeing up your bilingual colleagues to focus on their core roles, but you'll also be transforming the healthcare narrative, one LEP patient at a time. Welcome to No Barrier, navigating the complexities of the multilingual healthcare landscape.
## You’d also be interested in…
[**The Executive Checklist for Choosing Your Next AI Interpreter Vendor** \\
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Compliance & Risk (HIPAA, Legal, Safety)\\
\\
October 9, 2025\\
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7\\
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A concise, compliance-first checklist for healthcare leaders to evaluate AI interpreter vendors on HIPAA alignment, accuracy, ROI and patient experience before signing a contract.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-executive-checklist-for-choosing-your-next-ai-interpreter-vendor)
[**Is Google Translate HIPAA Compliant? What Every Hospital Needs to Know** \\
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Compliance & Risk (HIPAA, Legal, Safety)\\
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October 17, 2025\\
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2\\
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Google Translate is not HIPAA compliant. No BAAs, encryption or audit controls. Using it in healthcare creates compliance, safety and legal risks. \\
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**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/google-translate-risks)
[**Could Your Bilingual Staff Double as Certified Medical Interpreters? Answers to Your Questions** \\
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Compliance & Risk (HIPAA, Legal, Safety)\\
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October 17, 2025\\
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Exploring practical considerations for healthcare organizations when certifying bilingual staff as medical interpreters.\\
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**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/could-your-bilingual-staff-double-as-certified-medical-interpreters-answers-to-your-questions)
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/relying-on-bilingual-peers-for-language-interpretation--a-cautionary-tale#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Remote Interpreting Challenges
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
Cost & Efficiency
# Remote Interpreters Audio and Connectivity Challenges
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
October 13, 2024
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
3
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h2\\
\\
Remote Medical Interpreting Methods](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/remote-interpreters-audio-and-connectivity-challenges#remote-medical-interpreting-methods)
[h4\\
\\
Over-the-Phone Interpreting (OPI)](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/remote-interpreters-audio-and-connectivity-challenges#over-the-phone-interpreting-opi)
[h4\\
\\
2\. Video Remote Interpreting (VRI)](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/remote-interpreters-audio-and-connectivity-challenges#2-video-remote-interpreting-vri)
[h2\\
\\
Common Challenges in Remote Interpreting](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/remote-interpreters-audio-and-connectivity-challenges#common-challenges-in-remote-interpreting)
[h4\\
\\
Audio Quality Issues](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/remote-interpreters-audio-and-connectivity-challenges#audio-quality-issues)
[h4\\
\\
Call Drops and Connectivity Problems](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/remote-interpreters-audio-and-connectivity-challenges#call-drops-and-connectivity-problems)
[h4\\
\\
Factors Affecting Interpretation Quality](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/remote-interpreters-audio-and-connectivity-challenges#factors-affecting-interpretation-quality)
[h2\\
\\
How No Barrier Addresses the Infrastructure Challenges](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/remote-interpreters-audio-and-connectivity-challenges#how-no-barrier-addresses-the-infrastructure-challenges)
[h2\\
\\
Conclusion](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/remote-interpreters-audio-and-connectivity-challenges#conclusion)
Remote medical interpreting has become the most popular method for healthcare institutions to provide language accessibility services. However, interviews with numerous providers have revealed a frequent issue: **the low overall audio quality in remote interpreting sessions and frequent call drops**.
This article explores current methods of remote medical interpreting, common challenges faced, factors affecting interpretation quality, and how No Barrier addresses these issues.
## **Remote Medical Interpreting Methods**
#### **Over-the-Phone Interpreting (OPI)**
Phone-based interpreting utilizes the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) infrastructure.
**Advantages:**
- PSTN is known for its consistent call quality and reliability
- Widely accessible
**Disadvantages:**
- Lower audio quality - also known as "narrowband" audio
- Lack of visual cues
Spectrogram1 of a normal adult male voice - consistently reaches 10,000 Hz
The spectrogram shows a male voice with frequencies reaching up to 22 kHz, with strong content up to 10 kHz.
However, when transmitted through a traditional phone network, **everything above about 3.4 kHz is cut off.** This means all the green areas in the upper part of the image - representing the voice's higher frequencies - are lost.
The result is a **voice that sounds less crisp and natural**, missing the subtle qualities that the higher frequencies provide - which is why phone voices often sound muffled compared to the full-spectrum voice we see visualized here.
#### **2\. Video Remote Interpreting (VRI)**
Internet-based interpreting can be used for both video and audio interpreters.
**Advantages:**
- Supports wideband, AKA "HD voice" - which can provide noticeably better audio quality than traditional PSTN
- Video capability for improved communication
**Disadvantages:**
- Network stability varies depending on factors like Wi-Fi signal and bandwidth, which can lead to delayed communication
- Potential for connectivity issues on the public network
- The process of transmitting sound over the web is complex and may occasionally create variations in quality
- Video consumes more bandwidth than audio-only traffic (anywhere between 6 to 40 times more data usage depending on technical factors)
## **Common Challenges in Remote Interpreting**
#### **Audio Quality Issues**
Poor audio quality in medical encounters can lead to misunderstandings, the need for frequent repetition, and a generally poor experience for both the patient and the provider. According to providers, interpreters often sound "far away," and the returning audio is unclear, necessitating frequent requests for repetition.
#### **Call Drops and Connectivity Problems**
Another phenomenon reported by providers is frequent call drops. Unstable connections can result in interruptions to the flow of communication, potentially causing critical information to be missed.
#### **Factors Affecting Interpretation Quality**
Several factors can impact the quality of remote medical interpreting:
- Interpreter location (domestic vs. international)
- Quality of interpreter's equipment (computer, headset, internet connection)
- Robustness of the vendor's application and infrastructure
- Healthcare institution's network infrastructure
## **How No Barrier Addresses the Infrastructure Challenges**
No Barrier has implemented several strategies to optimize the remote interpreting experience as part of its AI-enhanced medical interpreting service:
1. **US-based servers:** Ensuring proximity to reduce latency
2. **Consistent high-quality audio:** AI interpreter always delivers clear audio on the healthcare institution's local device, in a consistent manner
3. **Optimized internet traffic:** Employing various techniques to minimize latency despite using internet networks
## **Conclusion**
While remote medical interpreting has greatly improved language accessibility in healthcare settings, audio quality and connectivity issues remain significant challenges. No Barrier's innovative approach, combining AI technology with optimized infrastructure, addresses many of these concerns, potentially setting a new standard for remote medical interpreting services.
By continually refining and improving remote interpreting technologies, we can ensure that language barriers do not compromise the quality of healthcare provided to patients with limited English proficiency.
Resources:
1 Why remote interpretation doesn’t work for interpreters - [here](https://untoday.org/why-remote-interpretation-doesnt-work/)
## FAQs
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
[Twitter icon\\
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Twitter](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/remote-interpreters-audio-and-connectivity-challenges#) [Facebook icon\\
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[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# Remote Interpreters Audio and Connectivity Challenges
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
October 13, 2024
3
Minute Read
Remote medical interpreting has become the most popular method for healthcare institutions to provide language accessibility services. However, interviews with numerous providers have revealed a frequent issue: **the low overall audio quality in remote interpreting sessions and frequent call drops**.
This article explores current methods of remote medical interpreting, common challenges faced, factors affecting interpretation quality, and how No Barrier addresses these issues.
## **Remote Medical Interpreting Methods**
#### **Over-the-Phone Interpreting (OPI)**
Phone-based interpreting utilizes the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) infrastructure.
**Advantages:**
- PSTN is known for its consistent call quality and reliability
- Widely accessible
**Disadvantages:**
- Lower audio quality - also known as "narrowband" audio
- Lack of visual cues
Spectrogram1 of a normal adult male voice - consistently reaches 10,000 Hz
The spectrogram shows a male voice with frequencies reaching up to 22 kHz, with strong content up to 10 kHz.
However, when transmitted through a traditional phone network, **everything above about 3.4 kHz is cut off.** This means all the green areas in the upper part of the image - representing the voice's higher frequencies - are lost.
The result is a **voice that sounds less crisp and natural**, missing the subtle qualities that the higher frequencies provide - which is why phone voices often sound muffled compared to the full-spectrum voice we see visualized here.
#### **2\. Video Remote Interpreting (VRI)**
Internet-based interpreting can be used for both video and audio interpreters.
**Advantages:**
- Supports wideband, AKA "HD voice" - which can provide noticeably better audio quality than traditional PSTN
- Video capability for improved communication
**Disadvantages:**
- Network stability varies depending on factors like Wi-Fi signal and bandwidth, which can lead to delayed communication
- Potential for connectivity issues on the public network
- The process of transmitting sound over the web is complex and may occasionally create variations in quality
- Video consumes more bandwidth than audio-only traffic (anywhere between 6 to 40 times more data usage depending on technical factors)
## **Common Challenges in Remote Interpreting**
#### **Audio Quality Issues**
Poor audio quality in medical encounters can lead to misunderstandings, the need for frequent repetition, and a generally poor experience for both the patient and the provider. According to providers, interpreters often sound "far away," and the returning audio is unclear, necessitating frequent requests for repetition.
#### **Call Drops and Connectivity Problems**
Another phenomenon reported by providers is frequent call drops. Unstable connections can result in interruptions to the flow of communication, potentially causing critical information to be missed.
#### **Factors Affecting Interpretation Quality**
Several factors can impact the quality of remote medical interpreting:
- Interpreter location (domestic vs. international)
- Quality of interpreter's equipment (computer, headset, internet connection)
- Robustness of the vendor's application and infrastructure
- Healthcare institution's network infrastructure
## **How No Barrier Addresses the Infrastructure Challenges**
No Barrier has implemented several strategies to optimize the remote interpreting experience as part of its AI-enhanced medical interpreting service:
1. **US-based servers:** Ensuring proximity to reduce latency
2. **Consistent high-quality audio:** AI interpreter always delivers clear audio on the healthcare institution's local device, in a consistent manner
3. **Optimized internet traffic:** Employing various techniques to minimize latency despite using internet networks
## **Conclusion**
While remote medical interpreting has greatly improved language accessibility in healthcare settings, audio quality and connectivity issues remain significant challenges. No Barrier's innovative approach, combining AI technology with optimized infrastructure, addresses many of these concerns, potentially setting a new standard for remote medical interpreting services.
By continually refining and improving remote interpreting technologies, we can ensure that language barriers do not compromise the quality of healthcare provided to patients with limited English proficiency.
Resources:
1 Why remote interpretation doesn’t work for interpreters - [here](https://untoday.org/why-remote-interpretation-doesnt-work/)
## You’d also be interested in…
[**Optimizing Patient Flow: ER Operations Win Minutes with Tech** \\
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Crowding in the ER isn’t random; it’s governed by math. Little’s Law: patients in system = arrival rate × time. Reduce time in the system, reduce the queue.\\
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**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/patient-flow-ops)
[**How to Solve the “One Patient, Multiple Interpreters” Challenge in Healthcare** \\
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**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-to-solve-the-one-patient-multiple-interpreters-challenge-in-healthcare)
[**6 Medical Translation Challenges Patients Face With Interpreters** \\
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October 17, 2025\\
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Language barriers make healthcare hard, but better interpreter services and clear communication can help patients get better care.\\
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## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/remote-interpreters-audio-and-connectivity-challenges#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Understanding Techquity in Healthcare
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
Industry Insights & Trends
# So, what is Techquity, and why does it matter?
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
October 21, 2024
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
3
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h2\\
\\
Techquity: A Step Towards Closing the Gap](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/so-what-is-techquity-and-why-does-it-matter#techquity-a-step-towards-closing-the-gap)
[h3\\
\\
Understanding Techquity](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/so-what-is-techquity-and-why-does-it-matter#understanding-techquity)
[h3\\
\\
Key Components of Techquity](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/so-what-is-techquity-and-why-does-it-matter#key-components-of-techquity)
[h3\\
\\
No Barrier: Implementing Techquity in Language Accessibility](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/so-what-is-techquity-and-why-does-it-matter#no-barrier-implementing-techquity-in-language-accessibility)
[h3\\
\\
No Barrier and the Practice of Techquity](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/so-what-is-techquity-and-why-does-it-matter#no-barrier-and-the-practice-of-techquity)
[h3\\
\\
The Future of Techquity](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/so-what-is-techquity-and-why-does-it-matter#the-future-of-techquity)
## Techquity: A Step Towards Closing the Gap
### Understanding Techquity
The term “Techquity” is derived from the terms “technology” and “equity” and refers to the unification of the two concepts—technological advancement and health equity. This notion calls for the formulation of technology in a way that addresses the gap in access and outcomes in healthcare relevant to marginalized populations.
Techquity’s main objectives include the following:
- Access to healthcare services more easily
- Increasing the overall health knowledge of people
- Overcoming obstacles to treatment access
- Providing care that is sensitive to cultural diversity
Though technology has a lot of promise in providing solutions to various healthcare issues, it may also pose challenges if not handled correctly. Techquity, on the other hand, emphasizes addressing inequities in the distribution and use of these healthcare technologies so that everyone, regardless of their social standing, ethnicity, or location, can benefit from digital advancements in health.
### Key Components of Techquity
- Able to access important technologies as well as the internet.
- Technologies or solutions are developed with different users in mind.
- Any health technology solution developed must take into account the cultural aspects of the problem being addressed.
- There is also a cultural dimension in the collection and analysis of health data.
### No Barrier: Implementing Techquity in Language Accessibility
No Barrier exemplifies the principles of techquity by addressing a critical aspect of healthcare equity: language accessibility. By considering language technologies as tools that can benefit non-English speaking patients, No Barrier is actively improving health outcomes for patients who speak other languages and do not know English.
### No Barrier and the Practice of Techquity
- **Reducing wait times**: Communication with the healthcare system is one of the problems that needs a solution, and No Barrier solves one of the most common issues by reducing wait times for professional medical interpreters. This efficiency also means that cases of inequity in access to care will be reduced in the future.
- **Encouraging interactions that improve health outcomes**: No Barrier allows for time-sensitive interpretation, facilitating comprehension between healthcare service providers and patients, which enhances their interactions and can lead to better health outcomes.
- **Encouraging culturally appropriate care**: No Barrier takes into account various cultural parameters like patient’s age, gender, specific dialects and other contextual settings, ensuring that services are offered appropriately without cultural dissonance between provider and patient.
- **Closing the gap for non-English patients**: No Barrier ensures that patients who do not speak English are not disadvantaged due to technology, promoting the availability and use of interpretation services.
- **Increasing ability to make health-related choices**: Appropriate interpretation of patients’ thoughts, weaknesses, and feelings promotes health literacy for non-native English speakers, enabling them to make informed health-related choices.
### The Future of Techquity
In light of current trends towards a more digital healthcare system, the relevance of techquity cannot be undermined. Health technologies improve accessibility across populations, and aiming for equitable access will help close health gaps among diverse groups.
Ultimately, techquity is not just about providing equal access to technology; it is about using technology to enhance healthcare systems for everyone's benefit.
## FAQs
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
[Twitter icon\\
\\
Twitter](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/so-what-is-techquity-and-why-does-it-matter#) [Facebook icon\\
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Facebook](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/so-what-is-techquity-and-why-does-it-matter#) [Pinterest](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/so-what-is-techquity-and-why-does-it-matter#) [LinkedIn icon\\
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[Telegram](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/so-what-is-techquity-and-why-does-it-matter#) [Reddit](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/so-what-is-techquity-and-why-does-it-matter#)
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# So, what is Techquity, and why does it matter?
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
October 21, 2024
3
Minute Read
## Techquity: A Step Towards Closing the Gap
### Understanding Techquity
The term “Techquity” is derived from the terms “technology” and “equity” and refers to the unification of the two concepts—technological advancement and health equity. This notion calls for the formulation of technology in a way that addresses the gap in access and outcomes in healthcare relevant to marginalized populations.
Techquity’s main objectives include the following:
- Access to healthcare services more easily
- Increasing the overall health knowledge of people
- Overcoming obstacles to treatment access
- Providing care that is sensitive to cultural diversity
Though technology has a lot of promise in providing solutions to various healthcare issues, it may also pose challenges if not handled correctly. Techquity, on the other hand, emphasizes addressing inequities in the distribution and use of these healthcare technologies so that everyone, regardless of their social standing, ethnicity, or location, can benefit from digital advancements in health.
### Key Components of Techquity
- Able to access important technologies as well as the internet.
- Technologies or solutions are developed with different users in mind.
- Any health technology solution developed must take into account the cultural aspects of the problem being addressed.
- There is also a cultural dimension in the collection and analysis of health data.
### No Barrier: Implementing Techquity in Language Accessibility
No Barrier exemplifies the principles of techquity by addressing a critical aspect of healthcare equity: language accessibility. By considering language technologies as tools that can benefit non-English speaking patients, No Barrier is actively improving health outcomes for patients who speak other languages and do not know English.
### No Barrier and the Practice of Techquity
- **Reducing wait times**: Communication with the healthcare system is one of the problems that needs a solution, and No Barrier solves one of the most common issues by reducing wait times for professional medical interpreters. This efficiency also means that cases of inequity in access to care will be reduced in the future.
- **Encouraging interactions that improve health outcomes**: No Barrier allows for time-sensitive interpretation, facilitating comprehension between healthcare service providers and patients, which enhances their interactions and can lead to better health outcomes.
- **Encouraging culturally appropriate care**: No Barrier takes into account various cultural parameters like patient’s age, gender, specific dialects and other contextual settings, ensuring that services are offered appropriately without cultural dissonance between provider and patient.
- **Closing the gap for non-English patients**: No Barrier ensures that patients who do not speak English are not disadvantaged due to technology, promoting the availability and use of interpretation services.
- **Increasing ability to make health-related choices**: Appropriate interpretation of patients’ thoughts, weaknesses, and feelings promotes health literacy for non-native English speakers, enabling them to make informed health-related choices.
### The Future of Techquity
In light of current trends towards a more digital healthcare system, the relevance of techquity cannot be undermined. Health technologies improve accessibility across populations, and aiming for equitable access will help close health gaps among diverse groups.
Ultimately, techquity is not just about providing equal access to technology; it is about using technology to enhance healthcare systems for everyone's benefit.
## You’d also be interested in…
[**Slator 2025 Language AI 50 Under 50: No Barrier AI Recognized** \\
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Industry Insights & Trends\\
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October 17, 2025\\
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Slator is a leading source for news, research and market intelligence across translation, localization, interpreting and language AI.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/2025-slator-language-ai-50-under-50)
[**Best Practices for Treating Patients from Different Cultures** \\
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Industry Insights & Trends\\
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October 17, 2025\\
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min read\\
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Cultural competence in healthcare improves trust and outcomes. Understanding cultural differences, using interpreters, respecting beliefs, and involving families ensures effective, inclusive care.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/best-practices-for-treating-patients-from-different-cultures)
[**The Intersection of Low Health Literacy and Limited English Proficiency in Healthcare** \\
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Industry Insights & Trends\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
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4\\
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min read\\
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Low health literacy and limited English proficiency create major healthcare barriers for millions of Americans, requiring innovative solutions to improve patient understanding.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-intersection-of-low-health-literacy-and-limited-english-proficiency-in-healthcare)
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/so-what-is-techquity-and-why-does-it-matter#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Family Medical Interpreters
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# So You're Using Family Members as Medical Interpreters
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
March 14, 2024
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
7
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h2\\
\\
Example H2](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/so-youre-using-family-members-as-medical-interpreters#)
In our journey of developing No Barrier, we engaged with numerous medical providers to gain insights into language barriers in healthcare. One recurring topic that emerged was the utilization of **family members** as interpreters in medical settings. As we delved into their experiences, we uncovered a diverse array of stories that shed light on the challenges and nuances of this practice. It appears that there is often a **tension** between the necessity of having a formal medical interpreter for LEP patients and the practical realities faced by providers.
Here are some key points we gathered from our interviews:
**Patient Preference**: Many patients express a preference for having a family member as their interpreter, feeling more comfortable and at ease. One provider shared, "Lots of time the patient DON'T want a translator and feel, naturally, more comfortable with his/her family member." Another recounted a specific case of a Dominican Republican patient who didn’t feel comfortable with other Spanish that an interpreter may bring. We heard similar sentiments with other cultures; for instance, a Chinese patient may be unsure about which type of Chinese dialect the online interpreter may have. Another topic that was raised are the community volunteer interpreters - sometimes the patients may be familiar with community volunteer interpreters or their families, leading to discomfort during intimate medical encounters.
**Lack of Accuracy**: Family interpreters often are not professionally trained to explain complex medical terms. One doctor shared: “I often hear mistakes when well-meaning family members try to translate or explain certain concepts in Spanish, which I’m fluent in as well. This can often lead to funny mistranslations, eg ‘Constipado’ means ‘congested nose’ and not ‘Constipated.’ Imagine the patient’s surprise when receiving a prescription for laxatives for a runny nose because their family mistranslated! However, this can also lead to serious medical errors.”
**Child Involvement**: Providers highlighted instances where children accompany their parents to medical appointments but may be exposed to inappropriate or intimate topics during interpretation, posing a delicate balance between family involvement and safeguarding a child's innocence. One healthcare provider shared, "A child escorted his mom but shouldn't hear intimate topics."
**Family Member Agenda**: The risk of family members unintentionally guiding conversations or influencing responses was noted by healthcare professionals, emphasizing the need for precision and objectivity in interpretation. "Sometimes the family member can 'lead' the questions asked to a certain direction," explained a healthcare professional. They provided an example: "A provider asked the patient, 'Do you have any pain now?' and the family member asked the patient, 'Does your leg hurt?'" In another instance, a provider recounted, "A family member once told me, 'I will tell everything to dad at home,'" leaving the provider unsure of how to navigate the dynamics.
**Culture Influence**: Cultural beliefs and practices may influence communication, impacting medical decisions and potentially compromising patient autonomy. Providers shared examples of family members who may "screen out" specific medicines if there is an emphasis on natural remedies, for example in Asian cultures.
**Ethical Dilemma:** Providers are aware of the ethical challenges posed by using family members as ad-hoc interpreters. "Many doctors do know that they shouldn’t assist family members as interpreters, due to lack of formal training and potential breach of patient confidentiality," noted one provider.
**Senior Patients**: There is a tendency to rely on the son or daughter of LEP senior patients as interpreters, driven by tradition and familiarity. "In the case of older patients, physicians would even prefer to use family members," shared a provider. Some doctors mentioned that they “would ask the family member if they're comfortable to be an interpreter, due to hearing issues, and just to get the settings more known to the patient.”
**Consent-Required Situations**: Providers emphasize the necessity of adhering to protocol, especially in critical moments requiring formal consent or during surgical procedures, where official interpreters are mandated to ensure precision and legality. "When there is a surgical procedure or required consent, doctors would go by the protocol and have an official interpreter on board," shared another healthcare professional.
In summary, while ethical guidelines discourage the use of family members as medical interpreters, the practical realities often necessitate their involvement. Providers navigate this complex landscape with empathy and expertise to deliver the best care for LEP patients, recognizing the challenges inherent in communication across language barriers.
In these cases, No Barrier could supplement the expertise and familiarity of family translators, if preferred by the patient, and provide an unbiased, accurate, professional medical translation
## FAQs
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
[Twitter icon\\
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Twitter](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/so-youre-using-family-members-as-medical-interpreters#) [Facebook icon\\
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[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# So You're Using Family Members as Medical Interpreters
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
March 14, 2024
7
Minute Read
In our journey of developing No Barrier, we engaged with numerous medical providers to gain insights into language barriers in healthcare. One recurring topic that emerged was the utilization of **family members** as interpreters in medical settings. As we delved into their experiences, we uncovered a diverse array of stories that shed light on the challenges and nuances of this practice. It appears that there is often a **tension** between the necessity of having a formal medical interpreter for LEP patients and the practical realities faced by providers.
Here are some key points we gathered from our interviews:
**Patient Preference**: Many patients express a preference for having a family member as their interpreter, feeling more comfortable and at ease. One provider shared, "Lots of time the patient DON'T want a translator and feel, naturally, more comfortable with his/her family member." Another recounted a specific case of a Dominican Republican patient who didn’t feel comfortable with other Spanish that an interpreter may bring. We heard similar sentiments with other cultures; for instance, a Chinese patient may be unsure about which type of Chinese dialect the online interpreter may have. Another topic that was raised are the community volunteer interpreters - sometimes the patients may be familiar with community volunteer interpreters or their families, leading to discomfort during intimate medical encounters.
**Lack of Accuracy**: Family interpreters often are not professionally trained to explain complex medical terms. One doctor shared: “I often hear mistakes when well-meaning family members try to translate or explain certain concepts in Spanish, which I’m fluent in as well. This can often lead to funny mistranslations, eg ‘Constipado’ means ‘congested nose’ and not ‘Constipated.’ Imagine the patient’s surprise when receiving a prescription for laxatives for a runny nose because their family mistranslated! However, this can also lead to serious medical errors.”
**Child Involvement**: Providers highlighted instances where children accompany their parents to medical appointments but may be exposed to inappropriate or intimate topics during interpretation, posing a delicate balance between family involvement and safeguarding a child's innocence. One healthcare provider shared, "A child escorted his mom but shouldn't hear intimate topics."
**Family Member Agenda**: The risk of family members unintentionally guiding conversations or influencing responses was noted by healthcare professionals, emphasizing the need for precision and objectivity in interpretation. "Sometimes the family member can 'lead' the questions asked to a certain direction," explained a healthcare professional. They provided an example: "A provider asked the patient, 'Do you have any pain now?' and the family member asked the patient, 'Does your leg hurt?'" In another instance, a provider recounted, "A family member once told me, 'I will tell everything to dad at home,'" leaving the provider unsure of how to navigate the dynamics.
**Culture Influence**: Cultural beliefs and practices may influence communication, impacting medical decisions and potentially compromising patient autonomy. Providers shared examples of family members who may "screen out" specific medicines if there is an emphasis on natural remedies, for example in Asian cultures.
**Ethical Dilemma:** Providers are aware of the ethical challenges posed by using family members as ad-hoc interpreters. "Many doctors do know that they shouldn’t assist family members as interpreters, due to lack of formal training and potential breach of patient confidentiality," noted one provider.
**Senior Patients**: There is a tendency to rely on the son or daughter of LEP senior patients as interpreters, driven by tradition and familiarity. "In the case of older patients, physicians would even prefer to use family members," shared a provider. Some doctors mentioned that they “would ask the family member if they're comfortable to be an interpreter, due to hearing issues, and just to get the settings more known to the patient.”
**Consent-Required Situations**: Providers emphasize the necessity of adhering to protocol, especially in critical moments requiring formal consent or during surgical procedures, where official interpreters are mandated to ensure precision and legality. "When there is a surgical procedure or required consent, doctors would go by the protocol and have an official interpreter on board," shared another healthcare professional.
In summary, while ethical guidelines discourage the use of family members as medical interpreters, the practical realities often necessitate their involvement. Providers navigate this complex landscape with empathy and expertise to deliver the best care for LEP patients, recognizing the challenges inherent in communication across language barriers.
In these cases, No Barrier could supplement the expertise and familiarity of family translators, if preferred by the patient, and provide an unbiased, accurate, professional medical translation
## You’d also be interested in…
No Related Articles Available
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/so-youre-using-family-members-as-medical-interpreters#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Google Translate in Healthcare
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
Compliance & Risk (HIPAA, Legal, Safety)
# So You're Using Google Translate as Medical Interpreter
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
March 14, 2024
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
5
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h2\\
\\
Example H2](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/so-youre-using-google-translate-as-medical-interpreter#)
It is maybe the most common translation tool on earth, and at least the most famous one, so is it suited for medical encounters?
Google Translate at its core is a text to text solution, and later on was added with a speech to speech capabilities. When we think of it as “medical interpreter” in medical encounters the speech-to-speech components gets the full focus.
Here are some factors to consider
1. **Not Tuned to Medical Jargon -** Google Translate over the years was evaluated on its text-to-text Accuracy, and in some research was examined against medical written language - the latest study was related to text to text translation of medical instructions in 2021 ( [here](https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11606-021-06666-z.pdf)) \- for various languages it worked less than well. This is where the English input was inserted as text with 100% accuracy.
In our labs, we also managed to see many errors, in particular in medicine names - and it seems Google Translate is more tuned to everyday language.
2. **Adding the “Speech Recognition” part adds complexity to Google Translate accuracy.**
Now, in our context there is even more expectation from Google Translate - to conduct “oral interpretation” - meaning speech-to-speech translation. This adds even more complexity due to the speech recognition required component - the need to transcribe the source language to text and only later to translate. Speech-to-Text makes even another potential point of failure in accuracy in addition to the errors that may exist in the text-to-text translation. Seems like Google Translate put the “conversation” part as a secondary feature that is not on the main page.
We tried to say "Ozempic" couple of times
3. **No errors indication -** Google Translate will always “translate” - and there’s no self-proofreading, or any indication of scoring / accuracy. In medical settings, there should be extra layers of carefulness, and even interactive notifications to users when there is less confidence in the results.
4. **Word by word and not the “message” on “Conversation Mode”** \- when invoking Google translate for its speech part, it is working simultaneously, and almost immediately produces the translation in the destination language as the user talks - “literal translation” if you will. This leaves almost no room for “convey” or “reconstruct” the broader message in a more flawless & seamless way in the other language.
5. **There is no patient context considered**\- Google Translate has no context of its use, the parties involved and the settings. For example in many languages (e.g. Arabic) gender plays a big role in how to say things for example: “how do you feel today” in Arabic would sound different between asking a female patient and a male one - but Google Translate will always translate it to the **male phrase,** which **,** naturally, can damage the cultural sensitivity and respect that is so important in the medical encounters. Consider other sociocultural factors Google Translate is a uncontrolled like language formality, patient age that also influence the contextual interpretation
6. **Google Translate not stating it is HIPAA compliant.** In fact, it’s the other way around - Google emphasized that they use the data they collect Google Translate to “Improve our machine learning models”. With over [1 billion](https://earthweb.com/how-many-people-use-google-translate/) people who use Google Translate - this seems a main source of data for Google. Hence - health providers need to assume that every PHI data potentially is going to be repurposed to Google needs, eg for future model training or other internal needs.
****
However - in our conversations with providers while building No Barrier, many of them acknowledged that they found themselves in situations where they use Google Translate, even though they are aware that this is not allowed. The situation usually was the last resort - for example ER reception at 04:00 am where no interpreter was available and there was a need to conduct intake.
In No Barrier we are building the first AI Medical Interpreter that would address the various considerations, among them medical accuracy, HIPAA and context awareness for the medical settings.
## FAQs
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
[Twitter icon\\
\\
Twitter](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/so-youre-using-google-translate-as-medical-interpreter#) [Facebook icon\\
\\
Facebook](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/so-youre-using-google-translate-as-medical-interpreter#) [Pinterest](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/so-youre-using-google-translate-as-medical-interpreter#) [LinkedIn icon\\
\\
Linkedin](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/so-youre-using-google-translate-as-medical-interpreter#) [Linkedin](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/so-youre-using-google-translate-as-medical-interpreter#)
[Telegram](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/so-youre-using-google-translate-as-medical-interpreter#) [Reddit](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/so-youre-using-google-translate-as-medical-interpreter#)
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# So You're Using Google Translate as Medical Interpreter
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
March 14, 2024
5
Minute Read
It is maybe the most common translation tool on earth, and at least the most famous one, so is it suited for medical encounters?
Google Translate at its core is a text to text solution, and later on was added with a speech to speech capabilities. When we think of it as “medical interpreter” in medical encounters the speech-to-speech components gets the full focus.
Here are some factors to consider
1. **Not Tuned to Medical Jargon -** Google Translate over the years was evaluated on its text-to-text Accuracy, and in some research was examined against medical written language - the latest study was related to text to text translation of medical instructions in 2021 ( [here](https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11606-021-06666-z.pdf)) \- for various languages it worked less than well. This is where the English input was inserted as text with 100% accuracy.
In our labs, we also managed to see many errors, in particular in medicine names - and it seems Google Translate is more tuned to everyday language.
2. **Adding the “Speech Recognition” part adds complexity to Google Translate accuracy.**
Now, in our context there is even more expectation from Google Translate - to conduct “oral interpretation” - meaning speech-to-speech translation. This adds even more complexity due to the speech recognition required component - the need to transcribe the source language to text and only later to translate. Speech-to-Text makes even another potential point of failure in accuracy in addition to the errors that may exist in the text-to-text translation. Seems like Google Translate put the “conversation” part as a secondary feature that is not on the main page.
We tried to say "Ozempic" couple of times
3. **No errors indication -** Google Translate will always “translate” - and there’s no self-proofreading, or any indication of scoring / accuracy. In medical settings, there should be extra layers of carefulness, and even interactive notifications to users when there is less confidence in the results.
4. **Word by word and not the “message” on “Conversation Mode”** \- when invoking Google translate for its speech part, it is working simultaneously, and almost immediately produces the translation in the destination language as the user talks - “literal translation” if you will. This leaves almost no room for “convey” or “reconstruct” the broader message in a more flawless & seamless way in the other language.
5. **There is no patient context considered**\- Google Translate has no context of its use, the parties involved and the settings. For example in many languages (e.g. Arabic) gender plays a big role in how to say things for example: “how do you feel today” in Arabic would sound different between asking a female patient and a male one - but Google Translate will always translate it to the **male phrase,** which **,** naturally, can damage the cultural sensitivity and respect that is so important in the medical encounters. Consider other sociocultural factors Google Translate is a uncontrolled like language formality, patient age that also influence the contextual interpretation
6. **Google Translate not stating it is HIPAA compliant.** In fact, it’s the other way around - Google emphasized that they use the data they collect Google Translate to “Improve our machine learning models”. With over [1 billion](https://earthweb.com/how-many-people-use-google-translate/) people who use Google Translate - this seems a main source of data for Google. Hence - health providers need to assume that every PHI data potentially is going to be repurposed to Google needs, eg for future model training or other internal needs.
****
However - in our conversations with providers while building No Barrier, many of them acknowledged that they found themselves in situations where they use Google Translate, even though they are aware that this is not allowed. The situation usually was the last resort - for example ER reception at 04:00 am where no interpreter was available and there was a need to conduct intake.
In No Barrier we are building the first AI Medical Interpreter that would address the various considerations, among them medical accuracy, HIPAA and context awareness for the medical settings.
## You’d also be interested in…
[**The Executive Checklist for Choosing Your Next AI Interpreter Vendor** \\
\\
Compliance & Risk (HIPAA, Legal, Safety)\\
\\
October 9, 2025\\
\\
7\\
\\
min read\\
\\
A concise, compliance-first checklist for healthcare leaders to evaluate AI interpreter vendors on HIPAA alignment, accuracy, ROI and patient experience before signing a contract.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-executive-checklist-for-choosing-your-next-ai-interpreter-vendor)
[**Is Google Translate HIPAA Compliant? What Every Hospital Needs to Know** \\
\\
Compliance & Risk (HIPAA, Legal, Safety)\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
2\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Google Translate is not HIPAA compliant. No BAAs, encryption or audit controls. Using it in healthcare creates compliance, safety and legal risks. \\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/google-translate-risks)
[**Could Your Bilingual Staff Double as Certified Medical Interpreters? Answers to Your Questions** \\
\\
Compliance & Risk (HIPAA, Legal, Safety)\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
3\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Exploring practical considerations for healthcare organizations when certifying bilingual staff as medical interpreters.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/could-your-bilingual-staff-double-as-certified-medical-interpreters-answers-to-your-questions)
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/so-youre-using-google-translate-as-medical-interpreter#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Teach-Back in Emergency Care
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
Language & Dialect
# Frontline Emergency Care: How Teach-Back Prevents Language Errors in the ER
Why ER teams using teach-back improve patient safety, reduce liability and close language gaps in critical care.
By Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
September 4, 2025
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
3
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h2\\
\\
Executive Summary (for CMOs and Compliance Leaders)](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/teach-back-prevents-errors#executive-summary-for-cmos-and-compliance-leaders)
[h2\\
\\
When Seconds Count: Language Barriers in the ER](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/teach-back-prevents-errors#when-seconds-count-language-barriers-in-the-er)
[h2\\
\\
The Compliance Baseline: HIPAA and The Joint Commission](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/teach-back-prevents-errors#the-compliance-baseline-hipaa-and-the-joint-commission)
[h2\\
\\
What Is Teach-Back and Why CMOs Should Care](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/teach-back-prevents-errors#what-is-teach-back-and-why-cmos-should-care)
[h3\\
\\
Why it matters in emergency care:](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/teach-back-prevents-errors#why-it-matters-in-emergency-care)
[h2\\
\\
Emergency Language Barriers: A Triple Risk](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/teach-back-prevents-errors#emergency-language-barriers-a-triple-risk)
[h3\\
\\
1\. Regulatory and Compliance Risk](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/teach-back-prevents-errors#1-regulatory-and-compliance-risk)
[h3\\
\\
2\. Patient Safety Risk](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/teach-back-prevents-errors#2-patient-safety-risk)
[h3\\
\\
3\. Financial and Legal Risk](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/teach-back-prevents-errors#3-financial-and-legal-risk)
[h2\\
\\
Implementing Teach-Back at Scale: Executive Priorities](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/teach-back-prevents-errors#implementing-teach-back-at-scale-executive-priorities)
[h3\\
\\
1\. Make It Policy, Not Preference](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/teach-back-prevents-errors#1-make-it-policy-not-preference)
[h3\\
\\
2\. Train Frontline Staff](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/teach-back-prevents-errors#2-train-frontline-staff)
[h3\\
\\
3\. Pair Teach-Back with HIPAA-Compliant Interpreter Services](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/teach-back-prevents-errors#3-pair-teach-back-with-hipaa-compliant-interpreter-services)
[h3\\
\\
4\. Monitor and Audit](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/teach-back-prevents-errors#4-monitor-and-audit)
[h2\\
\\
Key Takeaways: Addressing Emergency Language Barriers with Teach-Back in Healthcare](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/teach-back-prevents-errors#key-takeaways-addressing-emergency-language-barriers-with-teach-back-in-healthcare)
## **Executive Summary (for CMOs and Compliance Leaders)**
- **Emergency language barriers create compliance risk**: miscommunication in the ER can lead to HIPAA violations, patient harm and malpractice liability.
- **Teach-back is a proven safeguard**: requiring patients to repeat instructions in their own words reduces misinterpretation and improves safety. ****
- **For CMOs and compliance leaders**: integrating structured language access policies; including teach-back improves patient safety, reduces liability and strengthens compliance posture.
## **When Seconds Count: Language Barriers in the ER**
A patient arrives in the emergency department with chest pain. He speaks limited English and his daughter tries to interpret. Amid the chaos, a physician quickly gives instructions: _“Take this pill once a day.”_
But the daughter mistranslates. The patient hears _“Take one pill every hour.”_
The difference could be catastrophic.
Dr. Sam Frenkel, an emergency physician who has treated countless Limited English Proficiency (LEP) patients, put it bluntly in a recent interview:
> “In the ER, seconds count. If patients don’t understand us, or we don’t understand them, we’re not just losing time: we’re putting lives at risk.”
For CMOs and compliance officers, this is not an edge case. It’s a **system-level problem**: language barriers compromise patient safety, HIPAA compliance and expose hospitals to legal and financial risk.
## **The Compliance Baseline: HIPAA and The Joint Commission**
Language access isn’t a “nice to have”: it’s a **compliance obligation**.
- **HIPAA** requires that any patient communication involving Protected Health Information (PHI) must be secure, accurate and handled under a Business Associate Agreement (BAA). Free tools like Google Translate do not meet this standard.
- **The Joint Commission** identifies communication failures as a leading cause of sentinel events in hospitals. Its standards on effective communication apply directly to language access. ****
- **The Office for Civil Rights (OCR)** has penalized hospitals for lapses in communication, with HIPAA violations reaching fines of up to **$1.5 million per year, per violation category**.
In other words: **when language fails, compliance fails.**
## **What Is Teach-Back and Why CMOs Should Care**
Teach-back is a structured communication method in which providers ask patients (or caregivers) to restate instructions in their own words.
### **Why it matters in emergency care:**
- It verifies comprehension instantly, closing the gap between “delivered” and “understood.”
- It’s endorsed by the **Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)** as a best practice for improving patient safety.
- It aligns with Joint Commission expectations for clear, effective communication.
For CMOs, teach-back is not just a bedside tactic. It is a **compliance and risk management strategy** that reduces exposure across the board.
## **Emergency Language Barriers: A Triple Risk**
### **1\. Regulatory and Compliance Risk**
When staff default to ad hoc interpreters, bilingual peers or free tools:
- There is no HIPAA compliance framework.
- PHI may be exposed or misused.
- Audit trails are absent, leaving executives accountable in case of breach.
### **2\. Patient Safety Risk**
Misinterpretation in the ER can mean:
- Wrong medication dose.
- Misunderstood discharge instructions.
- Failure to follow-up; leading to **avoidable readmissions**.
The Joint Commission attributes a significant portion of sentinel events to **communication failures**, many involving language.
### **3\. Financial and Legal Risk**
- OCR fines can devastate a hospital’s budget.
- Malpractice claims tied to communication errors can cost millions.
- Readmissions from miscommunication increase costs and hurt performance under **value-based care contracts**.
For executives, the ROI case is clear: **proactive compliance costs less than penalties and litigation.**
## **Implementing Teach-Back at Scale: Executive Priorities**
CMOs and healthcare leaders should not see teach-back as a “nice-to-have.” It is a **scalable policy intervention**.
### **1\. Make It Policy, Not Preference**
Embed teach-back in emergency care protocols. If it’s optional, it won’t be used consistently.
### **2\. Train Frontline Staff**
Staff under pressure default to shortcuts. Structured training ensures teach-back is second nature, even in high-stress ER situations.
### **3\. Pair Teach-Back with HIPAA-Compliant Interpreter Services**
Teach-back is a **verification tool;** not a replacement for qualified interpretation tools. Executives must ensure access to secure, compliant interpretation resources.
### **4\. Monitor and Audit**
Just as CMOs audit infection control and safety practices, language access must be monitored. Tracking errors and near misses is essential to improvement.
## **Key Takeaways: Addressing Emergency Language Barriers with Teach-Back in Healthcare**
- **Non-compliant communication = liability.** Relying on ad hoc translation or free tools exposes hospitals to HIPAA violations.
- **Teach-back is a safeguard.** It reduces patient safety risks, improves compliance, and lowers malpractice exposure.
- **Training is critical.** Staff must be prepared to use teach-back instinctively in emergencies.
- **Executives own the policy.** Without leadership oversight, shortcuts will dominate frontline practice. ****
- **Proactive action saves money and lives.** Compliance investments are far less costly than regulatory penalties or malpractice settlements
## FAQs
### 1\. What is the teach-back method in healthcare?
It’s a communication technique where patients repeat back what they’ve been told, ensuring comprehension and reducing miscommunication.
### 2\. Why is teach-back important in emergency departments?
Because ER settings are fast-paced and high-stakes. Teach-back confirms understanding in real time, reducing clinical risk.
### 3\. Is teach-back required by the Joint Commission?
Not mandatory but strongly recommended. The Joint Commission highlights effective communication as essential for patient safety.
### 4\. Does teach-back ensure HIPAA compliance?
No, but it complements compliance by ensuring accuracy. Hospitals must still provide HIPAA-compliant interpreter services.
### 5\. How can CMOs implement teach-back effectively?
Mandate it in policies, train staff and pair it with compliant interpretation tools. Audit regularly to ensure adoption.
Source: inspired by the podcast with Dr Sam Frenkel. [Access full podcast here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/episodes/seconds-count-dr-sam-frenkels-frontline-perspectives-on-language-barriers-in-emergency-medicine).
By Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
[Twitter icon\\
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[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# Frontline Emergency Care: How Teach-Back Prevents Language Errors in the ER
By Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
September 4, 2025
3
Minute Read
## **Executive Summary (for CMOs and Compliance Leaders)**
- **Emergency language barriers create compliance risk**: miscommunication in the ER can lead to HIPAA violations, patient harm and malpractice liability.
- **Teach-back is a proven safeguard**: requiring patients to repeat instructions in their own words reduces misinterpretation and improves safety. ****
- **For CMOs and compliance leaders**: integrating structured language access policies; including teach-back improves patient safety, reduces liability and strengthens compliance posture.
## **When Seconds Count: Language Barriers in the ER**
A patient arrives in the emergency department with chest pain. He speaks limited English and his daughter tries to interpret. Amid the chaos, a physician quickly gives instructions: _“Take this pill once a day.”_
But the daughter mistranslates. The patient hears _“Take one pill every hour.”_
The difference could be catastrophic.
Dr. Sam Frenkel, an emergency physician who has treated countless Limited English Proficiency (LEP) patients, put it bluntly in a recent interview:
> “In the ER, seconds count. If patients don’t understand us, or we don’t understand them, we’re not just losing time: we’re putting lives at risk.”
For CMOs and compliance officers, this is not an edge case. It’s a **system-level problem**: language barriers compromise patient safety, HIPAA compliance and expose hospitals to legal and financial risk.
## **The Compliance Baseline: HIPAA and The Joint Commission**
Language access isn’t a “nice to have”: it’s a **compliance obligation**.
- **HIPAA** requires that any patient communication involving Protected Health Information (PHI) must be secure, accurate and handled under a Business Associate Agreement (BAA). Free tools like Google Translate do not meet this standard.
- **The Joint Commission** identifies communication failures as a leading cause of sentinel events in hospitals. Its standards on effective communication apply directly to language access. ****
- **The Office for Civil Rights (OCR)** has penalized hospitals for lapses in communication, with HIPAA violations reaching fines of up to **$1.5 million per year, per violation category**.
In other words: **when language fails, compliance fails.**
## **What Is Teach-Back and Why CMOs Should Care**
Teach-back is a structured communication method in which providers ask patients (or caregivers) to restate instructions in their own words.
### **Why it matters in emergency care:**
- It verifies comprehension instantly, closing the gap between “delivered” and “understood.”
- It’s endorsed by the **Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)** as a best practice for improving patient safety.
- It aligns with Joint Commission expectations for clear, effective communication.
For CMOs, teach-back is not just a bedside tactic. It is a **compliance and risk management strategy** that reduces exposure across the board.
## **Emergency Language Barriers: A Triple Risk**
### **1\. Regulatory and Compliance Risk**
When staff default to ad hoc interpreters, bilingual peers or free tools:
- There is no HIPAA compliance framework.
- PHI may be exposed or misused.
- Audit trails are absent, leaving executives accountable in case of breach.
### **2\. Patient Safety Risk**
Misinterpretation in the ER can mean:
- Wrong medication dose.
- Misunderstood discharge instructions.
- Failure to follow-up; leading to **avoidable readmissions**.
The Joint Commission attributes a significant portion of sentinel events to **communication failures**, many involving language.
### **3\. Financial and Legal Risk**
- OCR fines can devastate a hospital’s budget.
- Malpractice claims tied to communication errors can cost millions.
- Readmissions from miscommunication increase costs and hurt performance under **value-based care contracts**.
For executives, the ROI case is clear: **proactive compliance costs less than penalties and litigation.**
## **Implementing Teach-Back at Scale: Executive Priorities**
CMOs and healthcare leaders should not see teach-back as a “nice-to-have.” It is a **scalable policy intervention**.
### **1\. Make It Policy, Not Preference**
Embed teach-back in emergency care protocols. If it’s optional, it won’t be used consistently.
### **2\. Train Frontline Staff**
Staff under pressure default to shortcuts. Structured training ensures teach-back is second nature, even in high-stress ER situations.
### **3\. Pair Teach-Back with HIPAA-Compliant Interpreter Services**
Teach-back is a **verification tool;** not a replacement for qualified interpretation tools. Executives must ensure access to secure, compliant interpretation resources.
### **4\. Monitor and Audit**
Just as CMOs audit infection control and safety practices, language access must be monitored. Tracking errors and near misses is essential to improvement.
## **Key Takeaways: Addressing Emergency Language Barriers with Teach-Back in Healthcare**
- **Non-compliant communication = liability.** Relying on ad hoc translation or free tools exposes hospitals to HIPAA violations.
- **Teach-back is a safeguard.** It reduces patient safety risks, improves compliance, and lowers malpractice exposure.
- **Training is critical.** Staff must be prepared to use teach-back instinctively in emergencies.
- **Executives own the policy.** Without leadership oversight, shortcuts will dominate frontline practice. ****
- **Proactive action saves money and lives.** Compliance investments are far less costly than regulatory penalties or malpractice settlements
## You’d also be interested in…
[**Haitian Creole in U.S. Health Care: Strategic Imperatives & Risks** \\
\\
Language & Dialect\\
\\
October 28, 2025\\
\\
7\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Haitian Creole’s linguistic complexity makes it one of the most challenging languages for both human and AI medical interpretation, demanding specialized training and contextual understanding.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/haitian-creole)
[**What is Interpreting Directionality?** \\
\\
Language & Dialect\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
min read\\
\\
The L1<>L2 story and the impact of directionality on medical interpreting: human challenges and technological solutions\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/what-is-interpreting-directionality)
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/teach-back-prevents-errors#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## AI Interpreter Vendor Checklist
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
Compliance & Risk (HIPAA, Legal, Safety)
# The Executive Checklist for Choosing Your Next AI Interpreter Vendor
A strategic, compliance-focused checklist for healthcare executives to evaluate AI interpreter vendors for safety, ROI and patient experience.
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
October 9, 2025
**Updated:**
October 9, 2025
7
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h2\\
\\
Executive Summary (for busy CMOs)](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-executive-checklist-for-choosing-your-next-ai-interpreter-vendor#executive-summary-for-busy-cmos)
[h2\\
\\
1\. Compliance and Trust](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-executive-checklist-for-choosing-your-next-ai-interpreter-vendor#1-compliance-and-trust)
[h2\\
\\
2\. Clinical Accuracy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-executive-checklist-for-choosing-your-next-ai-interpreter-vendor#2-clinical-accuracy)
[h2\\
\\
3\. Patient Experience](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-executive-checklist-for-choosing-your-next-ai-interpreter-vendor#3-patient-experience)
[h2\\
\\
4\. Integration & Operations](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-executive-checklist-for-choosing-your-next-ai-interpreter-vendor#4-integration-and-operations)
[h2\\
\\
5\. Financial Transparency](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-executive-checklist-for-choosing-your-next-ai-interpreter-vendor#5-financial-transparency)
[h2\\
\\
6\. Vendor Stability](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-executive-checklist-for-choosing-your-next-ai-interpreter-vendor#6-vendor-stability)
[h2\\
\\
Final Thought](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-executive-checklist-for-choosing-your-next-ai-interpreter-vendor#final-thought)
[h2\\
\\
Key Takeaways for CMOs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-executive-checklist-for-choosing-your-next-ai-interpreter-vendor#key-takeaways-for-cmos)
Healthcare leaders know this: the wrong vendor contract can create **compliance risks, patient dissatisfaction, staff frustration and wasted budgets.** As CEO Judd Semingson noted, team discontent often comes from **heavy workflows and the wrong tools at the point of care.**
With AI interpreters now central to patient access and equity strategies, choosing the right partner requires clear prerequisites. Here’s a **fast, practical checklist** to guide your decision.
## Executive Summary (for busy CMOs)
- **Compliance first**: Verify HIPAA alignment, BAA agreements and U.S.-based data storage before signing.
- **Accuracy & oversight**: Ensure the AI supports medical terminology and integrates human backup when needed.
- **ROI & reliability**: Evaluate transparency, scalability and vendor track record to avoid operational and financial risk.
## 1\. Compliance and Trust
- **HIPAA Alignment**: Confirm a Business Associate Agreement (BAA). The AI must be trained in medical environments; not general-use tools like Google Translate.
- **Data Security**: Ask about encryption standards and server location. A simple question: _“Where is patient data stored?”_ Data storage in the US is of course a green flag.
- **Data Deletion**: Protected Health Information (PHI) should be auto-deleted right away(or per your policy). Vendor should not store patient data.
## 2\. Clinical Accuracy
- **Medical Vocabulary**: Verify that specialty-specific terms (oncology, cardiology, pediatrics) are supported.
- **Languages & Automation**: Check how many languages the AI can detect and whether it can launch automated conversations instantly.
- **Human Oversight**: Ensure escalation to live interpreters when needed. (We’ll return to this critical point in the conclusion.)
## 3\. Patient Experience
- **Real-Time Responsiveness**: How quickly does the AI launch and how many clicks are required to begin?
- **Accessibility**: Ensure usability in low-bandwidth settings and compliance with ADA standards.
## 4\. Integration & Operations
- **System Compatibility**: Confirm integration with your current equipment.
- **Scalability**: Can the platform support all facilities across your network?
- **Staff Training**: Ask what onboarding and ongoing support is included.
## 5\. Financial Transparency
- **Pricing Model**: Is it per-minute, subscription or fixed cost?
- **Hidden Costs**: Clarify charges for integrations, upgrades or extra languages if any.
- **ROI Evidence**: Request case studies with efficiency and cost-savings data.
## 6\. Vendor Stability
- **Track Record**: How long has the vendor been active in healthcare and speech-to-speech technology?
- **Client References**: Speak directly with current health system users.
- **Innovation Roadmap**: Review the product roadmap for the next 12–24 months.
## Final Thought
AI interpreters are no longer a “nice-to-have.” They are **mission-critical** for patient safety, compliance, staff efficiency and equity. Before signing, walk your team through this checklist. If a vendor falls short, move on.
The right partner won’t just supply AI, it will:
- Show a strong track record.
- Deliver continuous feature improvements.
- Act on feedback from both staff and patients.
At **No Barrier**, we’ve built a platform that covers 30 AI-generated languages and dialects, while seamlessly connecting to **300+ human interpreter languages**. This ensures coverage for all LEP (Limited English Proficiency) patients without gaps.
👉 We’re excited to share what’s possible. **Book a demo with our team** and see how No Barrier can strengthen trust, equity and operational flow in your organization.
## Key Takeaways for CMOs
- Verify vendor HIPAA compliance, U.S. data storage and PHI deletion policy.
- Require evidence of medical vocabulary accuracy.
- Evaluate total cost of ownership, not just headline pricing.
- Choose a vendor with proven healthcare and high technology expertise.
## FAQs
### 1\. What makes an AI interpreter HIPAA compliant?
A HIPAA-compliant AI interpreter must sign a BAA, must not store PHI and ensure U.S.-based data storage with strict access controls.
### 2\. How can hospitals measure ROI from AI interpretation?
ROI can be tracked through reduced wait times, lower per-session costs, improved patient satisfaction scores, fewer compliance incidents, no over-time/night extra fees.
### 3\. Why is human oversight still necessary in AI interpretation?
Human interpreters remain essential for sensitive conversations (such as end-of-life care discussions) where empathy is critical. The AI American Act also underscores the need for human oversight.
### 4\. What are red flags when evaluating AI interpreter vendors?
Lack of BAA, offshore data storage, unclear pricing (per minute is often way too expensive) and no healthcare-specific references are major warning signs.
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
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[Telegram](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-executive-checklist-for-choosing-your-next-ai-interpreter-vendor#) [Reddit](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-executive-checklist-for-choosing-your-next-ai-interpreter-vendor#)
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# The Executive Checklist for Choosing Your Next AI Interpreter Vendor
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
October 9, 2025
7
Minute Read
Healthcare leaders know this: the wrong vendor contract can create **compliance risks, patient dissatisfaction, staff frustration and wasted budgets.** As CEO Judd Semingson noted, team discontent often comes from **heavy workflows and the wrong tools at the point of care.**
With AI interpreters now central to patient access and equity strategies, choosing the right partner requires clear prerequisites. Here’s a **fast, practical checklist** to guide your decision.
## Executive Summary (for busy CMOs)
- **Compliance first**: Verify HIPAA alignment, BAA agreements and U.S.-based data storage before signing.
- **Accuracy & oversight**: Ensure the AI supports medical terminology and integrates human backup when needed.
- **ROI & reliability**: Evaluate transparency, scalability and vendor track record to avoid operational and financial risk.
## 1\. Compliance and Trust
- **HIPAA Alignment**: Confirm a Business Associate Agreement (BAA). The AI must be trained in medical environments; not general-use tools like Google Translate.
- **Data Security**: Ask about encryption standards and server location. A simple question: _“Where is patient data stored?”_ Data storage in the US is of course a green flag.
- **Data Deletion**: Protected Health Information (PHI) should be auto-deleted right away(or per your policy). Vendor should not store patient data.
## 2\. Clinical Accuracy
- **Medical Vocabulary**: Verify that specialty-specific terms (oncology, cardiology, pediatrics) are supported.
- **Languages & Automation**: Check how many languages the AI can detect and whether it can launch automated conversations instantly.
- **Human Oversight**: Ensure escalation to live interpreters when needed. (We’ll return to this critical point in the conclusion.)
## 3\. Patient Experience
- **Real-Time Responsiveness**: How quickly does the AI launch and how many clicks are required to begin?
- **Accessibility**: Ensure usability in low-bandwidth settings and compliance with ADA standards.
## 4\. Integration & Operations
- **System Compatibility**: Confirm integration with your current equipment.
- **Scalability**: Can the platform support all facilities across your network?
- **Staff Training**: Ask what onboarding and ongoing support is included.
## 5\. Financial Transparency
- **Pricing Model**: Is it per-minute, subscription or fixed cost?
- **Hidden Costs**: Clarify charges for integrations, upgrades or extra languages if any.
- **ROI Evidence**: Request case studies with efficiency and cost-savings data.
## 6\. Vendor Stability
- **Track Record**: How long has the vendor been active in healthcare and speech-to-speech technology?
- **Client References**: Speak directly with current health system users.
- **Innovation Roadmap**: Review the product roadmap for the next 12–24 months.
## Final Thought
AI interpreters are no longer a “nice-to-have.” They are **mission-critical** for patient safety, compliance, staff efficiency and equity. Before signing, walk your team through this checklist. If a vendor falls short, move on.
The right partner won’t just supply AI, it will:
- Show a strong track record.
- Deliver continuous feature improvements.
- Act on feedback from both staff and patients.
At **No Barrier**, we’ve built a platform that covers 30 AI-generated languages and dialects, while seamlessly connecting to **300+ human interpreter languages**. This ensures coverage for all LEP (Limited English Proficiency) patients without gaps.
👉 We’re excited to share what’s possible. **Book a demo with our team** and see how No Barrier can strengthen trust, equity and operational flow in your organization.
## Key Takeaways for CMOs
- Verify vendor HIPAA compliance, U.S. data storage and PHI deletion policy.
- Require evidence of medical vocabulary accuracy.
- Evaluate total cost of ownership, not just headline pricing.
- Choose a vendor with proven healthcare and high technology expertise.
## You’d also be interested in…
[**Is Google Translate HIPAA Compliant? What Every Hospital Needs to Know** \\
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Compliance & Risk (HIPAA, Legal, Safety)\\
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Google Translate is not HIPAA compliant. No BAAs, encryption or audit controls. Using it in healthcare creates compliance, safety and legal risks. \\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/google-translate-risks)
[**Could Your Bilingual Staff Double as Certified Medical Interpreters? Answers to Your Questions** \\
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Exploring practical considerations for healthcare organizations when certifying bilingual staff as medical interpreters.\\
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[**Are Your Non-English Speaking Patients Following Up on Your Discharge Notes?** \\
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Studies reveal many patients with limited English proficiency struggle to understand critical post-visit instructions, highlighting the need for accurate, accessible multilingual discharge notes.\\
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## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-executive-checklist-for-choosing-your-next-ai-interpreter-vendor#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Health Literacy and Language Barriers
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
Industry Insights & Trends
# The Intersection of Low Health Literacy and Limited English Proficiency in Healthcare
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
November 28, 2024
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
4
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h3\\
\\
Understanding and Measuring Low Health Literacy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-intersection-of-low-health-literacy-and-limited-english-proficiency-in-healthcare#understanding-and-measuring-low-health-literacy)
[h2\\
\\
The Double Challenge: When English Isn't Your First Language](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-intersection-of-low-health-literacy-and-limited-english-proficiency-in-healthcare#the-double-challenge-when-english-isnt-your-first-language)
[h2\\
\\
From the Front Lines: What Healthcare Providers See](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-intersection-of-low-health-literacy-and-limited-english-proficiency-in-healthcare#from-the-front-lines-what-healthcare-providers-see)
[h2\\
\\
Real Problems in Healthcare Delivery](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-intersection-of-low-health-literacy-and-limited-english-proficiency-in-healthcare#real-problems-in-healthcare-delivery)
[h2\\
\\
Taking Action: What Works in the Real World](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-intersection-of-low-health-literacy-and-limited-english-proficiency-in-healthcare#taking-action-what-works-in-the-real-world)
[h2\\
\\
How AI is Changing Patient Communication](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-intersection-of-low-health-literacy-and-limited-english-proficiency-in-healthcare#how-ai-is-changing-patient-communication)
[h2\\
\\
Moving Forward](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-intersection-of-low-health-literacy-and-limited-english-proficiency-in-healthcare#moving-forward)
[h2\\
\\
References](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-intersection-of-low-health-literacy-and-limited-english-proficiency-in-healthcare#references)
Picture this: A patient stares at their prescription instructions, struggling to understand not just the medical terms, but the English language itself. This scene plays out countless times daily in healthcare settings across America, where low health literacy meets limited English proficiency (LEP). Let's explore how these challenges affect patient care and what modern solutions can help bridge these critical gaps.
### **Understanding and Measuring Low Health Literacy**
Low health literacy happens when someone struggles to get, understand, and work with basic health information needed for making good healthcare choices. The National Assessment of Adult Literacy found that around 80 million adults in the United States have trouble with health literacy. Within this group, about 36% fall into "basic" or "below basic" categories when tested.
Looking at who's most affected, we see low health literacy showing up more often in older adults, ethnic minorities, and people with lower incomes. Studies show that nearly 62% of Spanish-speaking patients at city hospitals don't have adequate health literacy. Many people hide these difficulties because they feel ashamed or embarrassed.
## The Double Challenge: When English Isn't Your First Language
Many folks who have low health literacy also don't speak English as their first language. This language gap makes their healthcare journey even tougher. About 25 million people in the United States have limited English skills, which makes it hard to talk effectively with their doctors and nurses.
.jpeg)
## From the Front Lines: What Healthcare Providers See
Healthcare providers tell us they're caught in a delicate balancing act. During our interviews, doctors and nurses shared their daily challenges: "We need to completely rethink how we communicate," one provider explained. "It's not just about translating words - it's about bridging entire concepts and cultural understandings."
Healthcare teams consistently highlight the need to:
- Really simplify medical terms
- Keep checking to make sure patients understand
- Bridge gaps in understanding that go beyond just translating words
These situations consistently demand more time and resources from healthcare workers.
## Real Problems in Healthcare Delivery
Healthcare providers run into several roadblocks when working with patients who have low health literacy and limited English:
- Communication Mix-ups: Patients often can't grasp medical terms or complex instructions
- Following Treatment: People with low health literacy tend to have more trouble sticking to their treatment plans
- More Hospital Visits: These patients typically have worse health outcomes, leading them to need more emergency care and hospital stays
## Taking Action: What Works in the Real World
To help healthcare providers connect better with patients who have low health literacy and limited English, several strategies work well:
- **Keep Language Simple**: Use clear, straightforward words instead of medical jargon
- **Show and Tell**: Use pictures, diagrams, and videos to explain complex medical ideas
- **Check Understanding**: Ask patients to explain things back in their own words
- **Break Things Down**: Give information in smaller, easier-to-handle chunks
- **Consider Culture**: Work with interpreters and use materials that fit patients' cultural backgrounds
## How AI is Changing Patient Communication
Artificial Intelligence brings fresh solutions for working with people who have low health literacy and limited English:
- **Instant Translation**: AI translation tools help people understand each other right away during appointments
- **Smart Content**: AI can create easy-to-understand materials that match different literacy levels
- **Better Visuals**: AI helps make custom pictures and diagrams that make medical concepts clearer
These tech advances could really help patients understand and engage with their healthcare better.
.jpeg)
## Moving Forward
We need to address low health literacy and limited English skills to make healthcare fair and effective for everyone. By using better communication methods and new technologies like AI, healthcare providers can create an environment where everyone can understand their health better. Solving these communication problems helps both individual patients and makes the whole healthcare system work better.
## References
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Health Literacy Resources. Retrieved from [CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/health-literacy/php/resources/health-literacy-resources.html)
2. Preston Medical Library. Health Literacy Organizations - LibGuides at Preston Medical Library. Retrieved from [Preston LibGuides](https://preston.libguides.com/c.php?g=223914&p=6386261)
3. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Comparative report on health literacy in eight EU Member States. Retrieved from [NCBI](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK549295/)
4. American Medical Association Journal of Ethics. Reducing the Effects of Low Health Literacy. Retrieved from [AMA Journal](https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/reducing-effects-low-health-literacy/2003-06)
5. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Literature Summary on Health Literacy as a Social Determinant of Health. Retrieved from [Health Literacy Summary](https://odphp.health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/social-determinants-health/literature-summaries/health-literacy)
######
## FAQs
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
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[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# The Intersection of Low Health Literacy and Limited English Proficiency in Healthcare
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
November 28, 2024
4
Minute Read
Picture this: A patient stares at their prescription instructions, struggling to understand not just the medical terms, but the English language itself. This scene plays out countless times daily in healthcare settings across America, where low health literacy meets limited English proficiency (LEP). Let's explore how these challenges affect patient care and what modern solutions can help bridge these critical gaps.
### **Understanding and Measuring Low Health Literacy**
Low health literacy happens when someone struggles to get, understand, and work with basic health information needed for making good healthcare choices. The National Assessment of Adult Literacy found that around 80 million adults in the United States have trouble with health literacy. Within this group, about 36% fall into "basic" or "below basic" categories when tested.
Looking at who's most affected, we see low health literacy showing up more often in older adults, ethnic minorities, and people with lower incomes. Studies show that nearly 62% of Spanish-speaking patients at city hospitals don't have adequate health literacy. Many people hide these difficulties because they feel ashamed or embarrassed.
## The Double Challenge: When English Isn't Your First Language
Many folks who have low health literacy also don't speak English as their first language. This language gap makes their healthcare journey even tougher. About 25 million people in the United States have limited English skills, which makes it hard to talk effectively with their doctors and nurses.
.jpeg)
## From the Front Lines: What Healthcare Providers See
Healthcare providers tell us they're caught in a delicate balancing act. During our interviews, doctors and nurses shared their daily challenges: "We need to completely rethink how we communicate," one provider explained. "It's not just about translating words - it's about bridging entire concepts and cultural understandings."
Healthcare teams consistently highlight the need to:
- Really simplify medical terms
- Keep checking to make sure patients understand
- Bridge gaps in understanding that go beyond just translating words
These situations consistently demand more time and resources from healthcare workers.
## Real Problems in Healthcare Delivery
Healthcare providers run into several roadblocks when working with patients who have low health literacy and limited English:
- Communication Mix-ups: Patients often can't grasp medical terms or complex instructions
- Following Treatment: People with low health literacy tend to have more trouble sticking to their treatment plans
- More Hospital Visits: These patients typically have worse health outcomes, leading them to need more emergency care and hospital stays
## Taking Action: What Works in the Real World
To help healthcare providers connect better with patients who have low health literacy and limited English, several strategies work well:
- **Keep Language Simple**: Use clear, straightforward words instead of medical jargon
- **Show and Tell**: Use pictures, diagrams, and videos to explain complex medical ideas
- **Check Understanding**: Ask patients to explain things back in their own words
- **Break Things Down**: Give information in smaller, easier-to-handle chunks
- **Consider Culture**: Work with interpreters and use materials that fit patients' cultural backgrounds
## How AI is Changing Patient Communication
Artificial Intelligence brings fresh solutions for working with people who have low health literacy and limited English:
- **Instant Translation**: AI translation tools help people understand each other right away during appointments
- **Smart Content**: AI can create easy-to-understand materials that match different literacy levels
- **Better Visuals**: AI helps make custom pictures and diagrams that make medical concepts clearer
These tech advances could really help patients understand and engage with their healthcare better.
.jpeg)
## Moving Forward
We need to address low health literacy and limited English skills to make healthcare fair and effective for everyone. By using better communication methods and new technologies like AI, healthcare providers can create an environment where everyone can understand their health better. Solving these communication problems helps both individual patients and makes the whole healthcare system work better.
## References
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Health Literacy Resources. Retrieved from [CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/health-literacy/php/resources/health-literacy-resources.html)
2. Preston Medical Library. Health Literacy Organizations - LibGuides at Preston Medical Library. Retrieved from [Preston LibGuides](https://preston.libguides.com/c.php?g=223914&p=6386261)
3. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Comparative report on health literacy in eight EU Member States. Retrieved from [NCBI](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK549295/)
4. American Medical Association Journal of Ethics. Reducing the Effects of Low Health Literacy. Retrieved from [AMA Journal](https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/reducing-effects-low-health-literacy/2003-06)
5. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Literature Summary on Health Literacy as a Social Determinant of Health. Retrieved from [Health Literacy Summary](https://odphp.health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/social-determinants-health/literature-summaries/health-literacy)
######
## You’d also be interested in…
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Cultural competence in healthcare improves trust and outcomes. Understanding cultural differences, using interpreters, respecting beliefs, and involving families ensures effective, inclusive care.\\
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Health educators serve as essential bridges in healthcare settings, helping patients – especially those with Limited English Proficiency – fully understand and engage with their medical care.\\
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## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-intersection-of-low-health-literacy-and-limited-english-proficiency-in-healthcare#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Language Barriers in Healthcare
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# The Multiple Touchpoints Problem of Non-English Speaking Patients
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
July 24, 2024
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
4
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h3\\
\\
Current solutions](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-multiple-touchpoints-problem-of-non-english-speaking-patients#current-solutions)
[h3\\
\\
The Need for a Better Solution](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-multiple-touchpoints-problem-of-non-english-speaking-patients#the-need-for-a-better-solution)
With 26 million people who are considered to have limited English proficiency in the United States, providing equitable care to non-English speaking patients is essential. Yet, many healthcare institutions struggle to offer seamless language support throughout a patient's **journey**.
Let's explore the multiple touchpoints where language barriers can occur and the current solutions' limitations.
When a non-English speaking patient enters a healthcare facility, he encounters numerous touchpoints, for example, here are some possible touchpoints:
- Reception / Front desk
- Triage nurse
- Medical assistant
- Nurse
- Doctor / physician
- Specialist (if required)
- Diagnostic technicians (e.g. for X-rays)
- Billing / insurance staff
- Pharmacy
At each of these interactions, there's a need for effective and accurate communication.
### Current solutions
Healthcare institutions that provide language accessibility, typically rely on two main professional interpretation methods: on-site interpreters and remote interpretation services. Both have their strengths, but also present challenges in providing consistent, timely support throughout the patient journey.
**The On-Site Interpreter Approach**
Having an on-site interpreter follow a patient through their entire visit seems ideal. In that approach - the interpreter can be present in every step of the way. Research shows that this is the most desired solution by patients. One research(1) calculated the average encounter duration with an interpreter (47.4 min) and the average total interpreter time that includes before and after the encounter (91.1 min) - demonstrating the “time investment” in real life that on-site interpreters might do in specific settings.
However, waiting time for interpreters, off-hours availability and other challenges around scale can get to nonoptimal workflow. For example - one study(2) suggests that the average wait time for an on-site interpreter is about 19 minutes. This delay can disrupt schedules, extend visit durations, add unnecessary costs, and potentially impact patient outcomes.
**The Remote Interpreter Approach**
Many institutions use remote interpreting services, such as Language Line and Proprio. While this can provide more immediate access to interpreters and diverse language availability, it comes with its own set of challenges:
1. Multiple Waiting Periods: Each touchpoint may require a new call, involving routing, wait times, and repetitive interpreter disclaimers. This time accumulates at each point, leading to delays in care that affect both providers and patients.
2. Lack of Continuity: Different interpreters may be involved at each stage, leading to a loss of context and potentially requiring the patient to repeat information.
3. Inconsistent Use: Due to time constraints or perceived inconvenience, some providers might attempt to "get by" without proper interpretation, risking miscommunication.
### **The Need for a Better Solution**
The current state of medical interpretation often fails to align with the natural workflow of healthcare institutions, and the patient journey.
This misalignment can lead to:
- Extended patient visit times
- Increased stress for both patients and providers
- Potential for medical errors due to miscommunication
- Inconsistent quality of care for non-English speaking patients
- Increased costs that get passed onto patients
As healthcare continues to evolve, there's a pressing need for more integrated, efficient, and patient-centric interpretation solutions. These solutions should seamlessly fit into the healthcare workflow, providing consistent language support across all touchpoints without causing significant delays or disruptions.
Innovative approaches, such as AI-assisted interpretation could help bridge this gap. By addressing the language barrier more effectively, healthcare institutions can improve patient outcomes, increase satisfaction, and provide truly equitable care to all patients, regardless of their language proficiency.
**Resources**
(1) [2017](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28676091/) \- Assessment of the efficiency of language interpreter services in a busy surgical and procedural practice
(2) [2024](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/381661035_Patient_Time_Spent_With_Professional_Medical_Interpreters_and_the_Care_Experiences_of_Patients_With_Limited_English_Proficiency) \- Patient Time Spent With Professional Medical Interpreters and the Care Experiences of Patients With Limited English Proficiency
## FAQs
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
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# The Multiple Touchpoints Problem of Non-English Speaking Patients
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
July 24, 2024
4
Minute Read
With 26 million people who are considered to have limited English proficiency in the United States, providing equitable care to non-English speaking patients is essential. Yet, many healthcare institutions struggle to offer seamless language support throughout a patient's **journey**.
Let's explore the multiple touchpoints where language barriers can occur and the current solutions' limitations.
When a non-English speaking patient enters a healthcare facility, he encounters numerous touchpoints, for example, here are some possible touchpoints:
- Reception / Front desk
- Triage nurse
- Medical assistant
- Nurse
- Doctor / physician
- Specialist (if required)
- Diagnostic technicians (e.g. for X-rays)
- Billing / insurance staff
- Pharmacy
At each of these interactions, there's a need for effective and accurate communication.
### Current solutions
Healthcare institutions that provide language accessibility, typically rely on two main professional interpretation methods: on-site interpreters and remote interpretation services. Both have their strengths, but also present challenges in providing consistent, timely support throughout the patient journey.
**The On-Site Interpreter Approach**
Having an on-site interpreter follow a patient through their entire visit seems ideal. In that approach - the interpreter can be present in every step of the way. Research shows that this is the most desired solution by patients. One research(1) calculated the average encounter duration with an interpreter (47.4 min) and the average total interpreter time that includes before and after the encounter (91.1 min) - demonstrating the “time investment” in real life that on-site interpreters might do in specific settings.
However, waiting time for interpreters, off-hours availability and other challenges around scale can get to nonoptimal workflow. For example - one study(2) suggests that the average wait time for an on-site interpreter is about 19 minutes. This delay can disrupt schedules, extend visit durations, add unnecessary costs, and potentially impact patient outcomes.
**The Remote Interpreter Approach**
Many institutions use remote interpreting services, such as Language Line and Proprio. While this can provide more immediate access to interpreters and diverse language availability, it comes with its own set of challenges:
1. Multiple Waiting Periods: Each touchpoint may require a new call, involving routing, wait times, and repetitive interpreter disclaimers. This time accumulates at each point, leading to delays in care that affect both providers and patients.
2. Lack of Continuity: Different interpreters may be involved at each stage, leading to a loss of context and potentially requiring the patient to repeat information.
3. Inconsistent Use: Due to time constraints or perceived inconvenience, some providers might attempt to "get by" without proper interpretation, risking miscommunication.
### **The Need for a Better Solution**
The current state of medical interpretation often fails to align with the natural workflow of healthcare institutions, and the patient journey.
This misalignment can lead to:
- Extended patient visit times
- Increased stress for both patients and providers
- Potential for medical errors due to miscommunication
- Inconsistent quality of care for non-English speaking patients
- Increased costs that get passed onto patients
As healthcare continues to evolve, there's a pressing need for more integrated, efficient, and patient-centric interpretation solutions. These solutions should seamlessly fit into the healthcare workflow, providing consistent language support across all touchpoints without causing significant delays or disruptions.
Innovative approaches, such as AI-assisted interpretation could help bridge this gap. By addressing the language barrier more effectively, healthcare institutions can improve patient outcomes, increase satisfaction, and provide truly equitable care to all patients, regardless of their language proficiency.
**Resources**
(1) [2017](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28676091/) \- Assessment of the efficiency of language interpreter services in a busy surgical and procedural practice
(2) [2024](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/381661035_Patient_Time_Spent_With_Professional_Medical_Interpreters_and_the_Care_Experiences_of_Patients_With_Limited_English_Proficiency) \- Patient Time Spent With Professional Medical Interpreters and the Care Experiences of Patients With Limited English Proficiency
## You’d also be interested in…
No Related Articles Available
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-multiple-touchpoints-problem-of-non-english-speaking-patients#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
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[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Health Educators in Healthcare
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
Industry Insights & Trends
# The Role of Health Educators in Multilingual Healthcare Settings
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
November 27, 2024
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
4
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h2\\
\\
Understanding the Role of Health Educators](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-role-of-health-educators-in-multilingual-healthcare-settings#understanding-the-role-of-health-educators)
[h3\\
\\
Definition and Responsibilities](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-role-of-health-educators-in-multilingual-healthcare-settings#definition-and-responsibilities)
[h3\\
\\
Provider Referrals and Deep Education Sessions](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-role-of-health-educators-in-multilingual-healthcare-settings#provider-referrals-and-deep-education-sessions)
[h3\\
\\
Professional Settings](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-role-of-health-educators-in-multilingual-healthcare-settings#professional-settings)
[h3\\
\\
Critical Interventions](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-role-of-health-educators-in-multilingual-healthcare-settings#critical-interventions)
[h2\\
\\
Working with LEP Patients](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-role-of-health-educators-in-multilingual-healthcare-settings#working-with-lep-patients)
[h3\\
\\
Understanding the Challenges](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-role-of-health-educators-in-multilingual-healthcare-settings#understanding-the-challenges)
[h3\\
\\
The Intersection of Language Barriers and Social Determinants](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-role-of-health-educators-in-multilingual-healthcare-settings#the-intersection-of-language-barriers-and-social-determinants)
[h3\\
\\
Educational Strategies for LEP Communities](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-role-of-health-educators-in-multilingual-healthcare-settings#educational-strategies-for-lep-communities)
[h2\\
\\
Language Technology as a Support Tool](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-role-of-health-educators-in-multilingual-healthcare-settings#language-technology-as-a-support-tool)
[h3\\
\\
Real-Time Support](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-role-of-health-educators-in-multilingual-healthcare-settings#real-time-support)
[h2\\
\\
The Road Ahead](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-role-of-health-educators-in-multilingual-healthcare-settings#the-road-ahead)
Within today's complex healthcare landscape, health educators have emerged as indispensable team members. While their contributions matter for all patients, they become particularly vital when supporting those with Limited English Proficiency (LEP). Through their work, these dedicated professionals ensure healthcare doesn't just get delivered – it gets understood.
## Understanding the Role of Health Educators
### Definition and Responsibilities
Patient educators – as they're sometimes called in hospital corridors – do far more than simply explain medical terms. These professionals forge understanding between the clinical world and everyday life. Their day-to-day work includes several interconnected responsibilities:
They break down complex treatment plans into digestible pieces, helping patients grasp what lies ahead in their healthcare journey. You'll find them collaborating with doctors and nurses to craft individualized care approaches that actually work for real people in real situations. Beyond planning, they stick with patients through implementation, ensuring treatment strategies translate from paper to practice while keeping the entire healthcare team in sync with patient needs.
### Provider Referrals and Deep Education Sessions
Healthcare providers increasingly recognize the value of in-depth patient education. Many regularly refer their patients to health educators for extended, focused sessions that go far beyond what's possible during routine medical visits. During these dedicated sessions, educators can:
- Thoroughly explain chronic condition management
- Demonstrate proper use of medical devices
- Address specific cultural or social barriers to treatment
- Answer detailed questions patients might hesitate to ask during brief doctor visits
- Provide comprehensive lifestyle modification guidance
### Professional Settings
Walk through any major healthcare facility, and you might encounter health educators at work. They serve in bustling hospitals, neighborhood clinics, busy public health offices, local schools, and grassroots community organizations. Their impact proves especially meaningful wherever patient understanding directly shapes health outcomes.
### Critical Interventions
These educators step forward most prominently when healthcare faces specific challenges:
- Making sense of emerging public health concerns
- Getting entire communities involved in health initiatives
- Tackling specific health issues within diverse groups
- Turning medical complexity into practical understanding
## Working with LEP Patients
### Understanding the Challenges
For LEP patients, navigating healthcare often feels like solving a puzzle without all the pieces. Language differences create real hurdles:
- Medical instructions get lost in translation
- Finding the right care becomes unnecessarily difficult
- Healthcare experiences leave patients feeling frustrated
- Communication gaps increase the risk of medical mistakes
### The Intersection of Language Barriers and Social Determinants
Many LEP patients also belong to underserved communities, where healthcare challenges multiply exponentially. These overlapping barriers create unique challenges:
- Limited access to reliable transportation for medical appointments
- Financial constraints affecting medication adherence
- Cultural stigmas surrounding certain health conditions
- Reduced health literacy compounded by language barriers
- Limited access to preventive care services
- Work schedules that complicate healthcare access
In these situations, health education becomes not just helpful but crucial for survival. Educators must address not only medical understanding but also navigate complex socioeconomic factors that impact health outcomes.
### Educational Strategies for LEP Communities
Successfully educating LEP patients requires more than just translation – it demands a thoughtful, multi-faceted approach. Smart health educators employ proven methods:
- Developing materials that speak to both language and culture
- Using pictures and demonstrations that transcend language barriers
- Coordinating efforts with qualified medical interpreters
- Building programs that make health information truly accessible
- Creating resources that acknowledge economic and social realities
- Connecting patients with community support services
## Language Technology as a Support Tool
Recent advances in language support technology have opened new doors for multilingual healthcare communication. These tools enhance – rather than replace – traditional education methods:
### Real-Time Support
Modern AI language tools help smooth out communication bumps during patient visits. By adapting to medical terminology and context, they help ensure accuracy when it matters most.
## The Road Ahead
Tomorrow's health education in multilingual settings will succeed by bringing together human insight and technological capabilities. Health educators continue breaking new ground by:
- Making sure everyone can access vital health information
- Helping LEP communities achieve better health outcomes
- Building stronger provider-patient relationships across language barriers
- Addressing social determinants of health alongside medical education
- Creating sustainable solutions for underserved communities
By weaving together time-tested teaching approaches with carefully chosen technology, healthcare systems keep getting better at serving diverse communities. The result? Healthcare that truly works for everyone, regardless of language background or socioeconomic status.
## FAQs
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
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[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# The Role of Health Educators in Multilingual Healthcare Settings
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
November 27, 2024
4
Minute Read
Within today's complex healthcare landscape, health educators have emerged as indispensable team members. While their contributions matter for all patients, they become particularly vital when supporting those with Limited English Proficiency (LEP). Through their work, these dedicated professionals ensure healthcare doesn't just get delivered – it gets understood.
## Understanding the Role of Health Educators
### Definition and Responsibilities
Patient educators – as they're sometimes called in hospital corridors – do far more than simply explain medical terms. These professionals forge understanding between the clinical world and everyday life. Their day-to-day work includes several interconnected responsibilities:
They break down complex treatment plans into digestible pieces, helping patients grasp what lies ahead in their healthcare journey. You'll find them collaborating with doctors and nurses to craft individualized care approaches that actually work for real people in real situations. Beyond planning, they stick with patients through implementation, ensuring treatment strategies translate from paper to practice while keeping the entire healthcare team in sync with patient needs.
### Provider Referrals and Deep Education Sessions
Healthcare providers increasingly recognize the value of in-depth patient education. Many regularly refer their patients to health educators for extended, focused sessions that go far beyond what's possible during routine medical visits. During these dedicated sessions, educators can:
- Thoroughly explain chronic condition management
- Demonstrate proper use of medical devices
- Address specific cultural or social barriers to treatment
- Answer detailed questions patients might hesitate to ask during brief doctor visits
- Provide comprehensive lifestyle modification guidance
### Professional Settings
Walk through any major healthcare facility, and you might encounter health educators at work. They serve in bustling hospitals, neighborhood clinics, busy public health offices, local schools, and grassroots community organizations. Their impact proves especially meaningful wherever patient understanding directly shapes health outcomes.
### Critical Interventions
These educators step forward most prominently when healthcare faces specific challenges:
- Making sense of emerging public health concerns
- Getting entire communities involved in health initiatives
- Tackling specific health issues within diverse groups
- Turning medical complexity into practical understanding
## Working with LEP Patients
### Understanding the Challenges
For LEP patients, navigating healthcare often feels like solving a puzzle without all the pieces. Language differences create real hurdles:
- Medical instructions get lost in translation
- Finding the right care becomes unnecessarily difficult
- Healthcare experiences leave patients feeling frustrated
- Communication gaps increase the risk of medical mistakes
### The Intersection of Language Barriers and Social Determinants
Many LEP patients also belong to underserved communities, where healthcare challenges multiply exponentially. These overlapping barriers create unique challenges:
- Limited access to reliable transportation for medical appointments
- Financial constraints affecting medication adherence
- Cultural stigmas surrounding certain health conditions
- Reduced health literacy compounded by language barriers
- Limited access to preventive care services
- Work schedules that complicate healthcare access
In these situations, health education becomes not just helpful but crucial for survival. Educators must address not only medical understanding but also navigate complex socioeconomic factors that impact health outcomes.
### Educational Strategies for LEP Communities
Successfully educating LEP patients requires more than just translation – it demands a thoughtful, multi-faceted approach. Smart health educators employ proven methods:
- Developing materials that speak to both language and culture
- Using pictures and demonstrations that transcend language barriers
- Coordinating efforts with qualified medical interpreters
- Building programs that make health information truly accessible
- Creating resources that acknowledge economic and social realities
- Connecting patients with community support services
## Language Technology as a Support Tool
Recent advances in language support technology have opened new doors for multilingual healthcare communication. These tools enhance – rather than replace – traditional education methods:
### Real-Time Support
Modern AI language tools help smooth out communication bumps during patient visits. By adapting to medical terminology and context, they help ensure accuracy when it matters most.
## The Road Ahead
Tomorrow's health education in multilingual settings will succeed by bringing together human insight and technological capabilities. Health educators continue breaking new ground by:
- Making sure everyone can access vital health information
- Helping LEP communities achieve better health outcomes
- Building stronger provider-patient relationships across language barriers
- Addressing social determinants of health alongside medical education
- Creating sustainable solutions for underserved communities
By weaving together time-tested teaching approaches with carefully chosen technology, healthcare systems keep getting better at serving diverse communities. The result? Healthcare that truly works for everyone, regardless of language background or socioeconomic status.
## You’d also be interested in…
[**Slator 2025 Language AI 50 Under 50: No Barrier AI Recognized** \\
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October 17, 2025\\
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Slator is a leading source for news, research and market intelligence across translation, localization, interpreting and language AI.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/2025-slator-language-ai-50-under-50)
[**Best Practices for Treating Patients from Different Cultures** \\
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Cultural competence in healthcare improves trust and outcomes. Understanding cultural differences, using interpreters, respecting beliefs, and involving families ensures effective, inclusive care.\\
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**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/best-practices-for-treating-patients-from-different-cultures)
[**The Intersection of Low Health Literacy and Limited English Proficiency in Healthcare** \\
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4\\
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min read\\
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Low health literacy and limited English proficiency create major healthcare barriers for millions of Americans, requiring innovative solutions to improve patient understanding.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-intersection-of-low-health-literacy-and-limited-english-proficiency-in-healthcare)
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-role-of-health-educators-in-multilingual-healthcare-settings#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Language and Dialect Insights
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
Language & Dialect Challenges
# 3 Languages, Many Dialects: Stories Every Clinic Should Know
Three Stories of Dialect Mistakes in Care
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
July 31, 2025
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
2
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h2\\
\\
“Chinese” Isn’t One Voice](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/three-languages-many-dialects#chinese-isnt-one-voice)
[h2\\
\\
English Can Still Trip You Up](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/three-languages-many-dialects#english-can-still-trip-you-up)
[h2\\
\\
One Word, $71 Million](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/three-languages-many-dialects#one-word-dollar71-million)
[h2\\
\\
Key Takeaways for CMOs about dialects](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/three-languages-many-dialects#key-takeaways-for-cmos-about-dialects)
Coming from our main article on language vs. dialect? You asked for real cases. Below are three short, true‑to‑life stories. One in Chinese, English, and Spanish. These quick stories are showing how a single “language” can hide costly dialect traps.
## **“Chinese” Isn’t One Voice**
**Flash scene:**
A Cantonese‑speaking grandma arrives in the ED. Intake selects “Chinese.” A Mandarin‑only phone interpreter joins. No one can agree on pill times. Blood pressure climbs.
| Region | Main Dialect | Mandarin Friendly? |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Beijing | Mandarin | ✔ |
| Hong Kong | Cantonese | ✘ |
| Shanghai | Shanghainese (Wu) | ✘ |
_Source: Ethnologue 25th ed._ ¹
**Fast fix:**
Ask, “Mandarin or Cantonese or another Chinese dialect?” and flag it in the chart or use an AI interpreter like No Barrier AI that instantly detects which dialect your patient is comfortable with.
## **English Can Still Trip You Up**
**Flash scene:**
A British tourist tells a Florida nurse, “I’ve had pain in the stomach for a **fortnight**.” Staff hear “four nights.” Urgency is downgraded.
| Word | U.K. Meaning | U.S. Risk |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Surgery | Doctor’s office hours | Operating room |
| Chemist | Pharmacy | Lab tech |
| Fortnight | 14 days | Four nights? |
_Source: Oxford English Dictionary._ ²
## **One Word, $71 Million**
**Flash scene:**
Family tells staff the patient is **“intoxicado.”** Clinicians hear “intoxicated.” Brain bleed missed; patient left quadriplegic; [$71 million payout.](https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/legal-risks-ineffective-communication/2007-08) ³
**Fast fix:**
Always ask, “Spanish from which country?” If unsure, bring in a certified interpreter or dialect‑smart AI.
## **Key Takeaways for CMOs about dialects**
1. **Dialect ≠ accent.** It changes words, tones and patient trust.
2. **Tiny words cost big money.** A single mix‑up can trigger lawsuits or readmissions.
3. **One intake question saves hours.** Nail the dialect upfront.
_Want to see an AI catch Cantonese, British English and Puerto Rican Spanish on the fly?_ **Book a live demo of No Barrier AI** or jump back to our main post for details.
**References**
1. SIL International. _Ethnologue: Languages of the World,_ 25th ed. 2024.
2. Oxford English Dictionary, Online Edition. 2025.
3. Journal of Ethics. _Legal Risks of Ineffective Communication._ \*\*\*\*Abigail Van Kempen. 2007.
## FAQs
### 1\. Can dialect differences create compliance and safety risks in hospitals?
Yes. A single misunderstanding between dialects can lead to misdiagnosis, patient harm and even legal liability.
### 2\. Do regulators hold hospitals accountable for language and dialect errors?
Yes. Under HIPAA and Joint Commission standards, hospitals must provide accurate communication, including dialect-specific interpretation.
### 3\. Can one intake question about dialect really prevent costly errors?
Yes. Asking patients their preferred dialect at intake prevents delays, reduces readmissions and lowers malpractice exposure.
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
[Twitter icon\\
\\
Twitter](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/three-languages-many-dialects#) [Facebook icon\\
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[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# 3 Languages, Many Dialects: Stories Every Clinic Should Know
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
July 31, 2025
2
Minute Read
Coming from our main article on language vs. dialect? You asked for real cases. Below are three short, true‑to‑life stories. One in Chinese, English, and Spanish. These quick stories are showing how a single “language” can hide costly dialect traps.
## **“Chinese” Isn’t One Voice**
**Flash scene:**
A Cantonese‑speaking grandma arrives in the ED. Intake selects “Chinese.” A Mandarin‑only phone interpreter joins. No one can agree on pill times. Blood pressure climbs.
| Region | Main Dialect | Mandarin Friendly? |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Beijing | Mandarin | ✔ |
| Hong Kong | Cantonese | ✘ |
| Shanghai | Shanghainese (Wu) | ✘ |
_Source: Ethnologue 25th ed._ ¹
**Fast fix:**
Ask, “Mandarin or Cantonese or another Chinese dialect?” and flag it in the chart or use an AI interpreter like No Barrier AI that instantly detects which dialect your patient is comfortable with.
## **English Can Still Trip You Up**
**Flash scene:**
A British tourist tells a Florida nurse, “I’ve had pain in the stomach for a **fortnight**.” Staff hear “four nights.” Urgency is downgraded.
| Word | U.K. Meaning | U.S. Risk |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Surgery | Doctor’s office hours | Operating room |
| Chemist | Pharmacy | Lab tech |
| Fortnight | 14 days | Four nights? |
_Source: Oxford English Dictionary._ ²
## **One Word, $71 Million**
**Flash scene:**
Family tells staff the patient is **“intoxicado.”** Clinicians hear “intoxicated.” Brain bleed missed; patient left quadriplegic; [$71 million payout.](https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/legal-risks-ineffective-communication/2007-08) ³
**Fast fix:**
Always ask, “Spanish from which country?” If unsure, bring in a certified interpreter or dialect‑smart AI.
## **Key Takeaways for CMOs about dialects**
1. **Dialect ≠ accent.** It changes words, tones and patient trust.
2. **Tiny words cost big money.** A single mix‑up can trigger lawsuits or readmissions.
3. **One intake question saves hours.** Nail the dialect upfront.
_Want to see an AI catch Cantonese, British English and Puerto Rican Spanish on the fly?_ **Book a live demo of No Barrier AI** or jump back to our main post for details.
**References**
1. SIL International. _Ethnologue: Languages of the World,_ 25th ed. 2024.
2. Oxford English Dictionary, Online Edition. 2025.
3. Journal of Ethics. _Legal Risks of Ineffective Communication._ \*\*\*\*Abigail Van Kempen. 2007.
## You’d also be interested in…
[**Language vs. Dialect: Why the Difference Matters** \\
\\
Language & Dialect Challenges\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
2\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Inspired by Care Culture Talk podcast with Dr. Ilan Shapiro, MD – Executive Medical Leader.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/dialect-vs-language)
[**Basic Spanish Isn't Enough: Why Healthcare Providers Still Need Professional Language Services** \\
\\
Language & Dialect Challenges\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
3\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Even with basic Spanish skills, healthcare providers can't risk 'getting by' without professional language services - including AI interpretation - as the stakes for patient care are too high\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/basic-spanish-isnt-enough-why-healthcare-providers-still-need-professional-language-services)
[**How Spanish Dialects Impact Patient Care?** \\
\\
Language & Dialect Challenges\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
min read\\
\\
While Spanish may be the second most spoken language in U.S. healthcare settings, the vast differences between regional dialects create unexpected barriers to patient care - here's why it matters\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-spanish-dialects-impact-patient-care)
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/three-languages-many-dialects#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## No Barrier AI in ER
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
AI & Technology in Healthcare Interpretation
# Using No Barrier in the ER: An Inside Look
Jeffrey Chen, MD
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
July 30, 2024
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
4
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h4\\
\\
The Challenge in the ER](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/using-no-barrier-in-the-er-an-inside-look#the-challenge-in-the-er)
[h4\\
\\
No Barrier AI: Bridging the Gap](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/using-no-barrier-in-the-er-an-inside-look#no-barrier-ai-bridging-the-gap)
[h4\\
\\
How It Works](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/using-no-barrier-in-the-er-an-inside-look#how-it-works)
[h4\\
\\
Beyond the ER: A Holistic Approach](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/using-no-barrier-in-the-er-an-inside-look#beyond-the-er-a-holistic-approach)
“Can somebody bring the interpreter iPad STAT to room 1?”
This page frequently chimes in overhead in the emergency department I work in, which is right next to San Francisco International Airport and serves a diverse patient population. Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Russian, Arabic, etc. We have patients who speak all of these languages coming into our emergency department.
With only one interpreter-on-a-cart that rolls around the ER, this can pose a challenge to patients with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) getting access to the emergency healthcare.
#### **The Challenge in the ER**
Imagine this: a patient arrives at the ER in critical condition. Neither they nor their family members can effectively communicate their symptoms or medical history due to language barriers.
This scenario is more common than many might think. Language barriers in healthcare settings lead to misdiagnosis, delayed treatments, and inadequate patient understanding of their medical conditions and care instructions. For patients with Limited English Proficiency (LEP), the emergency department, which thrives on rapid and precise communication, becomes a daunting and often dangerous place.
LEP is recognized as a social determinant of health, influencing health outcomes as profoundly as socioeconomic status or access to healthcare. LEP patients are less likely to seek timely medical help, adhere to prescribed treatments, or follow up with necessary medical appointments. The lack of effective communication not only hinders immediate medical care but also exacerbates long-term health disparities. In the rural critical access hospitals I’ve worked at in the past, the gap is even larger for those who don’t speak English.
#### **No Barrier AI: Bridging the Gap**
This is where No Barrier AI comes into play. No Barrier AI is an innovative solution designed to break down language barriers in healthcare. By leveraging advanced artificial intelligence and natural language processing, No Barrier AI provides real-time translation services that are both accurate and contextually appropriate for medical settings.
#### **How It Works**
No Barrier AI functions seamlessly within the ER environment. When an LEP patient arrives, I’m able to immediately pull out my phone and use the platform to translate critical medical information, ensuring that nothing is lost in translation. There is no waiting on the line. There is no time spent having to repeat the patient’s MRN and the department we are in. This tool is not just about translating words, but also understanding and conveying the nuances and specific medical terminology required for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
For instance, in a high-stress situation where every second counts, a tool like No Barrier AI can translate a patient's description of their symptoms from Spanish, Mandarin, or any other language into English instantly and accurately. This immediate understanding allows for faster, more accurate medical responses, ultimately saving lives.
**Resource Efficiency**
Just the other day, I had to use an interpreter to place a central line in a Tagalog speaking patient. This is a procedure that takes about 20 minutes, mostly in silence, with occasional instructions such as, “You will feel some cleaning solution.” Then a minute of silence. “Now we will place a drape over your head.” Another minute of silence. “Now you will feel a pinch and a burn in your neck.”
With a traditional or iPad interpreter, this could take up valuable time and resources that could cost other LEP patients in the department the ability to communicate. Luckily, I was able to use No Barrier AI. That way, if a crashing LEP patient came into room 1, we wouldn’t need to whisk the iPad away to help translate in another room.
#### **Beyond the ER: A Holistic Approach**
The benefits of No Barrier AI extend beyond emergency care. It supports ongoing patient education and follow-up care by providing translated medical instructions and educational materials. This continuous support helps LEP patients better understand their health conditions, leading to improved adherence to treatment plans and better health outcomes.
Moreover, No Barrier AI fosters a more inclusive healthcare environment. It empowers patients to communicate their needs and concerns more effectively, ensuring they receive the same quality of care as English-speaking patients. This technological advancement is a step towards health equity, ensuring that language is no longer a barrier to quality healthcare.
Limited English proficiency should never be a barrier to receiving quality healthcare. As an ER doctor, I see firsthand the challenges LEP patients face and the critical need for solutions like No Barrier AI. By bridging the communication gap, we can provide more accurate, timely, and compassionate care to all patients, regardless of the language they speak. No Barrier AI is not just a tool; it’s a lifeline that ensures every patient’s voice is heard and understood in their most vulnerable moments.
## FAQs
Jeffrey Chen, MD
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
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[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# Using No Barrier in the ER: An Inside Look
Jeffrey Chen, MD
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
July 30, 2024
4
Minute Read
“Can somebody bring the interpreter iPad STAT to room 1?”
This page frequently chimes in overhead in the emergency department I work in, which is right next to San Francisco International Airport and serves a diverse patient population. Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Russian, Arabic, etc. We have patients who speak all of these languages coming into our emergency department.
With only one interpreter-on-a-cart that rolls around the ER, this can pose a challenge to patients with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) getting access to the emergency healthcare.
#### **The Challenge in the ER**
Imagine this: a patient arrives at the ER in critical condition. Neither they nor their family members can effectively communicate their symptoms or medical history due to language barriers.
This scenario is more common than many might think. Language barriers in healthcare settings lead to misdiagnosis, delayed treatments, and inadequate patient understanding of their medical conditions and care instructions. For patients with Limited English Proficiency (LEP), the emergency department, which thrives on rapid and precise communication, becomes a daunting and often dangerous place.
LEP is recognized as a social determinant of health, influencing health outcomes as profoundly as socioeconomic status or access to healthcare. LEP patients are less likely to seek timely medical help, adhere to prescribed treatments, or follow up with necessary medical appointments. The lack of effective communication not only hinders immediate medical care but also exacerbates long-term health disparities. In the rural critical access hospitals I’ve worked at in the past, the gap is even larger for those who don’t speak English.
#### **No Barrier AI: Bridging the Gap**
This is where No Barrier AI comes into play. No Barrier AI is an innovative solution designed to break down language barriers in healthcare. By leveraging advanced artificial intelligence and natural language processing, No Barrier AI provides real-time translation services that are both accurate and contextually appropriate for medical settings.
#### **How It Works**
No Barrier AI functions seamlessly within the ER environment. When an LEP patient arrives, I’m able to immediately pull out my phone and use the platform to translate critical medical information, ensuring that nothing is lost in translation. There is no waiting on the line. There is no time spent having to repeat the patient’s MRN and the department we are in. This tool is not just about translating words, but also understanding and conveying the nuances and specific medical terminology required for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
For instance, in a high-stress situation where every second counts, a tool like No Barrier AI can translate a patient's description of their symptoms from Spanish, Mandarin, or any other language into English instantly and accurately. This immediate understanding allows for faster, more accurate medical responses, ultimately saving lives.
**Resource Efficiency**
Just the other day, I had to use an interpreter to place a central line in a Tagalog speaking patient. This is a procedure that takes about 20 minutes, mostly in silence, with occasional instructions such as, “You will feel some cleaning solution.” Then a minute of silence. “Now we will place a drape over your head.” Another minute of silence. “Now you will feel a pinch and a burn in your neck.”
With a traditional or iPad interpreter, this could take up valuable time and resources that could cost other LEP patients in the department the ability to communicate. Luckily, I was able to use No Barrier AI. That way, if a crashing LEP patient came into room 1, we wouldn’t need to whisk the iPad away to help translate in another room.
#### **Beyond the ER: A Holistic Approach**
The benefits of No Barrier AI extend beyond emergency care. It supports ongoing patient education and follow-up care by providing translated medical instructions and educational materials. This continuous support helps LEP patients better understand their health conditions, leading to improved adherence to treatment plans and better health outcomes.
Moreover, No Barrier AI fosters a more inclusive healthcare environment. It empowers patients to communicate their needs and concerns more effectively, ensuring they receive the same quality of care as English-speaking patients. This technological advancement is a step towards health equity, ensuring that language is no longer a barrier to quality healthcare.
Limited English proficiency should never be a barrier to receiving quality healthcare. As an ER doctor, I see firsthand the challenges LEP patients face and the critical need for solutions like No Barrier AI. By bridging the communication gap, we can provide more accurate, timely, and compassionate care to all patients, regardless of the language they speak. No Barrier AI is not just a tool; it’s a lifeline that ensures every patient’s voice is heard and understood in their most vulnerable moments.
## You’d also be interested in…
[**No Barrier Raises $2.7M to Remove Language Barriers in Healthcare** \\
\\
AI & Technology in Healthcare Interpretation\\
\\
November 18, 2025\\
\\
3\\
\\
min read\\
\\
No Barrier secures $2.7M to scale instant AI medical interpretation that strengthens safety. cuts costs. and improves patient communication.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[**What Clinicians Really Think About Interpreters (And What AI Can Fix)** \\
\\
AI & Technology in Healthcare Interpretation\\
\\
November 10, 2025\\
\\
6\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Clinicians across the U.S. share real frustrations with language barriers in care. AI interpretation offers faster, more accurate, and culturally sensitive solutions.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/what-clinicians-really-think-about-interpreters)
[**AI in Medical Translation: Capabilities and Limitations** \\
\\
AI & Technology in Healthcare Interpretation\\
\\
October 9, 2025\\
\\
6\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Medical Translation in the AI Era: Understanding the Possibilities and Boundaries\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/ai-in-medical-translation-capabilities-and-limitations)
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/using-no-barrier-in-the-er-an-inside-look#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Value-Based Care Challenges
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
Industry Insights & Trends
# Value-Based Care and Communication Challenges for Patients with Limited English Proficiency
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
November 17, 2024
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
3
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h2\\
\\
What Is Value-Based Care in an Evolving Healthcare System?](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/value-based-care-and-communication-challenges-for-patients-with-limited-english-proficiency#what-is-value-based-care-in-an-evolving-healthcare-system)
[h2\\
\\
Assessment of the Interactions and Impact on Patients with LEP](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/value-based-care-and-communication-challenges-for-patients-with-limited-english-proficiency#assessment-of-the-interactions-and-impact-on-patients-with-lep)
[h2\\
\\
Language Barriers and Their Effect on Revenue](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/value-based-care-and-communication-challenges-for-patients-with-limited-english-proficiency#language-barriers-and-their-effect-on-revenue)
[h2\\
\\
Avoiding Empirical Challenges and Addressing the Problem Head On](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/value-based-care-and-communication-challenges-for-patients-with-limited-english-proficiency#avoiding-empirical-challenges-and-addressing-the-problem-head-on)
[h2\\
\\
Managing Value-Based Care Measures of Success](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/value-based-care-and-communication-challenges-for-patients-with-limited-english-proficiency#managing-value-based-care-measures-of-success)
[h2\\
\\
The Future](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/value-based-care-and-communication-challenges-for-patients-with-limited-english-proficiency#the-future)
One of the emerging issues in the American healthcare system is the combination of value-based care and patient communication. Since there are more than 25 million Limited English Proficiency (LEP) individuals in the US, healthcare organizations need to ensure communication delivery as well as compliance with the increasing metrics in value-based care settings. Language access in regard to its healthcare correlation has never been more crucial.
## **What Is Value-Based Care in an Evolving Healthcare System?**
Value-based care represented a genuine innovation in both the processes of care delivery and assessment of its effectiveness. Unlike the traditional fee-for-service models that emphasize volume of services, value-based care focuses on better results and patient satisfaction. At its core, the model focuses on four essential principles:
Achieving Better Health Outcomes for the Patients Through Focused and Wholesome Care Better Patient Experience & Engagement Overall Reduction in Cost Better Efficiency in Case Management
Such a paradigm shift makes it imperative for healthcare givers to be more comprehensive in their approach in addressing patient needs by looking beyond the disease at hand and the barriers to its communication.
## **Assessment of the Interactions and Impact on Patients with LEP**
Immigrant populations, or patients with limited English proficiency, are continuously experiencing challenges within the US healthcare system. One can only imagine the impact on their whole healthcare experience when a patient fails at quite literally all aspects of their treatment, either through accurate reporting of symptoms or understanding of provided instructions. Let us take the example of preventive measures, one of the primary components of healthcare delivery systems, in this instance, based on its value-based orientation. When it comes to LEP patients, they are far less likely than native speakers to seek these preventive services, not because they do not care about their health, but rather because they are unable to understand such phrases as "preventive care" and therefore do not seek help.
Basic communication challenges generate various problems:
Clinical Impact:
- Miscommunications increase medical errors and adverse events which is mostly attributed to language difference
- If symptoms cannot be fully understood, there is a greater chance of them being wrongly diagnosed
- Non-compliance to the medication taken which is usually the result of improper directions provided
- Reduced use of these services, resulting in increased diagnosis at a later stage than normal
## **Language Barriers and Their Effect on Revenue**
The language barriers have an effect on the financial resources of a healthcare organization that goes beyond the mere cost of hiring interpreters. When the language barrier is quite prevalent, the healthcare facilities may incur expenditures in the following areas:
- Durations of appointments that are longer than expected that require more staff time
- Extraneous imaging due to uncertainties in communication
- More use of emergency services
- Increased rates of readmission
What is more troubling is the increased incidence of readmission of LEP patients. The patients do not have the proper knowledge on the rehabilitation plans or the medications that they have been prescribed hence are more likely to suffer from complications that necessitate further interventions. It is even more troubling in a value-based care arrangement, whereby institutions are liable in terms of finances for the outcome of patients.
## **Avoiding Empirical Challenges and Addressing the Problem Head On**
Many centers have come to the realization that LEP patients' demands cannot be met by mere interpretation of words, and thus many more resources are allocated. The majority of language access programs are still staffed by professional medical interpreters who also provide some level of cultural competence. These services may include on-site interpreters for more detailed cases, or remote interpretation service agencies that provide video and telephone-call services for immediate needs.
Traditional interpretation services are the primary means of providing language access, however, advancements in technology, and recently artificial intelligence, has managed to offer new ways of communication with LEP populations.
## **Managing Value-Based Care Measures of Success**
Value-based care models have success indicators with regards to LEP populations for most healthcare organizations:
- Satisfaction and engagement of patients
- Classification of patient's readmission rate against set benchmarks
- Increased utilization of preventive care services
- Reduced numbers of patients visiting the emergency department
- Improved results in managing chronic conditions
Tracking these metrics on a continuous basis allows these organizations to evaluate the success of their language access programs and adjust them to suit the needs of the LEP population better.
## **The Future**
With the transformation of healthcare towards a value-based model, addressing the needs of LEP patients will become even more critical than it is today. The healthcare system of the future relies on our capacity to effectively meet the healthcare needs of all patients, regardless of the language spoken. Institutions that effectively close the loop on communication will not only enhance patient care but also competitive positioning in an ever-tougher healthcare environment.
For LEP populations to receive appropriate assistance, these measures are necessary:
- Policies on language access that are plainly defined and structured
- Quality measures should be regularly and systematically applied
- There is a need for understanding of the needs from both patients and providers
- There is a necessity for continual alignment with the dynamic nature of the patient constituency
Understanding these barriers and prioritizing language access can help them find gaps between technology and clinical practice to achieve value-based care while improving equity in health for all patients.
## FAQs
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
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Linkedin](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/value-based-care-and-communication-challenges-for-patients-with-limited-english-proficiency#) [Linkedin](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/value-based-care-and-communication-challenges-for-patients-with-limited-english-proficiency#)
[Telegram](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/value-based-care-and-communication-challenges-for-patients-with-limited-english-proficiency#) [Reddit](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/value-based-care-and-communication-challenges-for-patients-with-limited-english-proficiency#)
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# Value-Based Care and Communication Challenges for Patients with Limited English Proficiency
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
November 17, 2024
3
Minute Read
One of the emerging issues in the American healthcare system is the combination of value-based care and patient communication. Since there are more than 25 million Limited English Proficiency (LEP) individuals in the US, healthcare organizations need to ensure communication delivery as well as compliance with the increasing metrics in value-based care settings. Language access in regard to its healthcare correlation has never been more crucial.
## **What Is Value-Based Care in an Evolving Healthcare System?**
Value-based care represented a genuine innovation in both the processes of care delivery and assessment of its effectiveness. Unlike the traditional fee-for-service models that emphasize volume of services, value-based care focuses on better results and patient satisfaction. At its core, the model focuses on four essential principles:
Achieving Better Health Outcomes for the Patients Through Focused and Wholesome Care Better Patient Experience & Engagement Overall Reduction in Cost Better Efficiency in Case Management
Such a paradigm shift makes it imperative for healthcare givers to be more comprehensive in their approach in addressing patient needs by looking beyond the disease at hand and the barriers to its communication.
## **Assessment of the Interactions and Impact on Patients with LEP**
Immigrant populations, or patients with limited English proficiency, are continuously experiencing challenges within the US healthcare system. One can only imagine the impact on their whole healthcare experience when a patient fails at quite literally all aspects of their treatment, either through accurate reporting of symptoms or understanding of provided instructions. Let us take the example of preventive measures, one of the primary components of healthcare delivery systems, in this instance, based on its value-based orientation. When it comes to LEP patients, they are far less likely than native speakers to seek these preventive services, not because they do not care about their health, but rather because they are unable to understand such phrases as "preventive care" and therefore do not seek help.
Basic communication challenges generate various problems:
Clinical Impact:
- Miscommunications increase medical errors and adverse events which is mostly attributed to language difference
- If symptoms cannot be fully understood, there is a greater chance of them being wrongly diagnosed
- Non-compliance to the medication taken which is usually the result of improper directions provided
- Reduced use of these services, resulting in increased diagnosis at a later stage than normal
## **Language Barriers and Their Effect on Revenue**
The language barriers have an effect on the financial resources of a healthcare organization that goes beyond the mere cost of hiring interpreters. When the language barrier is quite prevalent, the healthcare facilities may incur expenditures in the following areas:
- Durations of appointments that are longer than expected that require more staff time
- Extraneous imaging due to uncertainties in communication
- More use of emergency services
- Increased rates of readmission
What is more troubling is the increased incidence of readmission of LEP patients. The patients do not have the proper knowledge on the rehabilitation plans or the medications that they have been prescribed hence are more likely to suffer from complications that necessitate further interventions. It is even more troubling in a value-based care arrangement, whereby institutions are liable in terms of finances for the outcome of patients.
## **Avoiding Empirical Challenges and Addressing the Problem Head On**
Many centers have come to the realization that LEP patients' demands cannot be met by mere interpretation of words, and thus many more resources are allocated. The majority of language access programs are still staffed by professional medical interpreters who also provide some level of cultural competence. These services may include on-site interpreters for more detailed cases, or remote interpretation service agencies that provide video and telephone-call services for immediate needs.
Traditional interpretation services are the primary means of providing language access, however, advancements in technology, and recently artificial intelligence, has managed to offer new ways of communication with LEP populations.
## **Managing Value-Based Care Measures of Success**
Value-based care models have success indicators with regards to LEP populations for most healthcare organizations:
- Satisfaction and engagement of patients
- Classification of patient's readmission rate against set benchmarks
- Increased utilization of preventive care services
- Reduced numbers of patients visiting the emergency department
- Improved results in managing chronic conditions
Tracking these metrics on a continuous basis allows these organizations to evaluate the success of their language access programs and adjust them to suit the needs of the LEP population better.
## **The Future**
With the transformation of healthcare towards a value-based model, addressing the needs of LEP patients will become even more critical than it is today. The healthcare system of the future relies on our capacity to effectively meet the healthcare needs of all patients, regardless of the language spoken. Institutions that effectively close the loop on communication will not only enhance patient care but also competitive positioning in an ever-tougher healthcare environment.
For LEP populations to receive appropriate assistance, these measures are necessary:
- Policies on language access that are plainly defined and structured
- Quality measures should be regularly and systematically applied
- There is a need for understanding of the needs from both patients and providers
- There is a necessity for continual alignment with the dynamic nature of the patient constituency
Understanding these barriers and prioritizing language access can help them find gaps between technology and clinical practice to achieve value-based care while improving equity in health for all patients.
## You’d also be interested in…
[**Slator 2025 Language AI 50 Under 50: No Barrier AI Recognized** \\
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Industry Insights & Trends\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
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2\\
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Slator is a leading source for news, research and market intelligence across translation, localization, interpreting and language AI.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/2025-slator-language-ai-50-under-50)
[**Best Practices for Treating Patients from Different Cultures** \\
\\
Industry Insights & Trends\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
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min read\\
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Cultural competence in healthcare improves trust and outcomes. Understanding cultural differences, using interpreters, respecting beliefs, and involving families ensures effective, inclusive care.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/best-practices-for-treating-patients-from-different-cultures)
[**The Intersection of Low Health Literacy and Limited English Proficiency in Healthcare** \\
\\
Industry Insights & Trends\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
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min read\\
\\
Low health literacy and limited English proficiency create major healthcare barriers for millions of Americans, requiring innovative solutions to improve patient understanding.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-intersection-of-low-health-literacy-and-limited-english-proficiency-in-healthcare)
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/value-based-care-and-communication-challenges-for-patients-with-limited-english-proficiency#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Clinician Insights on Interpreters
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
AI & Technology in Healthcare Interpretation
# What Clinicians Really Think About Interpreters (And What AI Can Fix)
Real clinician frustrations reveal where AI can help fix broken language access in healthcare.
Tomer Baum
Co-founder and CTO, No Barrier
**Created:**
November 10, 2025
**Updated:**
November 10, 2025
6
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h2\\
\\
Executive Summary](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/what-clinicians-really-think-about-interpreters#executive-summary)
[h2\\
\\
Why I’m Opening Up the AI Conversation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/what-clinicians-really-think-about-interpreters#why-im-opening-up-the-ai-conversation)
[h3\\
\\
Pain Point 1: “I know what the interpreter is not interpreting.”](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/what-clinicians-really-think-about-interpreters#pain-point-1-i-know-what-the-interpreter-is-not-interpreting)
[h3\\
\\
Pain Point 2: “Asking a patient one question turns into a three-minute dialogue.”](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/what-clinicians-really-think-about-interpreters#pain-point-2-asking-a-patient-one-question-turns-into-a-three-minute-dialogue)
[h3\\
\\
Pain Point 3: “Arabic is not just one language.”](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/what-clinicians-really-think-about-interpreters#pain-point-3-arabic-is-not-just-one-language)
[h3\\
\\
Pain Point 4: “My Pashto-speaking patients didn’t want male interpreters.”](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/what-clinicians-really-think-about-interpreters#pain-point-4-my-pashto-speaking-patients-didnt-want-male-interpreters)
[h3\\
\\
Pain Point 5: “I’m speaking to a male who speaks to the woman, and then back to me.”](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/what-clinicians-really-think-about-interpreters#pain-point-5-im-speaking-to-a-male-who-speaks-to-the-woman-and-then-back-to-me)
[h2\\
\\
The Bigger Picture](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/what-clinicians-really-think-about-interpreters#the-bigger-picture)
[h2\\
\\
Key Takeaways for Healthcare Leaders](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/what-clinicians-really-think-about-interpreters#key-takeaways-for-healthcare-leaders)
## **Executive Summary**
- Clinicians constantly share real frustrations about medical interpretation on Reddit.
- Common issues include accuracy, dialect mismatch and gender or cultural barriers.
- AI interpretation can fix many of these problems through instant access, transparency and contextual understanding.
## Why I’m Opening Up the AI Conversation
As someone who came from DevOps and voice AI engineering, I know how easily technology can lose human context.
When I co-founded No Barrier, I promised myself we would build AI for healthcare that listens first and explains itself.
I read hundreds of clinician comments about interpreters.
Their stories are honest, sometimes harsh but incredibly valuable for anyone designing technology meant to serve both patients and staff.
Here is what healthcare professionals are saying, and how AI can help.
### **Pain Point 1: “I know what the interpreter is not interpreting.”**
_“Spanish, because I speak it well enough to know what I’m saying and what the interpreter is not interpreting. Important nuances are lost.”_
**What’s happening:**
- Interpretation accuracy depends on human memory and summarization.
- Subtle but clinically important phrases get reworded or omitted.
- Clinicians lose trust in the process, especially when they understand both languages.
**How AI Helps:**
- **Reverse translation:** AI captures and displays both the clinician’s and patient’s messages in real time.
- **Audit trail:** Full transcripts help identify where meaning was lost.
- **Quality consistency:** Machine models don’t fatigue or paraphrase.
**Result:** More trust and less guesswork during bilingual encounters.
### **Pain Point 2: “Asking a patient one question turns into a three-minute dialogue.”**
_“Bengali. Asking a patient a simple question turns into a long exchange between patient and interpreter. Longer if you’re on speakerphone.”_
**What’s happening:**
- Traditional phone interpretation creates delays.
- Audio quality and background noise increase frustration.
- Clinical momentum is lost, especially in crowded or emergency settings.
- The conversation becomes between the patient and the interpreter (vs the encounter)
**How AI Helps:**
- **Instant voice AI on tablets:** no dialing, no waiting.
- **Noise-resistant transcription:** adapts to background sound.
- **Turn-taking optimization:** system detects who’s speaking and auto-translates in real time.
**Result:** Smooth conversation flow without interrupting patient care. The encounter remains in control.
### **Pain Point 3: “Arabic is not just one language.”**
_“Our translation service offers only ‘Arabic.’ Sometimes the interpreter speaks the wrong dialect. It adds 30 minutes to the visit.”_
**What’s happening:**
- Current interpretation systems treat dialects as one language.
- A patient’s dialect may not match the interpreter’s.
- Miscommunication increases frustration for both sides.
**How AI Helps:**
- **Dialect detection:** AI can identify and switch to the correct regional model. For instance, at No Barrier we offer AI translation for Arabic from
- United Arab Emirates
- Saudi Arabia
- Egypt
- Syria
- Iraq
- Morocco
- **Automatic matching:** routes the request to the most accurate voice model or live interpreter.
- **Reduced wait times:** no manual searching or callback delays.
**Result:** Faster interpretation and better cultural alignment.
### **Pain Point 4: “My Pashto-speaking patients didn’t want male interpreters.”**
_“All of my Pashto-speaking patients were women and didn’t want male interpreters. When we used them, interpreting wasn’t good, and patients felt uncomfortable.”_
**What’s happening:**
- Gender and cultural norms affect patient comfort and honesty.
- Interpreter matching rarely accounts for gender preference.
- Sensitive topics become even more difficult to discuss.
**How AI Helps:**
- **AI neutrality in sensitive encounters:** AI interpretation provides a neutral communication channel. For female patients who may feel uncomfortable discussing intimate or personal topics with a male interpreter, AI offers a private, bias-free alternative. It allows clinicians to maintain clarity and compassion without compromising patient comfort or cultural respect.
- **AI fallback:** if no human interpreter is available, AI can bridge the gap instantly without cultural friction.
- **Respectful design:** prompts staff to confirm patient comfort.
**Result:** Cultural sensitivity without sacrificing clinical efficiency.
### **Pain Point 5: “I’m speaking to a male who speaks to the woman, and then back to me.”**
_“Pashto (Afghan patients). I’m speaking to an interpreter who speaks to a male who then speaks to the woman, and then the reverse, for every exchange.”_
**What’s happening:**
- Multi-layer interpretation creates delays and distortions.
- Patients lose agency.
- Clinicians struggle to maintain connection with the patient.
**How AI Helps:**
- **Direct communication:** AI supports voice (instant interpretation) and text translation (discharge letter) directly between clinician and patient.
- **Fewer intermediaries:** reduces latency and error propagation.
- **Emotional tone preservation:** AI models trained on healthcare dialogue retain politeness and empathy markers.
**Result:** Faster, more personal communication that respects patient autonomy.
## **The Bigger Picture**
All these stories share one theme:
**Clinicians do not want to replace interpreters. They want to trust the process.**
That trust begins with transparency.
When AI systems show what is being said, how it is translated and why, they build confidence instead of skepticism.
AI does not remove the human from care. It removes the **friction** that keeps humans from connecting.
## **Key Takeaways for Healthcare Leaders**
- Language access is an operational safety issue, not a convenience.
- AI interpretation can fix delays, dialect mismatches, and documentation gaps.
- Transparent AI builds clinician trust by showing how translation works.
- Culturally aware design matters as much as accuracy.
Article based on real-world experiences from U.S. healthcare professionals who face language barriers in daily patient care.
## FAQs
### 1\. Do clinicians frequently report frustration with interpreter accuracy?
Yes. We very often hear from clinicians we meet that important medical nuances are lost or altered during interpretation, leading to mistrust in the process. This is the reason why we can state that AI interpretation is consistent. It does not vary from a human interpreter to another.
### 2\. Can AI interpretation provide real-time translation transparency?
Yes. AI can display both the clinician’s and patient’s messages instantly, creating an auditable and fully transparent encounter.
### 3\. Can AI help when patients prefer not to speak through interpreters of a certain gender?
Yes. AI provides a neutral, privacy-respecting communication channel that supports patient comfort and cultural sensitivity. However, it complements clinicians rather than replacing them.
### 4\. Are there specific prerequisites for using AI interpretation effectively?
Yes. It requires connected devices such as tablets, smartphones or desktop computers with stable Wi-Fi access to ensure real-time translation performance.
### 5\. Does AI interpretation eliminate the need for human interpreters entirely?
No. Clinicians want transparency and trust, not replacement. AI complements human interpreters by removing friction and improving efficiency.
Tomer Baum
Co-founder and CTO, No Barrier
Tomer, CTO of No Barrier, is a Voice AI engineer passionate about creating intuitive, human-centered applications. He focuses on designing AI-driven tools that make healthcare communication clearer, faster and more accessible for both clinicians and patients. Tomer frequently shares insights on using AI tools, advancing interoperability and fostering technology that empowers clinicians and patients alike.
## Share this article
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[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# What Clinicians Really Think About Interpreters (And What AI Can Fix)
Tomer Baum
Co-founder and CTO, No Barrier
November 10, 2025
6
Minute Read
## **Executive Summary**
- Clinicians constantly share real frustrations about medical interpretation on Reddit.
- Common issues include accuracy, dialect mismatch and gender or cultural barriers.
- AI interpretation can fix many of these problems through instant access, transparency and contextual understanding.
## Why I’m Opening Up the AI Conversation
As someone who came from DevOps and voice AI engineering, I know how easily technology can lose human context.
When I co-founded No Barrier, I promised myself we would build AI for healthcare that listens first and explains itself.
I read hundreds of clinician comments about interpreters.
Their stories are honest, sometimes harsh but incredibly valuable for anyone designing technology meant to serve both patients and staff.
Here is what healthcare professionals are saying, and how AI can help.
### **Pain Point 1: “I know what the interpreter is not interpreting.”**
_“Spanish, because I speak it well enough to know what I’m saying and what the interpreter is not interpreting. Important nuances are lost.”_
**What’s happening:**
- Interpretation accuracy depends on human memory and summarization.
- Subtle but clinically important phrases get reworded or omitted.
- Clinicians lose trust in the process, especially when they understand both languages.
**How AI Helps:**
- **Reverse translation:** AI captures and displays both the clinician’s and patient’s messages in real time.
- **Audit trail:** Full transcripts help identify where meaning was lost.
- **Quality consistency:** Machine models don’t fatigue or paraphrase.
**Result:** More trust and less guesswork during bilingual encounters.
### **Pain Point 2: “Asking a patient one question turns into a three-minute dialogue.”**
_“Bengali. Asking a patient a simple question turns into a long exchange between patient and interpreter. Longer if you’re on speakerphone.”_
**What’s happening:**
- Traditional phone interpretation creates delays.
- Audio quality and background noise increase frustration.
- Clinical momentum is lost, especially in crowded or emergency settings.
- The conversation becomes between the patient and the interpreter (vs the encounter)
**How AI Helps:**
- **Instant voice AI on tablets:** no dialing, no waiting.
- **Noise-resistant transcription:** adapts to background sound.
- **Turn-taking optimization:** system detects who’s speaking and auto-translates in real time.
**Result:** Smooth conversation flow without interrupting patient care. The encounter remains in control.
### **Pain Point 3: “Arabic is not just one language.”**
_“Our translation service offers only ‘Arabic.’ Sometimes the interpreter speaks the wrong dialect. It adds 30 minutes to the visit.”_
**What’s happening:**
- Current interpretation systems treat dialects as one language.
- A patient’s dialect may not match the interpreter’s.
- Miscommunication increases frustration for both sides.
**How AI Helps:**
- **Dialect detection:** AI can identify and switch to the correct regional model. For instance, at No Barrier we offer AI translation for Arabic from
- United Arab Emirates
- Saudi Arabia
- Egypt
- Syria
- Iraq
- Morocco
- **Automatic matching:** routes the request to the most accurate voice model or live interpreter.
- **Reduced wait times:** no manual searching or callback delays.
**Result:** Faster interpretation and better cultural alignment.
### **Pain Point 4: “My Pashto-speaking patients didn’t want male interpreters.”**
_“All of my Pashto-speaking patients were women and didn’t want male interpreters. When we used them, interpreting wasn’t good, and patients felt uncomfortable.”_
**What’s happening:**
- Gender and cultural norms affect patient comfort and honesty.
- Interpreter matching rarely accounts for gender preference.
- Sensitive topics become even more difficult to discuss.
**How AI Helps:**
- **AI neutrality in sensitive encounters:** AI interpretation provides a neutral communication channel. For female patients who may feel uncomfortable discussing intimate or personal topics with a male interpreter, AI offers a private, bias-free alternative. It allows clinicians to maintain clarity and compassion without compromising patient comfort or cultural respect.
- **AI fallback:** if no human interpreter is available, AI can bridge the gap instantly without cultural friction.
- **Respectful design:** prompts staff to confirm patient comfort.
**Result:** Cultural sensitivity without sacrificing clinical efficiency.
### **Pain Point 5: “I’m speaking to a male who speaks to the woman, and then back to me.”**
_“Pashto (Afghan patients). I’m speaking to an interpreter who speaks to a male who then speaks to the woman, and then the reverse, for every exchange.”_
**What’s happening:**
- Multi-layer interpretation creates delays and distortions.
- Patients lose agency.
- Clinicians struggle to maintain connection with the patient.
**How AI Helps:**
- **Direct communication:** AI supports voice (instant interpretation) and text translation (discharge letter) directly between clinician and patient.
- **Fewer intermediaries:** reduces latency and error propagation.
- **Emotional tone preservation:** AI models trained on healthcare dialogue retain politeness and empathy markers.
**Result:** Faster, more personal communication that respects patient autonomy.
## **The Bigger Picture**
All these stories share one theme:
**Clinicians do not want to replace interpreters. They want to trust the process.**
That trust begins with transparency.
When AI systems show what is being said, how it is translated and why, they build confidence instead of skepticism.
AI does not remove the human from care. It removes the **friction** that keeps humans from connecting.
## **Key Takeaways for Healthcare Leaders**
- Language access is an operational safety issue, not a convenience.
- AI interpretation can fix delays, dialect mismatches, and documentation gaps.
- Transparent AI builds clinician trust by showing how translation works.
- Culturally aware design matters as much as accuracy.
Article based on real-world experiences from U.S. healthcare professionals who face language barriers in daily patient care.
## You’d also be interested in…
[**No Barrier Raises $2.7M to Remove Language Barriers in Healthcare** \\
\\
AI & Technology in Healthcare Interpretation\\
\\
November 18, 2025\\
\\
3\\
\\
min read\\
\\
No Barrier secures $2.7M to scale instant AI medical interpretation that strengthens safety. cuts costs. and improves patient communication.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[**AI in Medical Translation: Capabilities and Limitations** \\
\\
AI & Technology in Healthcare Interpretation\\
\\
October 9, 2025\\
\\
6\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Medical Translation in the AI Era: Understanding the Possibilities and Boundaries\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/ai-in-medical-translation-capabilities-and-limitations)
[**No Barrier AI Outperforms Traditional Medical Interpreters in First Study** \\
\\
AI & Technology in Healthcare Interpretation\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
3\\
\\
min read\\
\\
An independent evaluation of NoBarrier's AI technology demonstrates its medical interpreter surpasses professional human interpreters in accuracy\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/nobarrier-ai-outperforms-traditional-medical-interpreters-in-first-scientific-study)
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/what-clinicians-really-think-about-interpreters#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Understanding Interpreting Directionality
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
Language & Dialect
# What is Interpreting Directionality?
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
September 17, 2024
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h2\\
\\
Directionality in Consecutive Interpreting](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/what-is-interpreting-directionality#directionality-in-consecutive-interpreting)
[h2\\
\\
Cognitive Load and Working Memory](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/what-is-interpreting-directionality#cognitive-load-and-working-memory)
[h2\\
\\
Implications for Medical Interpreting](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/what-is-interpreting-directionality#implications-for-medical-interpreting)
[h2\\
\\
The Future of Medical Interpreting: AI Solutions](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/what-is-interpreting-directionality#the-future-of-medical-interpreting-ai-solutions)
[h2\\
\\
Conclusion](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/what-is-interpreting-directionality#conclusion)
Medical interpreting is essential in healthcare services within multilingual settings. The concept of **directionality** in interpreting refers to whether an interpreter is working from their **native** language (L1) into a second language (L2) or vice versa. Let’s dive into this concept to understand the impact on communication in medical encounters
## Directionality in Consecutive Interpreting
Recent studies show the effects of directionality in consecutive interpreting, particularly between languages like Chinese and English. Research has shown that directionality significantly influences both the process and product of interpretation.
**Process Differences**
- Interpreters tend to take more notes when working from L2 to L1
- Eye-tracking data reveals distinct patterns in visual attention based on directionality
**Product Differences**
- Interpreting from L2 to L1 generally results in higher accuracy
- L1 to L2 interpreting may lead to more omissions and errors
## Cognitive Load and Working Memory
The impact of directionality on interpreter performance is closely tied to cognitive load and working memory capacity. **Interpreting from L2 to L1 typically imposes a lower cognitive burden**, allowing interpreters to allocate more resources to comprehension and production processes.
## Implications for Medical Interpreting
In medical settings, where accuracy is essential, the directionality effect has significant implications:
1. **Patient Safety**: Interpreting from L2 to L1 may reduce the risk of critical errors in medical information transmission
2. **Cultural Nuances**: Working into one's native language can enhance the ability to convey cultural subtleties accurately
3. **Specialized Terminology**: L1 to L2 interpreting may pose challenges with complex medical terminology
## The Future of Medical Interpreting: AI Solutions
While directionality remains a crucial consideration in human interpreting, emerging AI-powered medical interpreting services are beginning to address these challenges:
- AI interpreters don't have the concept of L1 and L2, potentially offering consistent performance across all language pairs
- Machine learning models can be trained on vast medical corpora, ensuring accurate interpretation of complex terminology in multiple languages
- AI systems don't experience cognitive fatigue, maintaining consistent performance regardless of session length or complexity
## Conclusion
Directionality is a concept that medical interpreters are dealing with during their work, many times an overlooked risk on accuracy and quality. As technology advances, AI-powered solutions may offer new ways to address directionality challenges, potentially revolutionizing the field of medical interpreting.
Resources:
1. Effects of Directionality on Interpreting Performance: Evidence From Interpreting Between Chinese and English by Trainee Interpreters - [here](https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.781610/full)
2. The impact of directionality on the process and product in consecutive interpreting between Chinese and English: Evidence from pen recording and eye tracking - [here](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344277441_The_impact_of_directionality_on_the_process_and_product_in_consecutive_interpreting_between_Chinese_and_English_Evidence_from_pen_recording_and_eye_tracking)
## FAQs
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
[Twitter icon\\
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[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# What is Interpreting Directionality?
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
September 17, 2024
Minute Read
Medical interpreting is essential in healthcare services within multilingual settings. The concept of **directionality** in interpreting refers to whether an interpreter is working from their **native** language (L1) into a second language (L2) or vice versa. Let’s dive into this concept to understand the impact on communication in medical encounters
## Directionality in Consecutive Interpreting
Recent studies show the effects of directionality in consecutive interpreting, particularly between languages like Chinese and English. Research has shown that directionality significantly influences both the process and product of interpretation.
**Process Differences**
- Interpreters tend to take more notes when working from L2 to L1
- Eye-tracking data reveals distinct patterns in visual attention based on directionality
**Product Differences**
- Interpreting from L2 to L1 generally results in higher accuracy
- L1 to L2 interpreting may lead to more omissions and errors
## Cognitive Load and Working Memory
The impact of directionality on interpreter performance is closely tied to cognitive load and working memory capacity. **Interpreting from L2 to L1 typically imposes a lower cognitive burden**, allowing interpreters to allocate more resources to comprehension and production processes.
## Implications for Medical Interpreting
In medical settings, where accuracy is essential, the directionality effect has significant implications:
1. **Patient Safety**: Interpreting from L2 to L1 may reduce the risk of critical errors in medical information transmission
2. **Cultural Nuances**: Working into one's native language can enhance the ability to convey cultural subtleties accurately
3. **Specialized Terminology**: L1 to L2 interpreting may pose challenges with complex medical terminology
## The Future of Medical Interpreting: AI Solutions
While directionality remains a crucial consideration in human interpreting, emerging AI-powered medical interpreting services are beginning to address these challenges:
- AI interpreters don't have the concept of L1 and L2, potentially offering consistent performance across all language pairs
- Machine learning models can be trained on vast medical corpora, ensuring accurate interpretation of complex terminology in multiple languages
- AI systems don't experience cognitive fatigue, maintaining consistent performance regardless of session length or complexity
## Conclusion
Directionality is a concept that medical interpreters are dealing with during their work, many times an overlooked risk on accuracy and quality. As technology advances, AI-powered solutions may offer new ways to address directionality challenges, potentially revolutionizing the field of medical interpreting.
Resources:
1. Effects of Directionality on Interpreting Performance: Evidence From Interpreting Between Chinese and English by Trainee Interpreters - [here](https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.781610/full)
2. The impact of directionality on the process and product in consecutive interpreting between Chinese and English: Evidence from pen recording and eye tracking - [here](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344277441_The_impact_of_directionality_on_the_process_and_product_in_consecutive_interpreting_between_Chinese_and_English_Evidence_from_pen_recording_and_eye_tracking)
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## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/what-is-interpreting-directionality#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Healthcare AI Strategy Insights
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
Industry Insights & Trends
# What’s Your Healthcare AI Strategy?
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
September 24, 2024
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h2\\
\\
AI Medical Interpreter: A Low-Hanging Fruit](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/whats-your-healthcare-ai-strategy#ai-medical-interpreter-a-low-hanging-fruit)
[h2\\
\\
The Unique Opportunity in Healthcare Innovation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/whats-your-healthcare-ai-strategy#the-unique-opportunity-in-healthcare-innovation)
Is your healthcare organization ready for the AI revolution?
These days, healthcare organizations are increasingly seeking ways to innovate and optimize their operations. In our calls with different healthcare organizations there is rising awareness of the latest technology, and a growing desire to deeply understand and look for opportunities that will optimize organizational workflows. There are different AI technologies that are being evaluated and implemented:
1. **Precision Diagnostics** \-
AI-powered imaging analysis enhances early disease detection in radiology and pathology, rivaling human expert accuracy.
2. **Personalized Treatment Plans** \-
AI systems analyze patient data to recommend tailored treatment strategies, optimizing outcomes and minimizing adverse effects.
3. **Drug Discovery and Development** \-
AI accelerates drug discovery by predicting molecular structures and identifying potential candidates, reducing time and costs.
4. **Administrative Task Automation** \-
AI-driven robotic process automation streamlines administrative workflows, improving efficiency and reducing errors.
## AI Medical Interpreter: A Low-Hanging Fruit
Additional examples are AI medical interpreters - that offer an accessible and immediately beneficial solution in healthcare to communicate with patients with limited English proficiency. As opposed to some other AI solutions, there is:
1. **Simple Onboarding:** Quick deployment without disrupting existing systems.
2. **Minimal Integration:** Operates as a standalone service with little to no IT infrastructure integration.
3. **Immediate ROI:** Instant cost savings and time efficiencies from day one.
4. **Enhanced Patient Care:** Improves communication with non-native speaking patients, leading to better outcomes.
## The Unique Opportunity in Healthcare Innovation
The healthcare industry is experiencing a pivotal moment in its relationship with technology:
1. **Pressure to Adopt AI:** Management teams are under pressure to demonstrate a clear AI strategy, creating a more receptive environment for AI-powered solutions.
2. **Increased Focus on Patient Experience**: Organizations are recognizing that leveraging AI can enhance patient engagement and satisfaction, making it a critical component of modern healthcare strategies.
3. **"Adopt or Be Left Behind" Mentality:** Healthcare organizations understand that failing to embrace AI could result in falling behind competitors and losing market share.
The healthcare industry is slowly and steadily spotting the different AI opportunities for innovation and optimization. **Solutions like AI medical interpreters offer a low-risk, high-reward entry point** for organizations looking to embrace AI technology. Contact us to explore how AI can transform your healthcare operations.
## FAQs
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
[Twitter icon\\
\\
Twitter](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/whats-your-healthcare-ai-strategy#) [Facebook icon\\
\\
Facebook](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/whats-your-healthcare-ai-strategy#) [Pinterest](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/whats-your-healthcare-ai-strategy#) [LinkedIn icon\\
\\
Linkedin](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/whats-your-healthcare-ai-strategy#) [Linkedin](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/whats-your-healthcare-ai-strategy#)
[Telegram](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/whats-your-healthcare-ai-strategy#) [Reddit](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/whats-your-healthcare-ai-strategy#)
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# What’s Your Healthcare AI Strategy?
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
September 24, 2024
Minute Read
Is your healthcare organization ready for the AI revolution?
These days, healthcare organizations are increasingly seeking ways to innovate and optimize their operations. In our calls with different healthcare organizations there is rising awareness of the latest technology, and a growing desire to deeply understand and look for opportunities that will optimize organizational workflows. There are different AI technologies that are being evaluated and implemented:
1. **Precision Diagnostics** \-
AI-powered imaging analysis enhances early disease detection in radiology and pathology, rivaling human expert accuracy.
2. **Personalized Treatment Plans** \-
AI systems analyze patient data to recommend tailored treatment strategies, optimizing outcomes and minimizing adverse effects.
3. **Drug Discovery and Development** \-
AI accelerates drug discovery by predicting molecular structures and identifying potential candidates, reducing time and costs.
4. **Administrative Task Automation** \-
AI-driven robotic process automation streamlines administrative workflows, improving efficiency and reducing errors.
## AI Medical Interpreter: A Low-Hanging Fruit
Additional examples are AI medical interpreters - that offer an accessible and immediately beneficial solution in healthcare to communicate with patients with limited English proficiency. As opposed to some other AI solutions, there is:
1. **Simple Onboarding:** Quick deployment without disrupting existing systems.
2. **Minimal Integration:** Operates as a standalone service with little to no IT infrastructure integration.
3. **Immediate ROI:** Instant cost savings and time efficiencies from day one.
4. **Enhanced Patient Care:** Improves communication with non-native speaking patients, leading to better outcomes.
## The Unique Opportunity in Healthcare Innovation
The healthcare industry is experiencing a pivotal moment in its relationship with technology:
1. **Pressure to Adopt AI:** Management teams are under pressure to demonstrate a clear AI strategy, creating a more receptive environment for AI-powered solutions.
2. **Increased Focus on Patient Experience**: Organizations are recognizing that leveraging AI can enhance patient engagement and satisfaction, making it a critical component of modern healthcare strategies.
3. **"Adopt or Be Left Behind" Mentality:** Healthcare organizations understand that failing to embrace AI could result in falling behind competitors and losing market share.
The healthcare industry is slowly and steadily spotting the different AI opportunities for innovation and optimization. **Solutions like AI medical interpreters offer a low-risk, high-reward entry point** for organizations looking to embrace AI technology. Contact us to explore how AI can transform your healthcare operations.
## You’d also be interested in…
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[**The Intersection of Low Health Literacy and Limited English Proficiency in Healthcare** \\
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Industry Insights & Trends\\
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October 17, 2025\\
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4\\
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min read\\
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Low health literacy and limited English proficiency create major healthcare barriers for millions of Americans, requiring innovative solutions to improve patient understanding.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-intersection-of-low-health-literacy-and-limited-english-proficiency-in-healthcare)
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/whats-your-healthcare-ai-strategy#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## AI Medical Interpreter Insights
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
Industry Insights & Trends
# When and When Not Using AI Medical Interpreter
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
March 14, 2024
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
5
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h2\\
\\
Example H2](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/when-and-when-not-using-ai-medical-interpreter#)
The landscape of healthcare reflects myriad fascinating innovations. A notable breakthrough in our realm is the pioneering concept of AI Medical Interpreter. With this, No Barrier blends artificial intelligence and language interpretation, breaking down language barriers between healthcare providers and patients with diverse linguistic backgrounds. However, we must also understand and acknowledge the scenarios wherein human skills travel lengths AI might not reach today.
1\. **American Sign Language (ASL):** ASL’s richness and dynamism, using holistic body language for communication, form a complex challenge for AI technology. Significant strides are being made, pointing towards a future where AI avatars may competently interact using ASL. However, for now, human interpretation remains the most reliable method for ASL.
2. **Languages With Challenging Speech Recognition Accuracy:** Some languages pose unique challenges to AI due to distinct linguistic characteristics and/or lack of enough training data. For example, Xhosa, with its click consonants, or Basque, an 'isolated' language disparate from other European languages, can be tricky for AI-driven interpretation.
3\. **Super** **Complex Cases -** For patients with complex medical histories, rare conditions or nuanced symptoms, AI interpreter might struggle. However - we expect that through out tech advancement - AI could cover almost every aspect of complex cases understanding and communication.
4\. **Mental Health Interpreting -** The sensitive nature of mental healthcare requires a human interpreter who can skillfully navigate emotional nuances, create rapport, and ensure patients feel understood on a deeper level. AI language models are not yet advanced enough to handle the interpersonal aspects of psychological interpreting with the empathy and finesse needed.
In many other cases, the effectiveness of our AI Medical Interpreter, No Barrier, comes into play. This revolutionary platform provides immediate, effective, and accurate language interpretation for a majority of medical interactions. No Barrier is designed to tackle language barriers head-on, ensuring Limited English Proficient (LEP) patients receive optimal care in their native language.
Recognising where human medical interpreters are indispensable and where AI Medical Interpreters like No Barrier can effectively step in allows us to leverage the strengths of both. In doing so, we're creating an inclusive, efficient, and patient-focused healthcare environment.
## FAQs
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
[Twitter icon\\
\\
Twitter](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/when-and-when-not-using-ai-medical-interpreter#) [Facebook icon\\
\\
Facebook](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/when-and-when-not-using-ai-medical-interpreter#) [Pinterest](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/when-and-when-not-using-ai-medical-interpreter#) [LinkedIn icon\\
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Linkedin](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/when-and-when-not-using-ai-medical-interpreter#) [Linkedin](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/when-and-when-not-using-ai-medical-interpreter#)
[Telegram](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/when-and-when-not-using-ai-medical-interpreter#) [Reddit](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/when-and-when-not-using-ai-medical-interpreter#)
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# When and When Not Using AI Medical Interpreter
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
March 14, 2024
5
Minute Read
The landscape of healthcare reflects myriad fascinating innovations. A notable breakthrough in our realm is the pioneering concept of AI Medical Interpreter. With this, No Barrier blends artificial intelligence and language interpretation, breaking down language barriers between healthcare providers and patients with diverse linguistic backgrounds. However, we must also understand and acknowledge the scenarios wherein human skills travel lengths AI might not reach today.
1\. **American Sign Language (ASL):** ASL’s richness and dynamism, using holistic body language for communication, form a complex challenge for AI technology. Significant strides are being made, pointing towards a future where AI avatars may competently interact using ASL. However, for now, human interpretation remains the most reliable method for ASL.
2. **Languages With Challenging Speech Recognition Accuracy:** Some languages pose unique challenges to AI due to distinct linguistic characteristics and/or lack of enough training data. For example, Xhosa, with its click consonants, or Basque, an 'isolated' language disparate from other European languages, can be tricky for AI-driven interpretation.
3\. **Super** **Complex Cases -** For patients with complex medical histories, rare conditions or nuanced symptoms, AI interpreter might struggle. However - we expect that through out tech advancement - AI could cover almost every aspect of complex cases understanding and communication.
4\. **Mental Health Interpreting -** The sensitive nature of mental healthcare requires a human interpreter who can skillfully navigate emotional nuances, create rapport, and ensure patients feel understood on a deeper level. AI language models are not yet advanced enough to handle the interpersonal aspects of psychological interpreting with the empathy and finesse needed.
In many other cases, the effectiveness of our AI Medical Interpreter, No Barrier, comes into play. This revolutionary platform provides immediate, effective, and accurate language interpretation for a majority of medical interactions. No Barrier is designed to tackle language barriers head-on, ensuring Limited English Proficient (LEP) patients receive optimal care in their native language.
Recognising where human medical interpreters are indispensable and where AI Medical Interpreters like No Barrier can effectively step in allows us to leverage the strengths of both. In doing so, we're creating an inclusive, efficient, and patient-focused healthcare environment.
## You’d also be interested in…
[**Slator 2025 Language AI 50 Under 50: No Barrier AI Recognized** \\
\\
Industry Insights & Trends\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
2\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Slator is a leading source for news, research and market intelligence across translation, localization, interpreting and language AI.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/2025-slator-language-ai-50-under-50)
[**Best Practices for Treating Patients from Different Cultures** \\
\\
Industry Insights & Trends\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Cultural competence in healthcare improves trust and outcomes. Understanding cultural differences, using interpreters, respecting beliefs, and involving families ensures effective, inclusive care.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/best-practices-for-treating-patients-from-different-cultures)
[**The Intersection of Low Health Literacy and Limited English Proficiency in Healthcare** \\
\\
Industry Insights & Trends\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Low health literacy and limited English proficiency create major healthcare barriers for millions of Americans, requiring innovative solutions to improve patient understanding.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/the-intersection-of-low-health-literacy-and-limited-english-proficiency-in-healthcare)
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/when-and-when-not-using-ai-medical-interpreter#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Interpreter iPad Cart Insights
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
Cost & Efficiency
# Where is the Interpreter iPad Cart?
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
April 3, 2024
**Updated:**
October 17, 2025
4
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h2\\
\\
Example H2](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/where-is-the-interpreter-ipad-cart#)
Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) solutions have been with us in the last 10 years - the rolling cart that are often seen in healthcare institutions, to get medical interpreters for encounters with Limited English Proficiency patients. This visual experience is considered as the evolution of the Over-The-Phone (OPI) interpreters which are audio-based communication - but both methods co-exists in the healthcare industry.
However - ever noticed that on an average hospital floor (like the ER), there are usually only 1-2 interpreter iPad carts? There are many medical providers, patient rooms, and encounters happening - but very few mobile video interpretation stations available.
Healthcare providers have shared with us that during medical encounters with limited English proficient (LEP) patients, they often find themselves "chasing carts" and struggling to locate one of the scarce video remote interpreting (VRI) stations.
We looked into the reasons behind this shortage of VRI carts, and identified key factors:
1. Upfront Hardware Costs - Each VRI station can be quite expensive, potentially up to several thousands dollars for the iPad, high-definition video, camera, microphone, speakers, mounting cart and installation costs.
2. Higher Video Interpreting Rates - The per-minute rates for video interpretation are higher than phone interpreting. For example, [LanguageLine](https://www.languageline.com/personal-interpreter) charges 25% more on video interpreters ($4.95 per minute for video versus around $3.95 per minute for phone). Those cost differentials add up quickly.
3. Ongoing Maintenance and Support - Like any hardware deployment, there are costs for ongoing technical support, repairs, sanitization and lifecycle management of the VRI carts.
4. Languages availability - in some companies the variety of languages available for video interpreters is much smaller than what is available for phone interpreters. For example - in [LanguageLine](https://www.languageline.com/interpreting/interpreting-languages) there are 40 languages on VRI and 240 on phone interpreting. The same ratio between video and audio languages is seen also in another large vendor - [AMN Healthcare](https://www.amnhealthcare.com/technology/virtual-care/language-services/).
In our discussions with providers, there were mixed opinions on VRI carts. Some strongly preferred video remote interpreting for improved communication and visual cues. Others found mobile VRI less stable due to connectivity issues, and instead opted for the more readily available phone interpreters to avoid wasting time locating an iPad cart on their floor.
To summarize, while video interpretation is valuable, the significant upfront and ongoing costs of VRI hardware and services limit how many mobile carts hospitals can deploy. This leads to an unfortunate shortage that frustrates providers during encounters with LEP patients. Striking the right balance between video and phone interpreting modes remains an operational challenge for most facilities.
## FAQs
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
[Twitter icon\\
\\
Twitter](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/where-is-the-interpreter-ipad-cart#) [Facebook icon\\
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Facebook](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/where-is-the-interpreter-ipad-cart#) [Pinterest](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/where-is-the-interpreter-ipad-cart#) [LinkedIn icon\\
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Linkedin](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/where-is-the-interpreter-ipad-cart#) [Linkedin](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/where-is-the-interpreter-ipad-cart#)
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[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# Where is the Interpreter iPad Cart?
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
April 3, 2024
4
Minute Read
Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) solutions have been with us in the last 10 years - the rolling cart that are often seen in healthcare institutions, to get medical interpreters for encounters with Limited English Proficiency patients. This visual experience is considered as the evolution of the Over-The-Phone (OPI) interpreters which are audio-based communication - but both methods co-exists in the healthcare industry.
However - ever noticed that on an average hospital floor (like the ER), there are usually only 1-2 interpreter iPad carts? There are many medical providers, patient rooms, and encounters happening - but very few mobile video interpretation stations available.
Healthcare providers have shared with us that during medical encounters with limited English proficient (LEP) patients, they often find themselves "chasing carts" and struggling to locate one of the scarce video remote interpreting (VRI) stations.
We looked into the reasons behind this shortage of VRI carts, and identified key factors:
1. Upfront Hardware Costs - Each VRI station can be quite expensive, potentially up to several thousands dollars for the iPad, high-definition video, camera, microphone, speakers, mounting cart and installation costs.
2. Higher Video Interpreting Rates - The per-minute rates for video interpretation are higher than phone interpreting. For example, [LanguageLine](https://www.languageline.com/personal-interpreter) charges 25% more on video interpreters ($4.95 per minute for video versus around $3.95 per minute for phone). Those cost differentials add up quickly.
3. Ongoing Maintenance and Support - Like any hardware deployment, there are costs for ongoing technical support, repairs, sanitization and lifecycle management of the VRI carts.
4. Languages availability - in some companies the variety of languages available for video interpreters is much smaller than what is available for phone interpreters. For example - in [LanguageLine](https://www.languageline.com/interpreting/interpreting-languages) there are 40 languages on VRI and 240 on phone interpreting. The same ratio between video and audio languages is seen also in another large vendor - [AMN Healthcare](https://www.amnhealthcare.com/technology/virtual-care/language-services/).
In our discussions with providers, there were mixed opinions on VRI carts. Some strongly preferred video remote interpreting for improved communication and visual cues. Others found mobile VRI less stable due to connectivity issues, and instead opted for the more readily available phone interpreters to avoid wasting time locating an iPad cart on their floor.
To summarize, while video interpretation is valuable, the significant upfront and ongoing costs of VRI hardware and services limit how many mobile carts hospitals can deploy. This leads to an unfortunate shortage that frustrates providers during encounters with LEP patients. Striking the right balance between video and phone interpreting modes remains an operational challenge for most facilities.
## You’d also be interested in…
[**Optimizing Patient Flow: ER Operations Win Minutes with Tech** \\
\\
Cost & Efficiency\\
\\
September 28, 2025\\
\\
6\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Crowding in the ER isn’t random; it’s governed by math. Little’s Law: patients in system = arrival rate × time. Reduce time in the system, reduce the queue.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/patient-flow-ops)
[**How to Solve the “One Patient, Multiple Interpreters” Challenge in Healthcare** \\
\\
Cost & Efficiency\\
\\
November 26, 2025\\
\\
2\\
\\
min read\\
\\
LEP patients face fragmented care. Integrated interpreter models create smoother, patient-centered communication.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-to-solve-the-one-patient-multiple-interpreters-challenge-in-healthcare)
[**6 Medical Translation Challenges Patients Face With Interpreters** \\
\\
Cost & Efficiency\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Language barriers make healthcare hard, but better interpreter services and clear communication can help patients get better care.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-medical-translation-challenges-patients-face-with-interpreters)
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/where-is-the-interpreter-ipad-cart#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Ending Per-Minute Pricing
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## **Our Blog**
**Coming Soon!** A blog series showcasing insights gained from conversations with dozens of providers about their experiences with patients with Limited English Proficiency
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog) [Blog](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
Cost & Efficiency
# Why We're Ending Per-Minute Pricing in Medical Interpretation
Our fixed annual subscription ends per-minute billing, cutting interpretation costs by up to 70% while improving patient trust and understanding.
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
**Created:**
January 5, 2025
**Updated:**
November 7, 2025
3
Minute Read
### Key Topics Covered
[h2\\
\\
Breaking the Clock on Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/why-were-ending-per-minute-pricing-in-medical-interpretation#breaking-the-clock-on-medical-interpretation)
[h3\\
\\
The Real Cost of Per-Minute Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/why-were-ending-per-minute-pricing-in-medical-interpretation#the-real-cost-of-per-minute-interpretation)
[h3\\
\\
A Simpler Way to Provide Access](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/why-were-ending-per-minute-pricing-in-medical-interpretation#a-simpler-way-to-provide-access)
[h3\\
\\
Our Belief](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/why-were-ending-per-minute-pricing-in-medical-interpretation#our-belief)
## Breaking the Clock on Medical Interpretation
“We call an interpreter over the phone for the beginning part of the visit, but since that service charges by the minute we can’t have the interpreter on the phone for the whole time. The rest of the exam we have to manage to the best of our abilities without an interpreter. It’s definitely a tough situation to navigate.”
That single account from a local optometry clinic captures what’s fundamentally broken in medical interpretation today. Beyond high costs, the problem runs deeper. The traditional per-minute billing model itself stands in the way of proper patient care.
### The Real Cost of Per-Minute Interpretation
Working with healthcare teams across the country, we’ve seen how per-minute billing quietly shapes daily decisions and compromises patient experience. It creates invisible pressure to move faster, speak less, and choose convenience over clarity.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
- Staff rushing through vital conversations to keep costs down.
- Facilities paying for “dead time” while waiting for interpreters to connect.
- The meter running during chart reviews or examination silences.
- Teams skipping interpretation for quick but essential follow-ups.
- Unpredictable monthly bills as patient needs fluctuate.
Some organizations try to adapt by setting audio as the default, enforcing strict hang-up policies, or turning to cheaper vendors. Others rely on bilingual staff or family members—well-meaning but often unqualified interpreters. These strategies may save money on paper, but they rarely improve communication or outcomes.
Consider a typical visit: you’re billed for the quiet moments, the waiting time, and even the seconds spent pulling up patient records. That’s not sustainable healthcare.
### A Simpler Way to Provide Access
We decided to do something different. Instead of charging by the minute, we built a model around access—not time.
Our approach replaces unpredictable billing with a **fixed annual subscription** that includes **unlimited interpretation**. On average, this model cuts costs by **about 70%** compared to traditional services, while eliminating the anxiety that comes from watching the clock.
With predictable annual pricing, healthcare providers can focus on what truly matters—clear communication and quality care. No more tracking usage or explaining fluctuating invoices. Just one consistent cost that covers every patient interaction, every day.
This structure also shifts the mindset from underutilization to open access. When interpretation no longer feels expensive, everyone uses it. Receptionists, nurses, billing coordinators—all can connect with patients confidently, without hesitation.
### Our Belief
Innovation isn’t only about technology. Sometimes, changing the pricing model creates just as much impact.
The per-minute system doesn’t just strain budgets—it restricts care. True interpretation should expand access, not limit it. It should be as available and barrier-free as the service it supports.
No more rushing. No more counting minutes. No more choosing between cost and compassion.
This is what happens when healthcare communication is built around trust, not timers.
**✅ Key Takeaways for CMOs**
- **Per-minute billing creates hidden compliance and care risks.** Time-based interpretation models discourage complete communication, increasing liability under Title VI and Section 1557 of the ACA.
- **Unpredictable costs erode operational efficiency.** Minute-by-minute interpretation leads to fluctuating monthly invoices, making budget forecasting difficult for CFOs and COOs.
- **Fixed-access models strengthen patient safety and ROI.** Subscription-based interpretation eliminates billing anxiety, encourages full communication, and reduces average interpretation costs by up to 70%.
- **Access-driven models enhance staff engagement and patient trust.** When interpretation feels “free to use,” care teams communicate more effectively—improving patient satisfaction scores and compliance outcomes.
## FAQs
### 1\. Why is per-minute interpretation a compliance concern?
Per-minute billing can discourage full use of interpreters, leading to incomplete communication with Limited English Proficient (LEP) patients. This creates compliance risk under federal language access requirements and potential exposure to OCR audits.
### 2\. How do fixed-access interpretation models improve ROI?
Flat-fee or subscription models stabilize costs, reduce administrative overhead from tracking minutes and allow providers to use interpretation freely. This leads to improved communication, fewer errors and measurable savings; often up to 70%.
### 3\. What patient safety issues arise from time-limited interpretation?
When clinicians or staff rush to end sessions to save money, crucial medical details may be missed or misunderstood. This increases the risk of misdiagnosis, medication errors and poor outcomes.
### 4\. Can bilingual staff or family members replace certified interpreters?
No. Using untrained interpreters may violate compliance standards and introduce clinical inaccuracies. Certified medical interpreters are required for accuracy, neutrality and confidentiality under federal guidelines.
### 5\. What should healthcare leaders look for in an interpretation solution?
Executives should prioritize models that ensure **unlimited access, predictable pricing, certified interpreters and full HIPAA compliance.** These attributes support sustainable quality care and operational efficiency.
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
Eyal has 20+ years in speech-to-speech and voice AI and is the co-founder of No Barrier AI, a HIPAA-compliant medical interpreter platform. Over the past two years, he has led its adoption across healthcare organizations, helping providers bridge dialect gaps, reduce compliance risk and improve patient safety. His mission is simple: ensure health equity by removing language barriers at the point of care.
## Share this article
[Twitter icon\\
\\
Twitter](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/why-were-ending-per-minute-pricing-in-medical-interpretation#) [Facebook icon\\
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Facebook](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/why-were-ending-per-minute-pricing-in-medical-interpretation#) [Pinterest](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/why-were-ending-per-minute-pricing-in-medical-interpretation#) [LinkedIn icon\\
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Linkedin](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/why-were-ending-per-minute-pricing-in-medical-interpretation#) [Linkedin](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/why-were-ending-per-minute-pricing-in-medical-interpretation#)
[Telegram](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/why-were-ending-per-minute-pricing-in-medical-interpretation#) [Reddit](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/why-were-ending-per-minute-pricing-in-medical-interpretation#)
[**Back**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
# Why We're Ending Per-Minute Pricing in Medical Interpretation
Eyal Heldenberg
Co-founder and CEO, building No Barrier
January 5, 2025
3
Minute Read
## Breaking the Clock on Medical Interpretation
“We call an interpreter over the phone for the beginning part of the visit, but since that service charges by the minute we can’t have the interpreter on the phone for the whole time. The rest of the exam we have to manage to the best of our abilities without an interpreter. It’s definitely a tough situation to navigate.”
That single account from a local optometry clinic captures what’s fundamentally broken in medical interpretation today. Beyond high costs, the problem runs deeper. The traditional per-minute billing model itself stands in the way of proper patient care.
### The Real Cost of Per-Minute Interpretation
Working with healthcare teams across the country, we’ve seen how per-minute billing quietly shapes daily decisions and compromises patient experience. It creates invisible pressure to move faster, speak less, and choose convenience over clarity.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
- Staff rushing through vital conversations to keep costs down.
- Facilities paying for “dead time” while waiting for interpreters to connect.
- The meter running during chart reviews or examination silences.
- Teams skipping interpretation for quick but essential follow-ups.
- Unpredictable monthly bills as patient needs fluctuate.
Some organizations try to adapt by setting audio as the default, enforcing strict hang-up policies, or turning to cheaper vendors. Others rely on bilingual staff or family members—well-meaning but often unqualified interpreters. These strategies may save money on paper, but they rarely improve communication or outcomes.
Consider a typical visit: you’re billed for the quiet moments, the waiting time, and even the seconds spent pulling up patient records. That’s not sustainable healthcare.
### A Simpler Way to Provide Access
We decided to do something different. Instead of charging by the minute, we built a model around access—not time.
Our approach replaces unpredictable billing with a **fixed annual subscription** that includes **unlimited interpretation**. On average, this model cuts costs by **about 70%** compared to traditional services, while eliminating the anxiety that comes from watching the clock.
With predictable annual pricing, healthcare providers can focus on what truly matters—clear communication and quality care. No more tracking usage or explaining fluctuating invoices. Just one consistent cost that covers every patient interaction, every day.
This structure also shifts the mindset from underutilization to open access. When interpretation no longer feels expensive, everyone uses it. Receptionists, nurses, billing coordinators—all can connect with patients confidently, without hesitation.
### Our Belief
Innovation isn’t only about technology. Sometimes, changing the pricing model creates just as much impact.
The per-minute system doesn’t just strain budgets—it restricts care. True interpretation should expand access, not limit it. It should be as available and barrier-free as the service it supports.
No more rushing. No more counting minutes. No more choosing between cost and compassion.
This is what happens when healthcare communication is built around trust, not timers.
**✅ Key Takeaways for CMOs**
- **Per-minute billing creates hidden compliance and care risks.** Time-based interpretation models discourage complete communication, increasing liability under Title VI and Section 1557 of the ACA.
- **Unpredictable costs erode operational efficiency.** Minute-by-minute interpretation leads to fluctuating monthly invoices, making budget forecasting difficult for CFOs and COOs.
- **Fixed-access models strengthen patient safety and ROI.** Subscription-based interpretation eliminates billing anxiety, encourages full communication, and reduces average interpretation costs by up to 70%.
- **Access-driven models enhance staff engagement and patient trust.** When interpretation feels “free to use,” care teams communicate more effectively—improving patient satisfaction scores and compliance outcomes.
## You’d also be interested in…
[**Optimizing Patient Flow: ER Operations Win Minutes with Tech** \\
\\
Cost & Efficiency\\
\\
September 28, 2025\\
\\
6\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Crowding in the ER isn’t random; it’s governed by math. Little’s Law: patients in system = arrival rate × time. Reduce time in the system, reduce the queue.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/patient-flow-ops)
[**How to Solve the “One Patient, Multiple Interpreters” Challenge in Healthcare** \\
\\
Cost & Efficiency\\
\\
November 26, 2025\\
\\
2\\
\\
min read\\
\\
LEP patients face fragmented care. Integrated interpreter models create smoother, patient-centered communication.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/how-to-solve-the-one-patient-multiple-interpreters-challenge-in-healthcare)
[**6 Medical Translation Challenges Patients Face With Interpreters** \\
\\
Cost & Efficiency\\
\\
October 17, 2025\\
\\
4\\
\\
min read\\
\\
Language barriers make healthcare hard, but better interpreter services and clear communication can help patients get better care.\\
\\
**Read More**](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/6-medical-translation-challenges-patients-face-with-interpreters)
## No Barrier - AI Medical Interpreter
Zero waiting time, state-of-the-art medical accuracy, HIPAA compliant
[Schedule a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/#Contact-Us)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
Breaking language barriers in healthcare
## Company
- [About Us](https://www.nobarrier.ai/about)
- [Pricing](https://www.nobarrier.ai/pricing)
- [Contact](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
## Platform
- [40+ Language Available](https://www.nobarrier.ai/languages)
- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
- [Blog & Articles](https://www.nobarrier.ai/blog)
- [Explore Case Studies](https://www.nobarrier.ai/case-study-federally-qualified-health-center)
- [FAQs](https://www.nobarrier.ai/faq)
- [No Barrier Alternatives](https://www.nobarrier.ai/alternatives)
## Compliance
- [HIPAA Compliant](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/hipaa)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service)
[](https://www.youtube.com/@no-barrier)[.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-barrier)
[Book a Demo](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/why-were-ending-per-minute-pricing-in-medical-interpretation#) [or contact Sales here](https://www.nobarrier.ai/contact)
%201.png)
[info@nobarrier.ai](mailto:info@nobarrier.ai)
455 Market St Ste 1940 PMB 37630, San Francisco, CA 94105
@2025 No Barrier AI
[Terms of Service](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/terms-of-service) [Privacy Policy](https://www.nobarrier.ai/legal/privacy-policy) [Trust Center](https://trust.nobarrier.ai/) [@2025 No Barrier AI](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
## Cultural Healthcare Communication
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
[](https://www.nobarrier.ai/)
# Navigating Cultural Communication in Healthcare - Dr. Deborah Gilboa
Host:
Eyal Heldenberg
Duration:
42:10
Release Date:
January 28, 2025
1
%20(9).png)
[Play Episode](https://youtu.be/RqBv7lIKRxg)
Beyond Translation: A Doctor's Guide to Cultural Healthcare Communication - YouTube
[Photo image of No Barrier](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA5zFOhL0ub5nu-jvaCCbJg?embeds_widget_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nobarrier.ai%2F&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.embedly.com%2F&embeds_referring_origin=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.embedly.com)
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[Beyond Translation: A Doctor's Guide to Cultural Healthcare Communication](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01x7XIgslTY)
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## About this podcast:
Breaking Down Cultural Barriers in Healthcare: A Conversation with Dr. Deborah Gilboa
In this thought-provoking episode of Care Culture Talks, host Eyal Heldenberg sits down with Dr. Deborah Gilboa, a family physician with 25 years of experience working at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) serving linguistic, religious, and cultural minorities. Dr. Gilboa shares powerful insights from her unique journey, which began not in medicine but in theater—specifically at a theater for the deaf—where she first witnessed the profound impact of cultural and linguistic barriers.
Dr. Gilboa, who worked as an ASL interpreter throughout medical school, offers rare dual perspectives as both provider and interpreter in cross-cultural healthcare settings. Through compelling real-world examples, she illustrates how cultural misunderstandings can dramatically affect patient care—from a Turkish patient's alarming reaction to receiving a diagnosis based on cultural beliefs about bad news, to the challenges of providing reproductive health education when certain medical terms don't exist in patients' languages.
Listeners will gain practical strategies for improving cross-cultural communication, including:
- How to recognize when cultural differences are affecting the medical encounter
- The importance of verifying patient understanding through teach-back methods
- When and how to use professional interpreters versus family members
- Ways to navigate cultural practices that differ from standard medical protocols
- Simple techniques like learning greetings in patients' languages to build trust
The conversation explores the nuances of working with interpreters, highlighting how gender dynamics, dialect differences, and cultural competence can all impact the quality of interpreted medical encounters. Dr. Gilboa also discusses her experience serving patients from over 100 countries speaking 62 different languages, and how she's learned to approach each encounter with humility and curiosity.
The episode concludes with a forward-looking discussion about the role AI and large language models might play in breaking down linguistic and cultural barriers in healthcare settings—potentially revolutionizing access to culturally competent care.
Whether you're a healthcare provider working with diverse populations, an interpreter navigating complex medical conversations, or an administrator designing more inclusive healthcare systems, this episode offers valuable insights into creating more effective and respectful cross-cultural healthcare experiences.
## Listen this episode on:
[Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/20HXPHmaS07vQNgwe0wRB2) [Youtube Music](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=01x7XIgslTY&si=CsnZPzo8Hu7iDUYh) [Apple Music](https://podcasts.apple.com/il/podcast/beyond-translation-a-doctors-guide-to-cultural/id1795321107?i=1000696538583)
## Chapters Timeline:
## 1\. Introduction and Background \[00:11-01:36\]
- Welcome and introduction
- Dr. Gilboa's journey from theater to medicine
- Early experience with deaf theater and cultural exposure
## 2\. Journey to Family Medicine \[01:36-05:27\]
- Path from emergency medicine interest to family practice
- Experience at federally qualified health center (FQHC)
- Philosophy of family medicine
- Two core responsibilities of family doctors
- Focus on preventive care and long-term relationships
## 3\. Early Cultural Learning Experience \[05:27-08:37\]
- Experience at Deaf West Theater
- Production of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"
- Understanding barriers between deaf patients and healthcare providers
- Impact of pre-ADA healthcare experiences
- Importance of clear communication in healthcare
## 4\. Medical Interpretation Experience \[08:37-13:29\]
- Working as interpreter during medical school
- Emergency department interpretation experiences
- Ethics of medical interpretation
- Challenges with provider-interpreter dynamics
- First-person interpretation practices
## 5\. Cultural Differences in Communication \[13:29-17:37\]
- Comparison between ASL and spoken language interpretation
- Legal requirements for different types of interpretation
- Impact of dialects and regional variations
- Cultural competency beyond language
## 6\. Learning Through Experience \[17:37-22:39\]
- Understanding cultural gestures and body language
- Example of Nepali patient communication
- Importance of asking questions and learning
- Value of learning basic greetings in multiple languages
## 7\. Cultural Beliefs and Healthcare \[22:39-27:53\]
- Managing different cultural beliefs about health news
- Story about Turkish patient reaction
- Balancing cultural sensitivity with medical ethics
- Role of family members in different cultures
## 8\. Professional Interpretation Dynamics \[27:53-36:34\]
- Gender considerations in interpretation
- Working with remote interpreters
- Challenges with family member interpreters
- Building trust through professional interpretation
## 9\. Future of Healthcare Communication \[36:34-42:10\]
- Role of AI in medical interpretation
- Importance of cultural competency in healthcare
- Vision for improved cross-cultural communication
- Final thoughts and closing remarks
## Episodes Transcript:
**Eyal Heldenberg (00:11)**
Hi everyone, welcome to Care Culture Talks, a new podcast exploring how healthcare and culture intersect in our diverse communities. I'm your host, Eyal Heldenberg. I'm the CEO of No Barrier, where we develop AI medical interpreter solutions for healthcare providers. Today we're diving into the world of cross-cultural healthcare communication. I'm thrilled to be joined by Dr. Deborah Gilboa. Dr. Gilboa, welcome to Care Culture Talks.
Before we dive in, we'd love to hear about you and your journey in healthcare.
**Dr. G (00:44)**
Thank you, I appreciate that. So I'm a family doctor. I've been a family physician for 25 years now. But my journey, my professional journey began before I decided I wanted to go to medical school. I actually worked in theater and television and that's going to matter in this conversation because I got to work in my theater career with a particular cross-cultural population - I got to work at a theater for the deaf. This was theater done by and for deaf people and it was my first real exposure as an adult to people who lived in a majority culture but their language, their culture, a lot of their belief system, their way of interacting was really insular and very different.
**Eyal Heldenberg (01:36)**
Amazing. Thank you for the intro. On a personal note, we talked with, I think, dozens of dozens of providers in the last year and a half. And I remember my meeting with you, it was exactly a year ago, last January. And I remember it very vividly on how you took me to the four walls of the medical encounter where how provider and limited English proficiency patient, for example, or other cultural gaps that are in the room, how providers should handle it, what's your experience. So I'm really thrilled to discuss this exciting topic. Maybe kind of as a baseline, what originally drew you to working with diverse patient populations in your current role and before that?
**Dr. G (02:26)**
Well, there are a few reasons that I was really, I feel very lucky to have been hired at the federally qualified health center where I work. FQHCs are an American solution to serving folks who are under-resourced, underserved, minorities medically for some reason or another. So our health center opened in 2006 and our grant was specifically to serve religious, linguistic, and cultural minorities in our community.
And I, as I said, I was in theater. I did that for six or seven years and I decided I wanted to go to medical school. I went to medical school certain that I would become an emergency medicine physician because I'd volunteered for a few years as an EMT, an emergency medical technician. And I loved it. I loved driving in the ambulance. I loved going to people's houses and helping them with emergencies. I loved the pace and the urgency and the excitement. So I got to med school, sure I would be an ER doc.
And I spent lots of time in my first couple of years volunteering in the emergency department. I really enjoyed it. I like procedures. I like mess. I like solving problems, but I also like asking people about their history. I like understanding what got them to this point. And the longer I spent in the emergency room, the more I realized I kept wanting to meet this people, this person two years ago and convince them to take a blood pressure medicine or get a booster seat for their child in the car or understand why the loss of their dog led to this depressive episode. And every emergency medicine attending said, hey, you're really thorough, but you're not an emergency medicine doctor. You're a family care doctor.
And they were totally right. I did my first rotation in family medicine as a medical student. And I was like, this, this is what I want. I want relationships with people. I want to understand their family structure and their reasons for doing things and how to actually partner with them over the long periods of time to make them as well as they can be.
So when I, so that's the other reason that I was drawn to underserved populations is that family medicine has a real ethos of meeting people where they are and serving them while partnering with them the best we can so that they can be, I tell my students, I teach medical students, I tell them all the time, we have two jobs as a family doc. One is to make sure nothing terrible is going on, right? That they're not at risk of dying from, you know, that that headache is just a headache and not as Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a movie years ago, a tumor. And the other is to make sure that we prevent as much as it's possible to prevent. So we're sort of constantly trying to push two boulders uphill. Are you okay now? Fundamentally okay. Is there anything dangerous going on that I don't know or you don't know? And what are we doing now to prevent as many future problems as we can prevent? And that's really nicely aligns with serving people who, in general, don't have easy, comfortable access to care that they totally understand.
**Eyal Heldenberg (05:27)**
Yeah, yeah. This is actually fascinating. I remember also from the talk that we had a year ago that you kind of guide me through different, I would say, anecdotes or kind of different use cases. Would you mind to kind of Dr. G to share with us one of, I would say, earliest cultural learning moments that really kind of opened your eyes in this FQHC settings?
**Dr. G (05:52)**
So the very first thing was well before I was a doctor, it was before I was volunteering as an EMT. I was working at Deaf West Theater Company in Los Angeles. I was the assistant stage manager on a show. The show was based on a book that maybe some of your readers have ever heard of called One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. There's a movie also. And it's about an inpatient psychiatric facility. So here we are in rehearsal for this show about a psych ward. And the way we were doing the show, the three or four people, characters in the show that are the clinicians were English speaking hearing providers in an inpatient psych ward in the 1960s and all of the 17 patients the way we did the show were deaf and the show itself is about the barriers between in part about the barriers between the patients and the providers and here we were in rehearsal talking about with all of these deaf folks about the barriers they themselves as people experience between themselves and providers of any kind of medical care.
They were not inpatient psych patients, but they were all people who'd had really terrible experiences because of their language and cultural barrier, almost solely so different than the experiences I had had just as a hearing English speaking person who'd grown up in the US. They'd all grown up in the US, so it was not about an immigrant situation, but it was absolutely a linguistic and cultural barrier. Most of them were before, and this is something that'll make sense to your American audience, the Americans with Disabilities Act passed in 1993 requiring interpretation for people who were deaf. But these people had all grown up before then, so most of them had gone to the doctor as kids, understood absolutely nothing.
And then their parents, and this is something interesting, 90% of deaf people have hearing parents who don't sign, or picked up a little sign or did their best to learn, but were not fluent in their language or their culture, because deafness is absolutely a culture. And so they were really very much like if you or I moved to a country where we didn't speak or read the language alone, right? Moved there alone. So we would go to the doctor with maybe somebody we met there or someone we knew there, but we didn't have good communication with them either, even with our family members.
That was really what opened my eyes to how crucial clear, comfortable communication is that no matter what else happens, even if the doctor's fantastic, even if the treatment's exactly right, if you don't understand what's going on, if you can't clearly communicate what's happening with you, and if you really can't understand the plan or agree to it, it's almost impossible to get good care or to be healthy.
**Eyal Heldenberg (08:37)**
Amazing. You mentioned kind of the interpreter or the medical translator. Do you have any, I would say, settings or anecdotes that I would say the presence of the interpreter either was very helpful or maybe very negative? Like, what's the spectrum here?
**Dr. G (08:58)**
Well, I'm in a unique position because I worked my way through medical school as an interpreter for deaf and hard of hearing patients. So I had those experiences in theater. I thought, deaf culture is so interesting. American sign language is so cool. And then years later when I decided I was giving up theater and I wanted to go to medical school, I had to take some science requirements before I could apply to medical school. So while I re-enrolled in university, I had a bachelor's, but it was in theater.
So while I re-enrolled in university and took biology, chemistry, physics, et cetera, I also took classes in ASL and I became a professional interpreter. I needed that income for the year of applying to med school and getting through medical school, but I ended up spending those five years as an interpreter. And I had, for example, an experience where I was in the emergency department. I used to study at the med school and when my interpreting pager would go off, I would just go downstairs to the emergency department.
My interpreting agency loved this because I was always right there because medical students study all the darn time. And so I went down to the emergency department. I was seeing a patient who is having some pretty significant pain. One of the things about interpretation is that you interpret everything you hear. That's right. The ethic is I'm that person's ears and voice. So if I can hear it, if they were hearing, they'd be able to hear it. So we're in a room that is four different rooms divided by curtains. And I'm interpreting for the patient everything that's in my earshot.
And what ends up being in my earshot is a group of doctors, you know, an attending physician and some trainees who are talking right outside the curtain about my patient. So when the doctor comes in, my patient has questions about all the things they've heard. And this doctor looks at me very accusatorily and says, how did she hear that? She's deaf, but I'm just a vessel. So I sign "How did she hear that? She's deaf." And my patient says, "I have an interpreter. Would you like me to introduce you?"
And then I've had another situation where a good interpreter for American Sign Language should stand just behind the provider and a little off their shoulder so that the deaf person can look right at their provider, see facial expression, make connection, feel like it's me and you, and glance just up over their shoulder to see the language that they need. And all interpretation is done in first person. You know that if you've ever listened to someone interpret a big speech or anything.
So I'm just behind this doctor's shoulder, which he did not love. And because it's uncomfortable to have someone behind you, especially when they start talking to you. So he says to this patient, "How are you feeling today? Why are you here?" And she says, "Well, my back has been hurting for two weeks and it's just getting worse and worse." And this guy turns around, looks at me and says, "I'm not here to help you. I'm here to help her."
But then I've been the provider who was trying to use an interpreter and it was falling apart and I couldn't figure out why. And I had to turn to the interpreter and say, speaking to the patient, so I'll, you were my patient, I said, "Mr. Heldenberg, I'd like to ask the interpreter for a little support because I think what I'm saying to you isn't making as much sense as I would like it to. And I think I'm missing some cultural cues. Is it okay if we get their help?"
And having the interpreter be, and a lot of our interpretation at the office that we use is phone. So the interpreter can't see me or see the patient remembering that I don't need American Sign Language interpretation. We use video platforming for that with our deaf people who need that in our office use that with our deaf patients, but most interpretation is only voice. So saying, can you help me? And when the patient said okay than saying interpreter I'm wondering I get the sense that the questions I'm asking don't make sense to this person can you help me and this person just gave me such great information just like a flood like they've just been waiting to be asked and so I had to learn that the interpreter when used correctly can be an amazing resource in addition to a great technician.
**Eyal Heldenberg (13:29)**
Got you. Have question. Do you think there is a difference between ASL interpretation settings and just regular Spanish or like a vocal interpreter?
**Dr. G (13:43)**
The differences that I see are one, sign language interpretation is legally mandated if the patient wants it. Like, so the way the Americans with Disabilities Act is interpreted, whatever form of support in communication that my deaf patient wants, they get, right? They decide. So if they want to write back and forth, if they were comfortable with that, which would be surprising, because it's still in the language that they're not usually totally fluent in, but if that's what they wanted, fine. If they wanted lip reading and no interpreter at all, strange because only 40% of English letters show up on your lips, but if that's what they want, that's what they get.
If they want their family member to interpret, I can say, here's why I don't think that's a great idea, right? They're gonna have trouble asking you about your sexual history. They're gonna have trouble not injecting their own opinions about what you should do, you know, and just straight interpreting. But if that's what they want, that's what they get. With language interpretation, we have ethics that require us to get great professional interpretation. But in most states in the US, we don't have laws that require it. So I think that's one difference.
I think another difference is being able to see facial expression and body language and all that goes along with sign. So when you don't have that, I think it's different when you're not. And then I think just the last thing is so many languages are native to more than one country. So for example, I might get a great Spanish interpreter, but if they themselves are from Spain and my patient is from Guatemala or Costa Rica or Puerto Rico or some other, you know, there's so many different places where Spanish is spoken.
Same with English, right? If English isn't the native language of the provider and we get an English interpreter, that English speaking interpreter could be from so many different places that they're not necessarily culturally competent in the patient, even though they're linguistically competent.
**Eyal Heldenberg (15:34)**
Gotcha, so you managed to see that the dialect could play a kind of a major role in the communication channel, right?
**Dr. G (15:43)**
You're right. It's good. So there's a dialect issue. Spain Spanish is really different than certain Central American Spanish's or Spanish from South America. So there's there's slang and accent and dialect all that, but also culture. So here's an example of a cultural thing. The way we indicate yes and no nonverbally changes by country.
I learned this when I have Nepali patients. We have, we see a big Nepali population. And if you were telling me something, if you were my provider and you're like, I've really been worried about your blood pressure. And I agreed. My cultural response is, yeah, I sort of tilt my head to the side. Like, I don't like this. I squint one eye, but I'm nodding, right? And you get just from that motion, I see what you're saying, even though I don't love it.
Well, it turns out that that as I understand it for a Nepali patient is, and this only makes sense, real sense to your folks who are on video, but it's whipping your chin to the side, looking to the side and making a sound that sounds like a sound that from an Israeli would mean absolutely not. Absolutely not, right? Absolute judgment and negativity. And so I was reacting to it because I have an American and Israeli cultural background of like, these people hate what I'm saying, totally disagree. Finally found out by talking to the interpreter and asking more questions that this is the same as nodding vigorously for me. So it's agreement.
Eyal Heldenberg (17:21)
Nice.
Dr. G (17:24)
It's not enough to be amazing at this, right? It is certainly better than nothing to just have the language, but there's more than the language. There's more than vocabulary to interpretation.
Eyal Heldenberg (17:37)
In this example, how did you practically learn that the interpreter kind of managed to bridge this gap or you just...
Dr. G (17:44)
No, I called it out. said,
I hear that you're saying you agree and you'll take this medicine because those are the words they used. It feels to me from your facial expression and your body language that what I'm saying doesn't sound right to you. Can you help me understand?
Eyal Heldenberg (17:52)
Hmm.
Got you.
Dr. G (18:04)
And the patient's words were back to me after that through the interpreter was, no, I have thought a long time about taking a medicine for this. I think I should. And I thought, okay. So I had that experience a few times and I finally asked, and this is one of the things about being in a family medicine practice with patients for a long time. I have some Nepali speaking patients who've been in the U.S. little longer whose English is great. And I could say, hey, help me understand something.
Eyal Heldenberg (18:27)
Hmm.
Yeah. Yeah. And going along those lines of, of, um, different, different cultures. also remember for up from our previous, uh, previous call that you kind of identify different, would say different categories, groups, cultures around the world, because you serve, I think it told it around 59 languages or something like that. So you, you've seen people from all over the world, probably in your practice. I don't know if you have like,
a some property or I don't know some cultures or something that you already know a like how you should approach or what you know what you learned about different categories of of cultures
Dr. G (19:13)
So the first thing I've learned is that like you don't even know what you don't know. So when we first started seeing, I'm gonna pause I'll and say your video froze for me. Can you still hear me? Great. That's fine. When we first started seeing patients who were Nepali, the laws in Pennsylvania covering patients who are coming in through the immigration program that they were coming in through.
Eyal Heldenberg (19:24)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm.
Dr. G (19:40)
they had to be seen by a physician within 48 hours of getting to the United States. They were coming from a non-WHO country. We were worried about infectious disease and all kinds of things. So they would come in for these new patient visits within the first 48 hours. I walk into the room, there's often a room full of a family and I walk in and I do what I would do for someone, for anyone, which is I walk into the room, I introduce myself.
I say hello, I ask who everybody is, I go, I wash my hands and I sit down. And somewhere in that 30 seconds or 60 seconds, I was losing people. They were just shocked. But I also couldn't figure out, I mean, they're still jet lagged. For people who'd never in their lives been on an airplane before, many of them had never been in a car until the last little while, who, and I wondered, I'm definitely confusing them or putting them off in some way.
Eyal Heldenberg (20:25)
Mm-hmm.
Dr. G (20:37)
Is it being in a doctor's office in the first place? Is it something that happened before I got to them? Is it me being a woman? Is it the fact that I had been taught and told to greet them by placing my hands together and bowing my head and saying, Namaste? Am I doing that in the wrong way? Am I doing it to the wrong person? Should I not be doing it at all? Is that we have indoor running water or I use paper towels to dry my hands that I then threw in a trash can and then I sat down? Did I sit down at the wrong moment? Did I?
faced the wrong person, should I not address the children, should I start by addressing the older person? Like, I don't even know what I don't know about that first 60 seconds where I'm setting the tone for what will may very well be a years long relationship. So I was like, I just got to ask. And we, in our practice, we counted several years ago and at the time we were seeing patients from over a hundred countries speaking 62 different languages. And I speak three.
Eyal Heldenberg (21:31)
Wow, it's a lot.
Dr. G (21:35)
And I think that's pretty cool, but it's not nearly enough and it's not the majority of my patients by any stretch. So every time I encounter people either speaking a language that I don't speak or from a country that I just don't know enough about, I know I've got to ask and that when I ask, I'm getting one person's opinion. And when you've talked to one person, you've talked to one person. So the more I can ask the
better I'll do and I probably still won't get it right. But as I tell my medical students all the time when they take the time to learn from me before we walk into a room for a deaf patient, just how to fingerspell their own name, like to say hi, I'm, and then finger spell their name, even though they won't be able to sign any of the rest of the encounter and I'll interpret for them, my patients just, they feel really understood and seen with that effort.
So one of things that I do is, especially when I'm seeing kids, but I try to do it with everybody, is I learn a greeting in every language for patients that I see.
Eyal Heldenberg (22:39)
Nice,
this is nice gesture, right? Kind of...
Dr. G (22:43)
And it's just
a gesture. It's just a gesture, but I have found that it breaks down a lot of barriers and it builds a lot of trust.
Eyal Heldenberg (22:50)
Yeah, yeah. You know, I've heard from different providers that, you know, in different areas of the world, there are different beliefs around healthcare, approach, around... I wonder if, like, when you kind of approach kind of a new patient coming in from... Like, how do you handle... Maybe you already know their culture or kind of...
Dr. G (23:16)
Would you like to hear stories about when I've got it really wrong? that useful? So one of the times that I got it really wrong, and I want to say it's not only cultural, it's also generational. So the story I'm going to tell you might not be true at all of Turkish people who would be my age or your age or younger, but I was seeing a much older Turkish patient and told them
Eyal Heldenberg (23:19)
Alright, let's do it. Let's do it.
Dr. G (23:44)
told this man, and I think the gender is important in this case, told this man, I had to tell him about a bad diagnosis and like right off the bat because he had a growth that seemed almost certainly cancerous to me and he didn't want to follow it up. So I needed to be really clear that I, that this was likely life threatening and that if he chose not to follow it up, which is his right, I needed to know that he understood what he was consenting to, right? That this could very well kill him and soon.
in older Turkish culture as his grandson explained to me afterwards. Because, so I threw the interpreter, explained this to him, and the man lunges towards me, like physically, aggressively. And his grandson and his daughter really like caught him and pulled him back and talked to him and said things that were too fast for the interpreter to catch and all that. And the grandson asked me if he could talk to me outside. And I said, okay.
Eyal Heldenberg (24:29)
Wow.
Dr. G (24:43)
And he said, there's an older belief in our culture that if someone gives you bad news and you hurt them or kill them, then the bad news doesn't happen to you. And I was like, that's super useful information.
Eyal Heldenberg (24:55)
Wow. Wow.
It's not in America, right?
Dr. G (25:03)
It was in America that it happened, but they were right really recent immigrants and it was clear to me that his adult daughter and adult grandson didn't see it that way and I don't even know if he really saw it that way or if it was just the fear and that you know the anger we often have anger when we hear something really frightening but whatever it was I probably didn't handle it well even if we'd been the same culture I was you know, like I'm sure there are things I could have done better about delivering the news and
Eyal Heldenberg (25:05)
Yeah, yeah, of course.
Dr. G (25:30)
If I'd known that, I still don't know what I would have done differently because, and this is an interesting problem, my medical ethics say, I can't not tell him. So it would have left me with a problem anyway, but I went and I read about it afterwards, because I was like, really? And it turns out really. And just because something's really far from what seems reasonable or rational to me doesn't mean it's not reasonable to someone else and true for them.
Eyal Heldenberg (25:33)
Yeah, because you have to do it, right?
Yeah, yeah. Was there any medical translator there in that room, in that scene?
Dr. G (26:05)
In the room, no, we were using a voice interpreter who write through a phone, like speakerphone, which is how we normally do our interpretation.
Eyal Heldenberg (26:07)
voice interpreter.
So I wonder if you had a case where the medical translator was kind of the bridge who would say, hey, Dr. G stop, I need to explain you something cultural. Like, was there any something that did like a time-out thing?
Dr. G (26:26)
Right? Yeah. Yeah.
I've I've almost never had that happen. I have on occasion with Muslim patients had someone an interpret a male interpreter say to me with a female patient. I think it will be insulting for me to ask the patient this.
Eyal Heldenberg (26:48)
Mmm.
Dr. G (26:50)
And if it's a question about reproductive health or sex or anything like that. And so in that case, I've said, okay, interpreter, please interpret. I would like to end our call with this interpreter and call back and ask for a female interpreter. Is that acceptable to you? And I have to say that every time that's happened, the patient has been like, yes, that would be great. So that's the one time that I've been, I think, really helpfully corrected.
Eyal Heldenberg (27:05)
See you then.
Dr. G (27:20)
But, now I've learned to just ask, you know, and it's something that I have known about certain populations, but not about other populations, you know, so I just, had to learn and I'm grateful for anybody who's willing to teach me, but I also have heard stories from other providers who were just not getting good answers or they, sometimes you get an interpreter who isn't great. Like, I mean, we have to, we have to, think, talk about how not all interpreters are thinking strongly about ethics, like, like those examples, but also,
Some of them.
I sometimes worry that they don't understand the maybe my English is too medical or I've seen this with medical students who being interpreted. They use English that's too medical where an English speaking patient might be like, what does that mean? I understand. Right, needs, well, or the interpreter needs to be able to say, I'm sorry, this is the interpreter. I didn't understand what you said in English. Can you say that differently? And then I'll interpret it and then say to the patient in their language, I'm sorry, I had to ask for a clarification. We're going to try this again.
Eyal Heldenberg (28:07)
Yeah, it should be simplified.
Mmm.
Yeah.
Dr. G (28:22)
I've had interpreters do that, but I think a lot of interpreters, well, I don't know a lot. I know I've had the experience of some interpreters not. My Spanish is pretty receptively fluent, but I can't speak Spanish fluently. So I use interpreters and I've definitely heard interpreters as I've time and again, heard family members. When I say something, what they say is not what I said. And, and so I'm lucky to work at a place where we get
Eyal Heldenberg (28:45)
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Dr. G (28:50)
interpretation, even if a patient says, well, it's okay, I can just use my family member where we say, I'd prefer to use a professional interpreter. And we only don't if the patient refuses, as opposed to a lot of situations in which the provider, because it's darn expensive, right? Interpretation is really, really expensive. And you can wait, right? If it's a dialect, if I need an interpreter who speaks Karen from Myanmar, we've waited.
Eyal Heldenberg (29:01)
Mmm.
Dr. G (29:20)
an hour sometimes for that interpreter. And that's really logistically complicated in an office or in a hospital. So you can see why providers want to err on like, they said we could use a family member. Great, let's go. But in our office, we have guidelines that we try really hard not to use family members unless everybody's known well, the situation has like no potential, you're just there to get your blood pressure checked and the patient's really comfortable wants to use that person.
and that person wants to be used because what happens a lot is you get an English fluent, nearly adult or barely adult grandchild who would rather not be in that position. They were there to drive the person or go with them on the bus, make sure they got there okay and make sure that they understood when the next appointment was and what prescriptions they should pick up. They don't want to be the medical interpreter, but the grandparent wants them to be. So making sure that both family members really consent.
Eyal Heldenberg (30:03)
Yeah.
Hmm.
Dr. G (30:18)
is another really important ethical thing. But I wanna get back to how it can be really hard when you're speaking something and you have this feeling that the interpreter isn't being straightforward, entirely straightforward about clearly interpreting, either that they're adding their opinion, but more concerning. I tell my students all the time, if you say something and then you hear the interpreter speaking in another language,
but they use a bunch of the words you used in English with that accent, probably that's because that language doesn't have those words. I was giving a women's reproductive health lecture at a refugee center that had people who spoke 12 different languages. So I was speaking a sentence at a time in English. Each of the little groups of women had a language interpreter. And I was talking about ways to prevent pregnancy. I'm talking about this, I'm talking about that. But when I get to condoms,
Eyal Heldenberg (30:52)
Hmm
Dr. G (31:13)
I then hear all these different languages, condom.
Eyal Heldenberg (31:17)
Because
they don't have
Dr. G (31:20)
Well, and I want to know because there are languages in which they absolutely know what it is, that's just the word, or was it because they've never heard this word before or this idea doesn't exist? So I stopped and I said, has anybody ever seen this before? And I held up a condom and one woman of 50 was like, yeah. And I was like, okay, we're gonna go back and start with, does anyone have a banana? Anyway.
Eyal Heldenberg (31:34)
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, yeah,
yeah. Yeah, it's a great example of those. It kind of relates to how do I simplify the doctor's English to whatever the other language as an interpreter. But what do I do if I don't have the words, I don't have the way to exemplify to the patient what's the...
What's the topic? And I also take from your last story that the gender of the translator sometimes can play a big role, especially, for example, female patient sensitive.
Dr. G (32:26)
Right,
a really big role. Some cultures are really matriarchal, some are really patriarchal. And so the gender, I've been in a different situation with a patient from an island that happens to have a really matriarchal culture. And it became clear to me after several visits that this patient felt like because I was a woman and the interpreter was a woman, they had to do what we were saying.
Like there was no role left for that patient's autonomy or choice. The patient themselves felt like, but women told me to do this. And so it's not only, gosh, we can't always have male interpreters. Like it really depends on the culture and the situation. After I found that out, it became clear to me, we had a really pretty clear conversation using the interpreter that this person would feel like they could say what they really thought more if their interpreter was male. Great.
Eyal Heldenberg (33:21)
By the way,
technical question, can you choose the gender of the interpreter or you don't get to choose that? You can cry.
Dr. G (33:28)
We can try. So if
it's for a really common language, we can always ask, but they will often say either, nobody's available right now, or yes, but that person's busy, I don't know how long it'll be because you never know how long an interpreting session is gonna be. And so if it's a more rare language or whatever it is, it can make the difference between having interpretation and not.
Eyal Heldenberg (33:51)
Got you. All right. Perfect. I think we already mentioned it, but a couple of practical questions and recommendations from your end. What are some immediate steps providers could take to improve their cross cultural communication?
Dr. G (34:08)
One is just trying to remember all the time that you don't know what you don't know. And one of the best clues for us that we don't know what we don't know is what we thought would happen after a visit didn't happen. The patient didn't get the test or isn't taking the medicine or doesn't feel any better or whatever. And that happens all the time and for a bunch of different reasons, but it makes us ask more. And we should all do what we were taught to do in training, which is once you've gone over the plan with the patient, ask them to tell you the plan. It's not patronizing. It is...
good medicine to say authentically with no condescension, okay, I've explained what I think would make the most sense to happen now. Can you please tell me what you heard and what your plan is? And hear it back from them, even though it's through the interpreter, hear it back from them and see where the gaps are. When you do this, when you speak the same language and you have the same culture, you often find big gaps. So that's really helpful. And then,
The other thing I think is too...
Let your patient know that you expect to get it wrong sometimes and that you are counting on them to let you know when they see something that you're not understanding, not just about the language, but about what makes sense to them or if there's a piece of the history that they feel like you should have asked about and you didn't, or if they're gonna try something that culturally makes sense to them and you would like to know about it because it's gonna influence their health. So I have.
I have patients from certain cultures who still use cupping. So for your medical folks who are listening, they'll know that that's heating up like cups, like tea cups, heating them up with steam inside and placing them on a patient's back or chest to help with respiratory issues. And the research is really pretty clear that this does not help with respiratory issues, but it does sometimes dangerously burn people. And listen, my dad has some scars on his chest from being cupped as a child.
This is in lots of different cultures and it's not that long ago in almost every culture. But if a patient's going to try something that may not help in my experience but isn't going to hurt, that's one approach. If they're going to do something that we know can lead to, is pretty likely to lead to problems, we have an ethical obligation to say, I appreciate that that's been part of your experience. Here's why I'm worried about that.
Eyal Heldenberg (36:34)
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I'm taking it from me that there is need to kind of empower the patient in the room to get to this crystal clear communication that he or she would feel comfortable to share, to touch. I don't know, dark sides. Sometimes they didn't want to share something, but if you empower them and kind of give the room and especially even time, because I guess those encounters
Dr. G (36:34)
and just let them know what your concerns are.
Eyal Heldenberg (37:04)
can be long, right? But the practical thing is give the space, give the time, give the empowerment so they could feel they could share something like that, right? Am I getting it right?
Dr. G (37:18)
I think you're right. I know that a lot of providers we hear give it time and we think, well, now I'm three hours late, right? I say often to my patients that I, something I learned from a residency teacher of mine, which was I got 35 minutes behind about 10 years ago and I haven't caught up. But really one of the advantages in primary care and anything but emergency care is if it's not going to be longer, it might just need to be more frequent. So if you've only got
Eyal Heldenberg (37:46)
Mm.
Dr. G (37:47)
minutes to see this person, can somebody see them back in a few weeks instead of a few months and build that trust over serial visits as opposed to trying to take the hour and a half it would take to build trust in this one moment. If nobody's in danger, then we can take longer, more visits to build trust instead of trying to get to it this time.
Eyal Heldenberg (37:53)
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah, it makes sense. I think we almost done. Maybe just kind of wrap up. Maybe you already mentioned it with the Turkish case. Do you have a way to navigate situations where the cultural practices differ from your standard medical protocols?
Dr. G (38:29)
My students will often say to me, well, I can't judge them. And I have to say, judging is part of your job. As a provider, part of your oath is to use your best judgment. And so if you have a patient who is determined to do something that you in your best medical judgment believe is dangerous, you know, if they, and I don't have an example of a culture that does this, but if they said,
while this child has seizures, so, and this happened 200 years ago in the British Isles, we'll leave it outside so that the fairies can change it back to a normal human child from the demon that we believe is inside, you would actually have to call Children and Youth Services on that family, right? You can't allow that child to have their life put in danger for a cultural belief. But if nobody's in danger, and that's the majority of the time, if your patient is not in danger, then saying,
Eyal Heldenberg (39:05)
Yeah.
Dr. G (39:26)
That's interesting to me. I haven't learned about that. Will you teach me about that practice? Can you help me understand how that helps or what you've seen with that or what you know about that? And often, like anything we ask people about in medicine when they haven't been trained in medicine, they may say, I don't know. I guess I just heard about it. I don't know that much about it. Or I've never seen it work, but someone in my family told me that maybe I should try this. Then you might be able to partner with them and say, okay.
I totally understand why that, you you know that person and you trust that person and we've just recently met. I have used this thing I'm recommending a bunch of times with kids, cause I see kids or with adults and I've had a lot of success with it. Would you be willing to try it and reach out through your interpreter, through your grand, your adult grandson, whatever, in a week and let me know how it's going. And if that's not working, we can talk about other ways to try and approach it.
Eyal Heldenberg (40:16)
Amazing. All right, think we're kind of on the closing side. Maybe last question, kind of a future for what do we see as the biggest opportunity for improving cross-cultural healthcare communication?
Dr. G (40:34)
I think in the short term.
You may not want to use this, but I actually think it's true. I think in the short term, it is actually large language models and what AI has to offer us because in the long term, I hope that it is finding ways to both better educate providers and help everyone in healthcare about what we don't even know about cultural differences and helping patients know that they need to give us a cultural history along with and what that means. But I think in the short term, if I had both
access to affordable, constantly available communication in every spoken language that exists in the world, and a growing database of ways that culture can support health and ways that cultural differences get in the way of health, just to know that that was being constantly learned and learned and and adapted for generations and gender differences and belief systems and...
I think in this way, if we harness it right, computers can really only make us better at our jobs.
Eyal Heldenberg (41:40)
Amazing answer. I totally agree that AI and LLM could actually mesh everything together from language, culture and context into those four walls, into the medical encounters. So I totally agree on this vision. All right, we're done with this episode. Dr. G, thank you very much. Like every time I see you, I learn a lot and appreciate your participation in care culture talks. Thank you very much.
Dr. G (42:09)
Thanks for having me.
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# Beyond Words: The Art of Medical Interpretation with Matias Saenz
Host:
Eyal Heldenberg
Duration:
27:35
Release Date:
March 8, 2025
4
%20(11).jpg)
[Play Episode](https://youtu.be/RqBv7lIKRxg)
YouTube
## About this podcast:
This episode features Matias Saenz, a certified Spanish medical interpreter from Ecuador who brings a unique perspective to the challenges of cross-cultural healthcare communication. Through personal stories and professional insights, Matias illuminates the crucial role interpreters play in ensuring patient safety, dignity, and understanding in medical settings. He discusses common misunderstandings that arise from dialect differences, cultural beliefs around healthcare, and the emotional dimensions of medical interpretation. Whether describing a near-miss in an MRI room due to a language confusion or sharing the touching moment with an elderly patient who had lost her son who previously served as her interpreter, Matias demonstrates why professional medical interpretation is essential for equitable healthcare. The conversation also explores the future of interpretation services, including the potential role of AI in enhancing access and accuracy in medical communication.
## Listen this episode on:
[Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/0WGNYszTVyuqXVshkPAGHH?si=6_Kl6zcmR06JNgo2FIypqA) [Youtube Music](https://youtu.be/la7TXNtKrkY) [Apple Music](https://podcasts.apple.com/il/podcast/beyond-words-the-art-of-medical-interpretation/id1795321107?i=1000698407631)
## Chapters Timeline:
## 1\. Becoming an Interpreter \[00:10-01:53\]
- Welcome and introduction
- Matias's certification journey
- Personal motivation and fulfillment
## 2\. Making a Difference \[01:53-03:51\]
- Ecuadorian Spanish background
- Story of elderly patient after son's passing
- Impact beyond translation
## 3\. Daily Hospital Routine \[03:51-06:21\]
- Patient reactions to interpreter services
- Navigation role in healthcare facilities
- Supporting patients throughout visit
## 4\. Professional Standards \[06:21-08:50\]
- Translator vs. interpreter differences
- Certification requirements
- Qualification levels
## 5\. Cultural Bridge \[08:50-12:42\]
- Navigating cultural contexts
- Example of antibiotic refusal
- Balancing translation with mediation
## 6\. Language Dangers \[12:42-16:17\]
- Regional Spanish variations
- Critical "embarazada" misunderstanding
- Family decision-making norms
## 7\. Family vs. Professional \[16:17-17:44\]
- Risks of using family members
- Issues with bias and omissions
- Patient safety considerations
## 8\. Hard Conversations \[17:44-21:09\]
- End-of-life discussions
- Young cancer patient story
- Facilitating difficult moments
## 9\. Emotional Boundaries \[21:09-22:11\]
- Mental health impact
- Separating work from personal life
- Maintaining resilience
## 10\. Working with Children \[22:11-23:50\]
- Children's hospital experiences
- Interpreting children's comments
- Delivering difficult news to families
## 11\. Medical Terminology \[23:50-26:03\]
- Handling complex language
- How doctors adapt communication
- Patient comprehension
## 12\. Future of Interpretation \[26:03-28:08\]
- AI potential in healthcare
- Technology for dialect variations
- Reducing human error
## 13\. Cultural Rewards \[28:08-30:28\]
- Learning diverse perspectives
- Patient connections
- Cultural exchanges
## 14\. Provider Tips \[30:28-33:23\]
- Working effectively with interpreters
- Importance of patience
- Mutual respect and closing thoughts
Key Themes:
- Cultural competency
- Patient safety
- Emotional aspects
- Professional boundaries
- Communication accuracy
## Episodes Transcript:
\[00:10\] **Eyal Heldenberg:** Hi, everyone. Welcome to Care Culture Talks. My name is Eyal Heldenberg. I'm the CEO of No Barrier, an AI medical interpreter for healthcare providers. Today with me is Matias Saenz. Happy to have you, Matias.
\[00:24\] **Matias Saenz:** Yes, thank you, thank you for hosting me.
\[00:27\] **Eyal Heldenberg:** Perfect. So Matias, would love to get to know you a bit, your journey in healthcare, and let's take it from there.
\[00:36\] **Matias Saenz:** Yeah, so it all started once I started university basically. I always wanted to have a side job, something I could do and something that was flexible especially. And I came across medical interpreting, starter certifications, training, taking out licenses, courses, all that. That probably took around two to three months.
And then I was able to officially start working, not necessarily certified, but as a medical interpreter without the state certification. Then after two, three months, I got the state certification. So I was officially certified in Washington state, as well as I had the flexibility to be certified in any other state. So I was basically certified nationwide. And it's been amazing, because it offers great flexibility and I can balance my classes, my other ventures, and medical interpreting while doing something that's fulfilling and rewarding and something that keeps me grounded, contributing to my community, contributing to immigrants who come here and need a voice and need someone to speak for them. So yeah, it's great. It feels like social work. It feels like I'm helping people out every day constantly. So yeah, it's a great feeling.
\[01:53\] **Eyal Heldenberg:** Yeah, totally. And need to mention that you function as a Spanish medical interpreter, right?
\[01:58\] **Matias Saenz:** Yes, Spanish, that's my language of expertise.
\[02:01\] **Eyal Heldenberg:** And where is your Spanish from?
\[02:05\] **Matias Saenz:** Ecuador, South America. It's a small little country right on the equator. Beautiful country. But yeah, that's where my Spanish and diction and lingo comes from as well.
\[02:19\] **Eyal Heldenberg:** Yeah, yeah. So, perfect. I wonder if you can share a moment in your interpreter career that made you realize what's the impact of your role.
\[02:32\] **Matias Saenz:** Yes, so when I realized the true impact of my role was after this specific interpreting session I had with an elderly woman, she was in her 80s probably, and she would use her son to interpret for her when she'd go to these medical appointments. And unfortunately, her son had passed away due to a medical condition. And this was her second or third visit without him. So she was struggling to understand.
She wasn't getting medical interpreters. When I met her in this appointment was the first time she got a medical interpreter since her son passed away. So up until then, she was literally not understanding anything the doctors were saying. So I interpreted for her. She seemed very relaxed, very at ease, because she finally had someone who could understand and communicate with her and the doctor. At the end of that appointment, she told me that I reminded her of her son.
And that was obviously beautiful to hear and very, very fulfilling because I realized that my job isn't just about translating words. It's also about making people feel heard and supported. So, yeah.
\[03:51\] **Eyal Heldenberg:** Yeah. Can you describe what is a daily routine of a medical interpreter in the hospital, in the clinic? What's your job and the interaction between the different players in the clinic?
\[04:07\] **Matias Saenz:** Yeah, daily routine consists of getting to the appointment and being assigned your patient. They're usually surprised when they see you because they don't expect having a medical interpreter because either they are new to the country and they don't know that there was this level of support in the United States or because in the past they've simply never had medical interpreters. So it's always a surprise like, "Hey, a medical interpreter. That's great." You obviously see a sigh of relief on their face and they become happy and relaxed because now they know they're going to understand everything.
Usually after that we go into the doctor's room or wherever clinic we're going to. I go with the patient, I guide them there because part of my job as well is to guide, because the hospitals are usually so big. Part of my job is to know where to go and take the patients with me so that they don't get lost. So yeah, we go to the clinic.
Usually we get the check-in from the nurse, vitals, weight, any signs of infection, any colds, any symptoms of flu or COVID, what's your weight, what's your height, then the nurse goes and the doctor comes in. Whatever explanation it is, whatever the visit is about, I interpret that. I interpret absolutely everything—that's something I forgot to mention. I interpret from the moment the patient walks into the hospital until the moment the patient walks out of the clinic. And that's basically it. Just after once the doctor says what he has to say and the patient also says what they have to say, that's about it. I just translate words and emotions. Yep.
\[05:53\] **Eyal Heldenberg:** Yeah, so basically you follow the patient throughout different touch points and making sure she or he could feel comfortable and understood at any other touch point from receptionist, nurse triage, billing or whatsoever.
\[06:12\] **Matias Saenz:** Yeah, I've had a few moments even in the cafeteria where I interpret for patients who want pizza or something to eat and they don't know how to say it. So yeah, everything.
\[06:21\] **Eyal Heldenberg:** Yeah, perfect. So I wonder if you can explain to the audience what exactly is the difference—sometimes they say medical translator, sometimes they say medical interpreter, kind of a blend of terms. Maybe you can kind of explain the differences.
\[06:39\] **Matias Saenz:** Yeah, so the difference between medical interpreter and medical translator is medical translators usually translate written documents, prescriptions, legal stuff, consent forms. That's what they do. They translate the written stuff. They do this either through programs, through software or themselves and usually on the computer. Then medical interpreters, they translate the words verbatim, the physical action of being there in person, present with the patient and the doctor interpreting everything. So that's the main difference.
And then for the question about what's the difference between certified and qualified: qualified interpreters have training but no national certification. So that was what I had at the beginning. Those first three months I had a qualified interpreter status. After three months I got my NBCMI certification—that's the test I took. It's a written test that's pretty long actually. It took me like an hour and a half and it goes over, I think it was like 80 questions and asks about medical conditions, it asks about legal stuff, like certain scenarios and what you should do, what's the right action to take in certain scenarios. So yeah, it goes through literally medical stuff all the way to legal. So I had to study for a few weeks for that test. So I took that, then I became certified.
So certified is more official and it basically means that you're officially trained and you've got the highest level of certification and you're the highest quality interpreter there is basically.
\[08:24\] **Eyal Heldenberg:** And I think if I remember correctly, the certification is something you need to renew every couple of years, something like that.
\[08:32\] **Matias Saenz:** Yeah, I think for the certification, national certification, you're supposed to renew it every three to four years, I believe. And you do this renewal through another written test, but it's not as extensive. It's just to make sure you're still remembering stuff.
\[08:50\] **Eyal Heldenberg:** Yeah, yeah. You know, I am under the impression that medical interpreting also involves cultural communication, like cultural context. It's not just word by word. So I wonder if you have any example or time that you felt this is more than words in this encounter that you need to facilitate.
\[09:17\] **Matias Saenz:** Yeah, no, definitely. There's been a few instances of this type of scenario playing out in which patients, because of cultural context or backgrounds, they misunderstand or their goals don't align with what the doctor's telling them. For example, once I had a patient who was refusing antibiotics because they trusted herbal medicines or remedies over the antibiotics. So the doctor insisted and insisted, but the patient wasn't convinced.
That's when I realized that there was more of a cultural misunderstanding because they were both very stubborn. The doctor was saying, "You have to take this." And the patient was also saying, "No, I won't." There was really no solution emerging. So that's when I realized and I stepped in and I told the doctor, "Yeah, there's a cultural misunderstanding here. Usually where this patient is from, which I'm not going to mention by name, they pretty much prefer remedies over studied and tested medicine."
So I told the doctor that and to my surprise—I thought the doctor knew this but apparently she was new, she was a new doctor just recently out of school, doing this for like her first two weeks. So that's when I explained to her, "This patient prefers remedies. So this is why she's being so stubborn and she's not understanding you." That's when the doctor adjusted her approach and explained from first principles why remedies don't work because obviously you know why.
\[11:06\] **Eyal Heldenberg:** I think that cultural misunderstanding is sometimes overlooked because, like you say, it could be very hard to have this conversation, right? Because everyone has their own opinions and now you need to sometimes find the bridge. And this is where medical interpreters actually could bridge the cultures because they're the mediator, they would know how to communicate it. Do you have any other cultural misunderstanding examples? Could be the patient or the provider. And maybe, what do you do? How do you handle it?
\[11:51\] **Matias Saenz:** So yeah, in terms of handling it, my job is strictly translating words, but there are certain instances in which I am morally obligated to identify when there are situations where if I don't step in, the problem will just keep cycling over and over. So when those scenarios come into play, that's when I step in and say, "Yeah, this is happening and we need to fix this because we're not getting anywhere."
So apart from just strictly translating words, I do also have that moral obligation to step in, make sure all parties are on the same page, because I have the advantage to understand both cultures and both languages. So I'll use that tool to improve the situation whenever I can.
\[12:42\] **Eyal Heldenberg:** Yeah, yeah, yeah. I have a question specifically about the Spanish language. You know, Spanish has many dialects from different countries and maybe even different cultural aspects. It could be the accent, it could be the word choice, it could be even the pitch, the rhythm of the language. I wonder how do you see the Spanish dialects influencing a conversation where there is a medical interpreter in the room.
\[13:22\] **Matias Saenz:** Yes, there are actually many cases like that and that tends to happen at least once a week for me because the Spanish language is so diverse and it's spoken so vastly in so many different countries and each single country has their own versions of certain words. So it gets pretty intense sometimes.
For example, one time a Mexican patient—because in Mexico they say, in some regions, it's not even overall Mexico, some regions within Mexico say "constipado" when they're congested. So a Mexican patient once said, "Yeah, he was constipado." And obviously the similar translation to English is "constipated." So the doctors thought the Mexican patient was saying he's constipated, but in reality, he was just saying he's congested.
And another case of this, which was actually a pretty serious one that I was able to catch and pretty much prevent a serious issue: A patient said she was "embarazada," and that sounds like "embarrassed" if you kind of hear it without paying much attention, which the doctor did as she was in the MRI room doing her work. So she heard "embarazada," thought the patient meant embarrassed and told the patient, "No, don't be embarrassed, you just have to uncover your belly. That's it. Don't be embarrassed."
But in reality, the patient was saying she's pregnant, because "embarazada" in Spanish means pregnant, and we were in an MRI room which is full of radioactive material and x-rays, and pregnant people simply cannot be in rooms with that. So that would have been more serious if I wasn't able to catch that misunderstanding.
So yeah, that's another example of dialect issues. And going back to your earlier question about cultural misunderstandings, I just remembered one instance where a mother was hesitant to give consent for a certain operation and the doctor thought she was just being fearful and scared. So the doctor kept saying, "Don't be scared, don't be fearful, it's not that serious."
But actually, I recognized that in some parts of Latin America, there's this cultural norm to have a lot of family involvement when it comes to making these big medical decisions—and not just nucleus family, not just parents or siblings or daughters or sons. It goes up to aunts, uncles, grandparents, great grandparents, cousins, everyone. So that's when the doctor understood this and gave her time to call everyone and come to a decision.
\[16:17\] **Eyal Heldenberg:** Wow, yeah, yeah, family involvement. I think maybe sometimes I'm talking about family members that are involved in the interpreting part, like in the room, because I know that this is less encouraged in places because of sometimes bias, not being so objective. So this is another example of why it's important to make sure that you have a professional medical interpreter in the room that, you know, comes objective to the conversation.
\[16:54\] **Matias Saenz:** Yeah, definitely, because sometimes family members also don't ensure 100% accuracy, because they're not trained or certified. So sometimes they don't interpret correctly. And apart from biases as well, there's a lot of bias when a family member is interpreting for you. So yeah, it's important to always have a medical interpreter no matter what. It doesn't matter if the patient is with a family member, that can still be dangerous. I've seen cases where family members skip certain details on purpose because they don't want the family member to know because of a certain bias they have. I'm not sure what the bias is but it's happened and it happens continuously and it's dangerous and it's not fair for the patient so yeah.
\[17:44\] **Eyal Heldenberg:** Yeah. You know, healthcare sometimes involves hard conversations, sad conversations. I wonder if you had any chance that you were participating in, I don't know, delivering bad news or something like that.
\[18:05\] **Matias Saenz:** Yeah, yeah, it's part of the job. We do have to deliver pretty bad news, like end of life discussions. Those can get pretty heavy and sad, but it's part of the job. An example of this was one time, I had a young girl, she was old enough to give consent on whether or not she wanted to end her cancer treatment. I think it had been like two years already. Unfortunately, yeah, she did not want to continue treatment. She was old enough to make this decision. And I had to interpret for the doctors the conversation she had with her parents about the reasoning why she wanted to end treatment.
And yeah, that was obviously pretty heavy. All the doctors, they came into the room, a lot of staff came into the room, visited her. We said our goodbyes, including me. And yeah, it was heavy. We were all crying. But at least I knew I was there to facilitate communication and I knew I helped the parents with what they were trying to convey and say to the doctors.
\[19:34\] **Eyal Heldenberg:** Yeah, yeah, sometimes it could get very hard. I wonder if there are any mental difficulties that medical interpreters could take home, for example, around those situations, is there any impact?
\[19:55\] **Matias Saenz:** Yeah, there certainly is. It does happen when I get home sometimes and remember what I interpreted, this very heavy, very sad appointment I had. And it sticks with me for a while. I mean, it lingers for a while and it's there. But then usually a day or two later, I have to move on because, you know, this is a job. It's strictly work. And there's so many cases of interpreting bad scenarios and bad outcomes that if I keep on, if I let these things get to me, I'll just constantly be sad and depressed. So that's obviously not something that anyone wants.
So yeah, I do have to separate the work from my personal life and not let it affect me too much in my personal life. When I'm at work, I'm all in. I'm there for the worst case or the best case. It's my job. I'll be there and I'll interpret everything no matter what obviously. But once I get home and once I leave work, I tend to divide it more and separate a bit more.
\[21:09\] **Eyal Heldenberg:** Yeah, I guess this is natural to make sure that the medical interpreter is safe and can continue to operate and live their life.
\[21:20\] **Matias Saenz:** Yeah. And it's not for everyone too because I guess doctors and nurses are people who can relate to this because they're also there. But as you know, there's doctors and nurses who prefer not to work in the medical industry because it is filled with bad news and bad scenarios. So if you're someone who's constantly, if you're someone who's greatly affected by negative stuff, then interpreting, being a doctor, being a nurse is not the right career for you, or social work. I mean there's many different roles but yeah it's not meant for everyone and there are certain interpreters who start interpreting and a few months later they quit because it's too much for them.
\[22:11\] **Eyal Heldenberg:** Yeah, totally understood. You mentioned that you now work in a children's hospital. Is there any difference between interpreting for children versus adults?
\[22:23\] **Matias Saenz:** Yeah, there is certainly a difference. For children, I think it tends to be less serious sometimes because obviously they're children. So they come in sometimes playing around or laughing. So they lighten the mood a little bit. And in terms of translation and interpretation, you have to even interpret what the child says. So if it's a seven or six-year-old child who only speaks Spanish, even if he says the most ridiculous thing, which children tend to do, you have to interpret it. So even if he mentions something embarrassing about the mother or embarrassing about the doctor and tells the doctor "you have a weird nose" or something like that, I have to interpret it. So yeah, it lightens the mood for sure.
Obviously also when it comes to heavy and sad news, it feels heavier for children because they're children. It becomes, I wouldn't say worse but yeah it is a bit more difficult to interpret bad news to children instead of just adults. You both are sad and all but yeah for children it's even worse honestly.
\[23:50\] **Eyal Heldenberg:** Yeah, totally. I wonder if you find yourself sometimes simplifying the language of providers, because sometimes providers tend to use very professional terms, terminology. I wonder if you find yourself trying to get it to a more explainable version of it.
\[24:16\] **Matias Saenz:** Yeah, so I have to interpret everything the doctor says, even if it's the most complex thing that I know the patient won't understand, I still have to say it. But the thing is, doctors know this, so they simplify it for you. They, off the bat, simplify it as much as possible so that the interpreter can relay that simplified version to the patient. I've rarely had cases where doctors have used extremely accurate medical terminology to explain some type of condition to a patient, because obviously there's thousands of words that the patient won't know.
But yeah, it's happened, but very few times. And when it happens, the reaction from the patient lets the doctor know everything he needs to know. Because the patient will just have a confused look on their face. They'll just be like, "What did you just say?" And then that's when the doctor corrects and says something that makes more sense or something more simple and digestible.
\[25:23\] **Eyal Heldenberg:** Yeah, yeah, yeah. So you said that probably most of the providers read the room, understand who's here and kind of naturally simplify the language. Yeah, it makes sense. I have another question about when you think about where we are right now and future and how we're to evolve these interpretation services, what do you see as the biggest opportunity for improving cross-cultural communication?
\[26:03\] **Matias Saenz:** Yeah, I think there's a lot of opportunity to improve cross-cultural communication. There are opportunities in technological advancements and innovation, such as AI. There are certainly many different opportunities, especially when it comes to improving the interpretation of regional dialects or very advanced, sophisticated medical terminology. I think that's where AI can do a very good job because not everyone has expertise in all dialects.
For example, I'm from Ecuador, so we have a different version of Spanish. And when I'm interpreting for someone who is from Guatemala, I try my best to switch to their regional dialect, but obviously I don't know the whole difference. There are a lot of variations. There are many different words that I don't know that people in Guatemala use. So that's where AI can come into play because AI or technology would know exactly what words to use if it's a person from Guatemala.
Also for medical terminology or complete accurate translation, we're human and sometimes we have our faults and we forget a detail or a word or two. We can omit very important details and that's dangerous, that's risky for the patient. AI or technology will never forget, will never skip a word. So that's also something I do take into consideration. So yeah, that's where I see this technology very much improving cross-cultural health care.
\[28:08\] **Eyal Heldenberg:** Yeah, technology could make more bridges and make them kind of more accessible. I agree on that. I have a question about the rewarding part of being a Spanish-speaking interpreter. What's the rewarding part of the job during those sessions?
\[28:43\] **Matias Saenz:** Yeah, I think the very rewarding part is learning about different cultures and gaining more diverse perspectives about different communities and different cultures. Like before this job, I had no idea there were so many variations of Hispanic people. And learning about their food and culture and festivities is very fun because you learn. And personally, I like learning.
You gain deeper perspectives. And also, I tend to connect with these patients. And sometimes, I even become friends with them. And when I see them around at the hospital, I sit down and have a conversation with them. And this obviously leads to more understanding of where they're from. And I learned many new things. I think last week, I learned that a certain plate of food was actually from Honduras. Beforehand, I thought it was from Mexico but actually it was from Honduras. Obviously the person told me this was from Honduras so it might have been biased because there's always these debates on where food is from, but still I had no idea this debate even existed in the first place so it was interesting learning about just stuff like this, just learning more. That's the rewarding part.
\[30:28\] **Eyal Heldenberg:** All right. Maybe last question for this episode, for the providers that listen to this episode. Could you give us some tips for working with a medical interpreter in the room, how to kind of make this experience better?
\[31:05\] **Matias Saenz:** Yeah, yeah. I think obviously the provider's role is extremely important. And we really respect providers and doctors and nurses when they come in. We know they've been through years of studying. They've been through years of classes and exams and tests. And they're extremely knowledgeable and smart people. We know this. And we sometimes admire them and really respect them and want to be like them eventually too.
So yeah, there's that kind of dynamic. And one piece of advice would maybe be more patience. I feel like sometimes I encounter providers who want to hurry up the process and I get cut off a lot as an interpreter. I'm saying something and get cut off. And I understand that's not with ill intent. That's not because they're underplaying what I say or they don't respect what we do, obviously it's not the case, but it is important to be mindful that we have to interpret everything and if we feel hurried or pressured then sometimes we naturally, certain interpreters, they might cut what they say and they might skip a detail or two, which is obviously not good.
Yeah, apart from just patience, everything's good. There's good teamwork and good clarity and the dynamic is cool. Doctors, I feel like they are appreciative for the role we do, for what we do. They know our role is important and it's crucial in the healthcare setting. They know this and so yeah, there's mutual respect on both sides. But yeah, I understand doctors can be in a hurry a lot of times. They're pretty much all day working non-stop, but sometimes yeah, I get cut off a lot. So that's just the one thing I'd say—maybe more patience. Yeah, that's it.
\[33:13\] **Eyal Heldenberg:** Yeah, totally understood. Perfect. So Matias, was great having you in Care Culture Talks. I learned a lot and appreciate it.
\[33:23\] **Matias Saenz:** Thank you, Eyal, for having me. It's great speaking about my experience. I've always wanted to speak about interpretation, and now I had a chance. So yeah, thank you.
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# Community Health Centers: Culturally Competent Care for All with Diana Erani
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February 27, 2025
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## About this podcast:
In this insightful episode of Care Culture Talks, host Eyal Heldenberg speaks with Diana Erani, Chief Operating Officer at the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC). With extensive experience from Health Care for the Homeless Houston to leadership roles at state and national levels, Erani offers a comprehensive overview of how community health centers serve 32.5 million Americans—one in ten—across 1,500 centers and 16,000 sites nationwide.
Erani explains the unique model of community health centers, where 51% of board members are patients, ensuring community-driven healthcare that extends beyond primary care to include behavioral health, dentistry, and other services. She highlights how these centers are designed to be culturally competent, creating welcoming environments where patients see staff who "look like them" and speak their languages, resulting in more effective and cost-efficient healthcare than traditional emergency room visits.
The conversation explores the critical challenges of language access in health centers serving populations that speak 50+ different languages. Erani details how certified medical interpreters—rather than family members—are essential for accurate, confidential communication, particularly for sensitive topics in behavioral health settings. She emphasizes that both technical reliability and interpretation quality are non-negotiable for providers who cannot afford delays or miscommunications during patient care.
Erani shares insights on operational best practices for language access programs, stressing the importance of seamless integration throughout the entire patient journey—from initial contact through follow-up care. She concludes with an optimistic vision for the future, highlighting how national organizations facilitate knowledge-sharing among health centers through conferences and collaborative learning, guided by the principle of being "stronger together."
## Listen this episode on:
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## Chapters Timeline:
## 00:00 - 00:28 \| Introduction to Medical Interpreter Services
- Welcome to Care Culture Talks
- Introduction of Eyal Heldenberg, CEO of No Barrier (AI Medical Interpreter)
- Introduction of guest Diana Erani
## 00:29 - 02:45 \| Diana's Journey in Community Healthcare
- Healthcare for the Homeless Houston experience
- Cultural competency in healthcare settings
- Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers
- National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC)
- Serving 32.5 million Americans across 16,000 sites
## 02:46 - 04:29 \| Understanding Community Health Center Models
- Patient-led governance (51% patient board members)
- Comprehensive healthcare services beyond primary care
- Higher quality metrics at lower costs
- Vision for serving one in three Americans
## 04:30 - 05:47 \| Cultural Competence in Healthcare Delivery
- Why patients choose community health centers over emergency rooms
- Creating comfortable environments for diverse populations
- Cost-effective preventative care over emergency services
- Comprehensive services under one roof
## 05:48 - 08:14 \| Language Access Programs in Healthcare
- Serving non-English speaking patients
- Patient journey through multiple touchpoints
- Challenges with online portals in limited languages
- Health centers serving patients in 50+ languages
- Using medical translators and interpreters
## 08:15 - 09:05 \| Certified Medical Translators vs. Family Members
- Importance of certified medical translation services
- Why family members shouldn't translate medical information
- Legal requirements for language translation in healthcare
- Compliance issues in healthcare interpretation
## 09:06 - 10:15 \| Pros and Cons of Medical Language Interpreter Services
- Benefits: patient understanding and engagement
- Challenges: wait times and wrong dialects
- Technical difficulties with language lines
- Documentation barriers in medical charts
- Medical translation from English to other languages
## 10:16 - 13:33 \| Medical Interpreters in Behavioral Health Settings
- Sensitivity in mental health conversations
- Privacy concerns with community interpreters
- Professional medical interpreter benefits
- Addressing substance use disorders through proper translation
- Medical terminology for mental health interpreters
## 13:34 - 16:38 \| Developing Effective Language Access Strategies
- Getting translation right the first time for physicians
- Technical requirements for medical language interpretation services
- Precision in medical terminology for translators
- Flow of information throughout the health center
- Quality metrics for medical translation services
## 16:39 - 18:44 \| Future of Medical Interpretation Technology
- Impact of bad translations on patient care
- Role of national organizations in advancing language access
- AI for medical interpretation adoption
- Knowledge sharing across community health centers
- Technology adoption patterns in healthcare settings
## 18:45 - 20:14 \| Closing Thoughts: Community-Centered Healthcare
- Collective knowledge sharing for improvement
- "Stronger together" philosophy
- Preventative care approach
- Hope for the future of healthcare
- Final thanks and conclusion
## Episodes Transcript:
Eyal Heldenberg (00:10)
Hi everyone. Welcome to Care Culture Talks. My name is Eyal Heldenberg. I'm the CEO of No Barrier, an AI medical interpreter for healthcare providers. I have the honor to be with Diana Errani for our third episode. Diana, how are you today?
Diana Erani (00:26)
Great, excited to be here with you.
Eyal Heldenberg (00:28)
All right, perfect. So we'd love to discuss with you, Diana, on different topics around healthcare, culture, language and more. And if you don't mind, could you share with us a bit your fascinating journey in healthcare?
Diana Erani (00:45)
Sure. So I am the Chief Operating Officer at the National Association of Community Health Centers. And the way I started out was my first job in community health was at a place called Health Care for the Homeless Houston, which was a community health center in Houston, Texas, working with the homeless population to provide them health care.
So I worked there for a few years, starting as clinic manager and then going up to chief operating officer where I learned all about the needs of the homeless population, how to care for them, how to be what we call culturally competent, meaning to treat them in a way that works best for them instead of what we think they would want to ask them what they would want and to be successful.
in making a big difference in people's lives. I then moved to Massachusetts where I am originally from and I joined the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers. That is the statewide association for community health centers. It has approximately 52 community health centers across the state serving one million patients or about one in seven people in Massachusetts. And I worked
starting off in the Health Informatics Division and then I became the Chief Operating Officer. And then just six months ago, I left that job to become the Chief Operating Officer at the National Association of Community Health Centers, where I work with the 1,500 community health centers across the country that serve people in 16,000 different sites. We serve 32.5 million people
or one in ten Americans.
Eyal Heldenberg (02:46)
This is amazing. It's quite a journey. It's a lot about community, center, health and what initially drew you to that specific direction.
Diana Erani (02:58)
Well, I'd worked in healthcare before, but I really liked the idea of the community health center. And the reason I liked it so much is community health centers are unique because 51 % of the board are comprised of patients. So you really have the community driving what the health center does. And it doesn't just stop at primary care. It includes behavioral healthcare, dentistry, ophthalmology, and many other services all in one.
stop so that people can truly get care in their community.
Eyal Heldenberg (03:34)
And in your recent role in NAC, what excites you most about this national responsibility?
Diana Erani (03:43)
Well, what's really exciting is that community health centers make up the largest primary care group in the country because they're all across the country and they seek to...
provide the kind of healthcare that people can have successful outcomes because they work to understand where the patient is at and what would be helpful. And they have higher successful clinical quality metrics than a lot of traditional medical practices and they do it for less cost. So it's an exciting place to be and we're looking to the future where we see a growth of community health centers.
is to serve one in three instead of one in ten.
Eyal Heldenberg (04:30)
Got you. Maybe let's talk about the model of community health centers. Why do people seek, know, they address those centers instead of, you know, going to emergency rooms or other traditional services?
Diana Erani (04:48)
Well, they're designed to set up to make people comfortable. So what we call them is culturally competent, meaning understanding the culture so that people would say, I know if I go to the community health center, I'm going to be in a place where they welcome me. They have people that look like me. They have people that may speak my language or if not, they're able to get access to interpretation. And they have a lot of other
patients like me. And so what that does is bring people into primary care so they could be treated in a more cost effective but also healthy way for the patient. So they don't have to wait until they're very sick and go to the ER. Instead, they feel comfortable coming into the health center and having someone work with them to manage their illnesses, give well visits to their children, and at the same time, you can get your tooth filled.
Eyal Heldenberg (05:48)
All right, so you mentioned that those centers are by design, culturally competent and support, for example, language and non-English speaking patients. Can you walk us through how those language access programs typically work across those centers and in different touch points within those centers?
Diana Erani (06:12)
Sure. So community health centers are designed for anyone who walks in the door to be treated. So it doesn't matter where you come from or what language you speak. You come into a community health center and they're going to welcome you. So the first thing that they would do is talk to the person at the front desk to say, you know, hello, my name is so-and-so. I'd like to see a doctor or it could be over the phone or even now online.
So if it's online and they don't speak the language, online portals are very rarely in anything other than English and Spanish. So that would be very problematic. So then you have the phone call. The phone call will go into a call center at the health center. And if they have the person available that speaks the language, she'll speak with them. But often they do not. Some health centers see patients in more than 50 different languages.
They will then turn towards an interpretive service to treat them. And similarly, if they walk into the health center, the front desk person will assess if they need an interpreter or not. And then that person has to go activate the process for looking for an interpreter.
Eyal Heldenberg (07:26)
Got you. And those medical translators are either employees or maybe from remote or iPads or iPhones, right? Something like that.
Diana Erani (07:37)
Yeah, so whenever someone has a visit they need to have a certified medical
translator, we don't like to use family members because they don't translate things accurately and they may not communicate things as directly as needed because the doctor needs information they might not want to share in front of a family member. So we always look for a certified interpreter. If there's none available at the community health center then they turn to
a company that they would have a contract with for a language line.
Eyal Heldenberg (08:15)
I guess this is something you as a provider must comply with. You need to bring this service, otherwise you won't be able to communicate with the patient. You just need to do it, right?
Diana Erani (08:29)
Yeah, it's not like there's an option to turn the patient away. That's not something that anyone would do, but you're also not allowed to do it. it's imperative for the health centers to be able to have access to language translation.
Eyal Heldenberg (08:45)
Yeah, it makes sense. You know, we talked with many providers and operational managers and there are pros and cons to this, I would say workflow to this operation. I wonder if you can mention some of the pros and cons of using or implementing those language plans in the community centers.
Diana Erani (09:06)
Well, when they work well, it's wonderful because then the patient feels heard, they feel understood, they can ask questions about their healthcare, they can ask questions about a lot of things they just may not be familiar with that other people may take for granted, like how to go to the pharmacy and get medications. But they can also be difficult because when it's not working well, the provider or the doctor will be standing there with the patient waiting
for someone to come on the line. The person that comes on the line may speak the wrong dialect and it won't be helpful because they can't translate or they'll translate incorrectly. Sometimes you have to put the patient back in the waiting room and it can take an hour to get someone for their language. And then of course how do you get that information into the medical chart?
That's the other question. It can't just be voice translation, because if you try to put that into the medical chart, there's one more barrier between the actual translation and the way it's documented.
Eyal Heldenberg (10:16)
Gotcha. All right, perfect. So those community centers, they serve different, I would say, specialties. We were talking with different providers and one of the main, I would say, topics was around private conversations more on the behavioral health. I wonder if you could have some insights on those specific sensitive conversations.
Could you elaborate how a third party medical translator is involved or influences the encounter?
Diana Erani (10:55)
So having a translator again is so important here because you really don't want to use someone from the community. You really don't even want to use someone from the health center if it's a small health center because they might know the person or they might know the person's relative or friend and it's too close and people won't feel comfortable discussing things. Similarly, a lot can get lost in translation if you don't have the right translator and people may ask the wrong questions or be very shy about sharing
sharing certain personal details, but without having that knowledge that you really can't treat the patient well, and there could be something big that you're missing. So you need a really good solid translator that can also let you know if the person is...
Maybe they're answering a different question than you ask them. That's very common. So you have to be able to understand right away if you need to rephrase the question so that you get the information that you need to treat the patient.
Eyal Heldenberg (11:56)
Yeah, we also heard, like you mentioned, that specific in mental health, is more, I would say, sensitive topics could be around shame, different thoughts, sometimes around sexual or drugs or addiction or any other really sensitive topics where you need to discuss and you need to kind of elaborate and you need a professional
assistance there and an interpreter could come and you know as a help on that front.
Diana Erani (12:35)
Yeah, very much so because let's say you're talking about someone who may have a substance use disorder. You need to really be able to drill down into the details and make sure that they understand the questions. So you could say, you know, maybe...
you ask them, you know, do you drink every day? And you would have to ask them more specific questions like how much alcohol do you drink a day? That might not be the same to someone to say like, how much beer do you drink a day? How much wine? How many, you know, shots of vodka or whatever it is. So you need to have that very specific language so that you can provide the right information so it could be understood.
Also, even with other types of thoughts like people that might want to hurt themselves or are thinking that they're very depressed, like that can mean different things. So you need to have precise language so people can understand what they're dealing with.
Eyal Heldenberg (13:34)
Yeah, yeah, I wonder from your, I would say, managerial experience and operational experience, what would you recommend health centers when they consider their language access plan strategy, how to develop it, how to optimize it, anything around that operational challenge?
Diana Erani (14:02)
With many things, especially involving doctors, you have to make sure you get it right the first time. They're really not interested in trying something and it doesn't work and you have to wait and then you have to call IT and then the patient's waiting and then their other patients are backing up. They really don't have a lot of...
ability to wait on technical and other glitches. Similarly, if the translation isn't very precise, they're not going to be able to understand or get the information they need. You know, if a patient says, have a pain, you need to be able to say, you know, is that pain dull? Is it throbbing? Is it stabbing? How long has it been there? Is it, you know, over here in your body or over here on your body? Does it come when you drink or exercise or, you know, there's many, many questions.
and if they don't have that very easily available, it makes it hard to treat the patient. So you have to have both the competency and the technical know-how to make sure that it happens smoothly. That's the number one thing. And then the number two thing is it has to flow past the doctor into the rest of the health center smoothly. They have to understand...
what topics were discussed so that the people that bill for insurance will understand what they can bill for and what was or wasn't covered. The people who need to make follow-up appointments in the call center will need to understand what specialists they need to find for the patients. then the patients communicators, a lot of them have what we call community health workers that reach out to them to check on them. How are you doing? Are you eating?
right, do you have your medicine? They also need that translation to be correct or they'll be asking them about the wrong thing.
Eyal Heldenberg (15:57)
Gotcha. So basically you say this is a probably a mixture of training the providers that they're placing themselves to kind of be aware, be minded and not to compromise on that. And on the vendor side, you mentioned two factors. One is fast access, like access to care, and also insist on the quality of interpretation to make sure that the vendor has
the right workforce to make sure those messages are interpreted from English to the other language correctly. Am I right? Those are the two metrics that you mentioned?
Diana Erani (16:39)
Yes, if there's a bad translation, then you'll lose faith in the product and that'll be the end of using that product because it's so important to get even the smallest details right. things are called different things in different languages. So explaining something like lightheadedness versus dizziness, you're going to have to make the interpreter will have to make sure that you have the right words for that. So you get the right information.
Eyal Heldenberg (17:08)
Yeah, it makes sense. Perfect. So looking forward to the future, know, lots of things are going on right now with technology. I wonder what role can national organizations play towards the future? We know there are many health care challenges all over the place. I wonder, like, how do you see the national organizations' role in that?
Diana Erani (17:37)
So the national organization strives to make it as easy as possible for community health centers to treat the patients in their community. So for example, we have big conferences, four of them every year, where people come together and we learn from each other. We'll say something like, let's have a session around who's using AI to...
use for interpretation or describe or whatever and then people will come together and talk about what's important to them and what their experiences have been.
So that's one example. do that with many other things like who has had success treating people with diabetes in an urban setting who don't have access to fresh foods. And that will be another topic where people will share together. So it's the sharing together of what is working and what is not working. And at the same time, understanding that the community health centers themselves are very different. There is a saying, if you've seen one community health
Center. You've seen one Community Health Center. It's very different and some of them are early technology adopters and willing to try things and if it doesn't work try something else. Others are not interested in trying something until it's been done for a few years and everyone in between. So that's another way that coming together nationally can share that information.
Eyal Heldenberg (18:45)
Hahaha.
Nice. Those collective mind sharing, those forums, those events from time to time get people together and learn from each other on different workflows and amazing. Maybe last question for this podcast. What gives you hope about the future?
Diana Erani (19:30)
Well, I have a lot of hope about the future and I think it's because when you work with your own community to improve and to make people better then you're definitely going to succeed because if each place is different each person is different But when we all have the same goal of making each other healthy Not just treating the sick but preventing sick sickness That's when I think that
Everyone working together will make a big difference. We have a saying, we say stronger together.
Eyal Heldenberg (20:03)
Amazing.
Amazing. So then Arani was great to host you in our care culture talks podcast and appreciate it. Thank you.
Diana Erani (20:14)
Thank you.
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## Cultural Barriers in Urology
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# Cultural Barriers in Urology: How Dr. Weiser Navigates Sensitive Conversations Across Languages
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Eyal Heldenberg
Duration:
24:28
Release Date:
April 8, 2025
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## About this podcast:
In this eye-opening conversation, urologist **Dr. Adam Weiser** shares practical wisdom from his years treating patients from diverse cultural backgrounds in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Weiser is a practicing urologist specializing in stone disease, urinary infections, and voiding dysfunction. After training at Northwestern University and completing a fellowship in New York, he now serves one of America's most diverse and rapidly growing mid-sized cities. His approach is particularly thoughtful when working with limited English proficiency (LEP) patients, where he emphasizes clear language and patience to ensure understanding. Dr. Weiser also relies heavily on skilled medical translators who help bridge both linguistic and cultural gaps in sensitive medical discussions.
As healthcare becomes increasingly global, providers face new challenges in discussing sensitive medical topics with patients whose cultural norms, language barriers, and comfort levels vary widely. Dr. Weiser offers honest insights and simple solutions that any healthcare provider can implement immediately.
## **Key Moments**
**On Patient Communication (5:53):** "You need to have patience with these patients... Their needs are no less or greater than anyone else's, but their ability to communicate sometimes stymies their ability to be cured."
**On Building Trust (19:16):** "When they see that I've made the effort, when they see that I am trying... those patients trust more and they believe more and they get better."
**On Cultural Competency (17:42):** "We need to understand that we come from a very diverse part of the world now because the world has shrunk... We need to be respectful. We need to take the time to learn about other cultures."
## Listen this episode on:
[Spotify](https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/no-barrier-ai/episodes/Cultural-Barriers-in-Urology-How-Dr--Weiser-Navigates-Sensitive-Conversations-Across-Languages-e3191ch) [Youtube Music](https://youtu.be/Mo26uZARLOE) [Apple Music](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cultural-barriers-in-urology-how-dr-weiser-navigates/id1795321107?i=1000702703629)
## Chapters Timeline:
### **1\. Introduction to Cultural Language Access \[00:00-01:51\]**
- Welcome and introduction of Dr. Adam Weiser
- Background in urology practice
- Experience with diverse patient populations in Columbus
### **2\. Cultural Considerations in Sensitive Medical Topics \[01:51-05:53\]**
- Discussing intimate health issues across cultures
- Variations in comfort levels with anatomical terms
- Adapting communication styles for cultural sensitivity
### **3\. Navigating Communication Barriers \[05:53-09:58\]**
- Scheduling accommodations for patients requiring interpreters
- Patience as a key component in effective care
- Impact of communication barriers on treatment outcomes
### **4\. Evolution of Language Interpretation Tools \[09:58-14:00\]**
- Changes in translation services over time
- Technological advancements in medical interpretation
- Limitations of current translation methods
### **5\. Visual Aids in Patient Education \[14:00-15:36\]**
- Using diagrams and models to overcome language barriers
- Effectiveness of visual communication in medical contexts
- Practical implementation of visual tools in urology
### **6\. Cultural Competency for Healthcare Providers \[15:36-19:37\]**
- Importance of understanding diverse cultural backgrounds
- Training recommendations for medical staff
- Building trust through cultural awareness
### **7\. Real-Life Miscommunication Stories \[19:37-22:39\]**
- Case studies of interpretation challenges
- Lessons learned from communication failures
- Strategies to prevent similar situations
### **8\. Vision for Improved Language Access \[22:39-end\]**
- Future directions for medical interpretation
- Role of technology in enhancing cross-cultural care
- Dr. Weiser's recommendations for healthcare systems
Key themes throughout the episode:
- Medical interpretation
- Cultural competency in healthcare
- Language barriers
- Patient trust
- Urology patient care
- Healthcare communication
- Diverse patient populations
- Medical translation
## Episodes Transcript:
**Eyal Heldenberg (00:10)** everyone, welcome to Care Culture Talks. I'm Eyal Heldenberg, the CEO of No Barrier, AI medical interpreter for healthcare providers. Today I have a special guest with me, Dr. Adam Weiser, and we're to talk about cultural language access and learn from your experience. So welcome, Dr. Weiser, to Care Culture Talks.
**Adam Weiser (00:32)** Thank you very much. I look forward to our talk.
**Eyal Heldenberg (00:36)** Perfect. So maybe we'll start with kind of a brief introduction of yourself and kind of your journey in medicine.
**Adam Weiser (00:45)** So as I said, my name is Adam Weiser. I'm a practicing urologist in Columbus, Ohio, United States, 15th largest city in America and growing. which is amazing. I trained at Northwestern University.
I then went to New York for a two-year fellowship in pediatric urology and then came to this practice in Columbus, Ohio because it afforded me the opportunity to do both adults and pediatrics. As time has gone by, I've decided to do more and more adult work and less and less pediatric work. And the adult work that I enjoy is both rewarding to me as well as I hope rewarding to the patients.
I specialize in stone disease and urinary infections and dealing with voiding dysfunction, particularly benign prostate conditions in men, and relish the opportunity every day to make the lives of my patients better.
**Eyal Heldenberg (01:51)** Amazing, perfect. So we take this opportunity to talk with different healthcare professionals about cultural considerations with patients. And I think in your specialty, it's even more even sensitive. maybe we could start with what are the cultural considerations when discussing those kind of issues with patients?
**Adam Weiser (02:20)** Well, Columbus, Ohio is different in that we are still somewhat not an enormous city, but we're not small. And like the rest of the United States, we have been embracing different people from different backgrounds from throughout the world.
and they've come to Columbus to make lives better for themselves. And these men and these women come from all over God's planet. They come from Africa, they come from Asia, they come from South America. These men and women who come often have completely different cultural backgrounds, whether they be religious, whether they be ethnic.
whether they be language oriented or gender oriented, than what would be considered middle American. And when you combine this with what I do, which is very often talking about very sensitive parts of the body, we're talking about organs of the urinary system and sexual organs. When you combine all of these things, it really keeps one on his or her toes.
to make sure that your patients are best served in a respectful manner and that there is an understanding to the considerations that are different in different cultures.
**Eyal Heldenberg (03:54)** Yeah, yeah, yeah. combining those two, right, this diverse population on one hand and taking a very sensitive topic, like I wonder if you have like specific categories of communities, like how different cultures or regions, of different peoples look on those subjects.
**Adam Weiser (04:19)** Yeah, so it's absolutely fascinating. I go, for example, dealing with men who are older. Let us for argument's sake define older as 65 and above. Many of those men, for example, that are from the United States that speak English, that come from smaller communities, they won't even say the names of the sexual organs. They refer to them.
**Eyal Heldenberg (04:46)**
**Adam Weiser (04:48)** very obliquely, they'll point, they'll sometimes use a slang word, they get very flustered and won't say anything and you have to push it or pull it out of them. And then you have patients that come from backgrounds, for example, from the Middle East or from Asia that, again, they are very reluctant to talk about these organs in the same way. When it comes to women who come from backgrounds, for example,
in the Middle East or South America, they will refer to things very differently. They won't talk about their sexual organs directly, but rather very obliquely. And it can be really challenging to learn how best to communicate with these groups of people.
**Eyal Heldenberg (05:43)** Yeah. So in those kinds of conversations, like you as the provider kind of help them to find the words, like point to the right, like how do you do it in the room?
**Adam Weiser (05:53)** Yeah,
it can be very difficult and it may take more than frankly one visit to come up with what's really wrong with the person. What I've learned about this and it's difficult to do in practice, but you need to have patience with these patients because their needs are no less or greater than anyone else's, but their ability to communicate sometimes stymies their
**Eyal Heldenberg (06:00)**
**Adam Weiser (06:23)** ability to be cured or to be healed and they can get frustrated. There are so many of these men and women that can be exceedingly bright and are hampered by their inability to communicate and you just need to slow down and try to do the best that you can to get them to a point where they feel comfortable and confident enough that they can communicate with you.
**Eyal Heldenberg (06:49)** Yeah. this is a great advice. It comes with some time element, right? You have another patient waiting outside, but you want to invest in kind of this situation. wonder like, how do you handle this tension?
**Adam Weiser (07:07)** So sometimes I can't handle that tension and what I have to do is actually cut the encounter short and reschedule the patient for the next day or sometime else in the week, whatever is appropriate. But what I will do with my staff is I will come in either early or go in and put them in the first patient in the morning or the last patient of the day so that there's no barrier and so that I don't feel that pressure.
And I found that this can be rather helpful when again, it comes to these complex patients that come from different backgrounds and have an inability to communicate as effectively as they would like or I would like.
**Eyal Heldenberg (07:50)** This is a great, another great advice. Basically you say if, you know, if it's an outpatient clinic settings and if you already know that the patient has, you know, different needs, so try to make the schedule more aligned with the patient needs either in the beginning of the day or the end of the day. This is a great insight. You mentioned that gender wise, like sensitivity. I wonder if you also saw like age related.
sensitivities across different cultures when it comes to your speciality.
**Adam Weiser (08:24)** Yeah, I've noticed, for example, we obviously chaperone, anytime we do have a chaperone, anytime we have an examination with a female. But depending on the age, some of the patients will frankly refuse for me to examine them because I'm a male and will only want a female to do this. it's sometimes again that requires
moving around and finding one of my partners who is female to come into the room and do this. And you again need to be respectful because you want to help the patient and you want to make sure that he or she has a good experience.
**Eyal Heldenberg (09:09)** Yeah, yeah. So, you know, using other medical staff that are, you know, more gender appropriate or relevant to the situation is another, I wouldn't say burden, but another complexity in the workflow, but you feel you need to do it in order to get the patient the degree of, you know, the level of care you want, right?
**Adam Weiser (09:29)** I believe that you do. The expression is, is when in Rome you should act like being like the Romans. But let's face it, that's impossible to happen overnight. We're all different. And slowly over time, we hope that our cultures assimilate and we learn and take best practices from every culture. But there are some things that are distinct and I try to remain very respectful when it comes to acknowledging those differences.
**Eyal Heldenberg (09:58)** Yeah, totally. All right, perfect. So let's go into the room, into the medical encounter, right? You know, different providers use medical translators or other. I wonder if you could guide us through different resources that you used or using in your career to navigate those language barriers.
**Adam Weiser (10:25)** So I've used a few different ones depending on the set the site of service. So it used to be at least where I was practicing most of the patients you needed to speak Spanish and there were some exceptions. And what started is when you needed a translator you would find someone on the staff of the hospital that spoke that language. That evolved to having a more professional cadre of having
language interpreters, but the problem became we were more and more diverse. So not everybody spoke Spanish that came in. Not everybody spoke Mandarin Chinese. And over time, the ability to staff this with people who could speak the language appropriately became limited. So someone very cleverly came up with something called a language line.
And the language line was exceedingly cumbersome because in the beginning at our hospital, before cell phones, you would have to literally get a special phone that had two receivers and they would plug it into the patient's bed or plug it into the clinic room and you would communicate. There wouldn't be a wall between you and the patient, but you were speaking through a headset like a phone.
into a machine and there was another person on the other end and then that other person would eventually talk and there was no ability to use any sort of visual cues because that other person couldn't see what you were doing they couldn't see if that person was tense that you were talking to and so it was difficult the body language that was problematic then we had an explosion in technology Apple came out with an iPhone and
all of a sudden the world changed in a very positive way. And after the iPhone, the iPad became ubiquitous. And through those things, we had interpreting services where you would use an iPad, for example, and you would find a translator from a particular country or particular language, or you would do this over the iPhone. When that couldn't be reached, when you could not do that, they didn't have
a person who spoke Nepali, for example, we would go to use Google Translate. And Google Translate is miraculous, except it's not trained in medicine. It's exceedingly clumsy, and it was very difficult to communicate effectively. And so consequently, we would have a lot of problems with communication. And I don't think that we've yet hit on that
perfect solution yet for these conversations with patients. But these conversations are not going away, they're increasing, and we need to have a better means of communicating.
**Eyal Heldenberg (13:30)** So basically you say technology has progressed, there are more solutions, but providers sometimes find themselves navigating, especially on the long-tail languages, maybe off-hours, but there is no 360 solution that you feel is in place right now, but hopefully most of it has some kind of solution.
**Adam Weiser (14:01)** Absolutely, I think that the technology is breathtaking and we've only begun to harness all of the wonderful things and changes that are going to come from the technology. It's going to help us a lot, we're not, at least to what I've had to use, we're not there yet.
**Eyal Heldenberg (14:13)** Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Got you. Yeah, totally. What about a kind of, I would say, patients where you need to explain, because in your specialty, there are many body parts and very complicated systems. I wonder if you have something around this educational part.
**Adam Weiser (14:33)** Yeah.
So, I personally feel that verbal communication is not enough in what we do. Most of us, frankly, whether you're educated in the US and speak English, or whether you are someone who comes from Denmark and speaks Danish, or you're someone who comes from Somalia and speaks Somali, most people are not educated in the human body, in anatomy and in physiology.
And most people when confronted with anatomy and physiology, especially of the genital and the urinary system, they become embarrassed, they become reclusive. And I try to use drawings, visual illustrations to explain things. And I try to work and to draw pictures and allow the patients to see what it is that I'm trying to see.
I try to use CT scans and MRIs and try to explain these things. And that can sometimes be a challenge again when you're communicating with someone who doesn't necessarily speak English or understand the human body very well.
**Eyal Heldenberg (15:53)** Yeah, it's even complex in English, right? Like it's complex in English. So now add another obstacle and it's getting even more complicated. yeah, so I guess visual aids and any kind of visual resource that could help to educate a patient is a general good advice. All right, perfect. So I wonder if we can discuss a bit about
cultural competency of the providers, like how can we improve? I know that we have, you know, sometimes a training and, you know, courses around that. So I wonder like, what's your take on the general cultural competency providers should have?
**Adam Weiser (16:42)** Yeah, my personal bias in terms of cultural competency is that when physicians and other providers are given mandatory cultural competency, many, if not all, roll their eyes and say, my gosh, this again. What I think the message that needs to be distilled down is that we need to understand that we come
from a very, very diverse part of the world now because the world has shrunk and that people are coming from all different corners of the world. They don't necessarily speak English. They don't necessarily have the same religion. They don't have the same politics that we have, but what we need to do is be respectful. We need to take the time to learn about other cultures. We need to be open-minded and...
I don't think that any class can teach you those things. You need to have it in your heart to do those things. And when you start to encounter these patients, you need to be able to just keep that in mind, take your time, and learn. And I've learned many things from these patients, and I hope that they've learned from me in their journeys to get well.
**Eyal Heldenberg (18:02)** Yeah, I would say that maybe another motivation around it is maybe it's kind of a soft skill, but it can be that you would have a better care for the patient, right? kind of the patients that you get the time that you take and kind of so it's kind of everything kind of goes to a better, a better care, a better kind of a better standard of care.
in a sense. it's coming from the soft area, soft skills, but should
**Adam Weiser (18:35)** I think when you have things, for example, someone who needs imminent surgery or someone that has a difficult problem, let's say cancer, something that's life-threatening.
They're scared and it's worse when you can't communicate because you don't speak the same language. And when they see that I've made the effort, when they see that I am trying, I really believe that it is a soft skill. Those patients trust more and they believe more and they get better because they feel that the person that is working with them and working on their behalf
**Eyal Heldenberg (18:59)**
**Adam Weiser (19:16)** cares about them and doesn't look at it as, ugh, this is just another notch in my belt, but rather someone that really is respectful and embraces the differences and wants to, in spite of those differences, make this person well. So I think it's invaluable to do it.
**Eyal Heldenberg (19:37)** Yeah, you hit a very good point. It boils down to trust, right? If you don't have it, we cannot ensure anything basically around the treatment. If you do the effort as a provider, most likely, or there is a good chance that you bring trust to the table, like the patient would see the effort and would...
be more open and more sharing and more willing to collaborate with the provider.
**Adam Weiser (20:12)** Yes, I agree.
**Eyal Heldenberg (20:14)** All right, perfect. So maybe kind of more on the stories from the frontline. I wonder if you have any kind of a miscommunication story, cultural misunderstanding, something that you remember from your career.
**Adam Weiser (20:30)** Yeah, I had a woman who unfortunately had a surgery. The surgery went wrong. Another provider had done it and there was her ureter, which is the tube that drains the kidney to the bladder, was transected and this was found after the operation. So she had been admitted to the hospital. She wasn't doing well.
She was awake, she was conversant, and the diagnosis was made and I was called as a consultant and I'm going to have to operate on this woman. Problem is that the woman only speaks Aramaic. My Aramaic is not very good, in fact it's in fact it's non-existent. So I go and I bring, diligently bring the iPad and I connect to the service and ask for an Aramaic interpreter.
and I get the Aramaic interpreter and I introduce myself and we start to speak I to the interpreter, she to the interpreter and then the woman looks at me and she knows enough English to say to me “I do not know what he is speaking. It is not Aramaic. You should not pay him.”
And that is what she said. And so we ended up having to find someone else that was able to actually speak Aramaic so that I could explain, your ureter is transected. We're going to need surgery to reimplant your ureter. You're going to have a stent. And once I had this person with the drawings and with a family member who spoke English as well as Aramaic, all of those things together, we were able to...
get the job done and everything worked out beautifully and she healed fine. But it was rather funny when she said this to me. I was amazed.
**Eyal Heldenberg (22:39)** Yeah, this is fun. wonder like, when like, the interpreter should like, should he kind of said, hey, I don't know what's going on, but at least the patient was had enough.
**Adam Weiser (22:53)** Yeah, it was to me one of the funnier experiences I've ever had with this.
**Eyal Heldenberg (23:01)** All right, perfect. So I think there were great tips Kind of wrapping up, what do you think, like, what's the vision? Like, how can we improve the language access and cultural communication in your special care and maybe in general, like your final kind of thoughts around that?
**Adam Weiser (23:24)** Again, my final kind of thoughts are that the world has gotten smaller. We have people from all over and we need to take the time to really be able to communicate effectively and to break down barriers. And we need effective tools in order to help us to understand their problems and understand the complexities of their issues in light of
having a different background than perhaps that I have. What I feel with all of this is you need to be patient, you need to be open-minded, and you need to understand that you may not necessarily get the answer the first time, just be persistent.
**Eyal Heldenberg (24:10)** Yeah, Great advice and great takeaways. So thank you very much, Dr. Weiser, for participating in Care Culture Talks and see you all in the next episode. Thank you.
Read More
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## Company
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- [Medical Interpretation](https://www.nobarrier.ai/medical-interpretation)
## Resource
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# Emergency Care Across Languages: A Conversation with Dr. Jeffrey Chen
Host:
Eyal Heldenberg
Duration:
27:53
Release Date:
February 1, 2025
2
[Play Episode](https://youtu.be/RqBv7lIKRxg)
Emergency Care Across Languages: A Conversation with Dr. Jeffrey Chen - YouTube
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## About this podcast:
Bridging Language Gaps in Emergency Medicine: Insights from Dr. Jeffrey Chen
In this engaging episode of Care Culture Talks, host Eyal Heldenberg speaks with Dr. Jeffrey Chen, emergency physician at Mills Peninsula Hospital in Burlingame, California and No Barrier's Head of Medical Affairs. Dr. Chen shares his experiences navigating language barriers in the Bay Area's diverse emergency departments, where he routinely treats patients speaking Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Arabic, and numerous other languages.
Drawing from his training at UCSF and San Francisco General Hospital, Dr. Chen discusses the challenges of traditional medical interpretation in fast-paced emergency settings. He compares different approaches to medical interpretation, from family members serving as impromptu interpreters to the logistical hurdles of shared interpreter devices and phone services in busy ERs.
The conversation highlights Dr. Chen's personal journey learning Spanish as a medical student—including a humorous misuse of terminology—while emphasizing that effective healthcare communication extends beyond language to understanding cultural nuances around medical decisions and diagnoses.
Dr. Chen offers an optimistic vision for the future where emerging AI interpretation technologies can help ensure all patients receive equitable, timely care regardless of language barriers, particularly in high-pressure emergency environments where every minute counts.
## Listen this episode on:
[Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/7rKCj1iHTlW2wjVrzUqHIb) [Youtube Music](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=m1wWCCN9p5I&si=zGmahS31ntNtVcDk) [Apple Music](https://podcasts.apple.com/il/podcast/emergency-care-across-languages-a-conversation-with/id1795321107?i=1000696553597)
## Chapters Timeline:
## 1\. Introduction and Background \[00:02-01:18\]
- Welcome and introduction of Dr. Jeffrey Chen
- Background in Bay Area medicine
- Current role at Mills Peninsula Hospital
- Connection with No Barrier
## 2\. Origin Story of the Partnership \[01:18-02:46\]
- Story of initial LinkedIn connection in 2023
- Development of working relationship
- Introduction to the episode's focus on cultural aspects in healthcare
## 3\. Diversity in San Francisco Healthcare \[02:46-05:38\]
- Experience at UCSF and SF General Hospital
- Breakdown of patient language demographics
- Challenges as a medical student with interpreter services
- Contrast between different patient populations in ER
## 4\. San Francisco's Cultural Landscape \[05:38-07:18\]
- Discussion of ethnic neighborhoods
- History of Chinatown and Chinese Hospital
- Geographic distribution of language communities
- Impact of cultural geography on healthcare delivery
## 5\. Medical Translation Methods \[07:18-13:12\]
- Various interpretation options in healthcare settings
- Role of family members as interpreters
- Challenges with informal translation
- Discussion of professional interpretation services
- Pros and cons of different interpretation methods
## 6\. Personal Experience with Language Learning \[13:12-16:00\]
- Dr. Chen's journey learning Spanish
- Amusing story about translation mistakes
- Importance of cultural nuances in medical terminology
## 7\. Cultural Challenges in Healthcare \[16:00-24:17\]
- Examples of miscommunication
- Discussion of translation errors and consequences
- Impact on patient care and understanding
## 8\. Emergency Department Dynamics \[24:17-26:28\]
- Unique challenges of ER interpretation needs
- Time pressure in emergency settings
- Balance between quick response and accurate communication
## 9\. Future of Healthcare Communication \[26:28-27:53\]
- Role of AI in medical interpretation
- Vision for improving healthcare access
- Importance of cultural competency in medical education
- Closing remarks and thank you
Key themes throughout the episode:
- Cultural competency in healthcare
- Evolution of medical interpretation
- Challenges in emergency medicine communication
- Role of technology in healthcare communication
- Importance of understanding cultural contexts
## Episodes Transcript:
Eyal Heldenberg (00:12)
Hi everyone, welcome to Care Culture Talks. My name is Eyal, I'm the CEO of No Barrier, an AI medical interpreter for providers. I'm delighted to have Dr. Jeffrey Chen with me, which I call a dear friend of mine. Welcome Jeffrey to our show and please introduce yourself in a nutshell and we can do a deep dive.
Jeffrey Chen (00:36)
Yeah, thanks for having me, Eyal. It's been a pleasure getting to know you over the last year. Just to give everyone an intro on myself. So my name is Jeff Chen. I'm currently based in the Bay Area in Mountain View, California. I've been here for the better part of the last 10 years where I went to medical school at UCSF. I had a brief stint in Boston for residency, but I've been out here practicing as an attending since.
Currently, I am working at Mills Peninsula Hospital in Burlingame, California. We're right across the street from San Francisco International Airport, and we get tons of patients, obviously, who speak all kinds of languages as a result. And I've been helping advise No Barrier for the last year, and have recently taken on the role as head of medical affairs. And it's been really a pleasure to work together on this amazing product.
Eyal Heldenberg (01:28)
Yeah, yeah, I'm going to share kind of a personal story. In 2023, I think we started to kind of run with this idea, thinking about it and approaching, you know, different providers, different healthcare professionals on LinkedIn. And I remember my first kind of message to Jeffrey and, you know, we went on a Zoom and I kind of started to, you know, introduce the concept and there was some click there and we just knew that we want to work with you. We need to work with you.
And I can share that, it was a hell of a ride. learn every day walking together. So yeah, so that was my, my angle. Perfect. So I think, you know, it's kind of, we want to touch on different topics, really about, you know, the four walls where you have the patient and the provider and just touch to on a different kind of cultural aspects there, sometimes language, sometimes beliefs.
and any kind of things that related to communication, to trust. know, Geoffrey, you come from the ER aspect, you're kind of emergency medicine, and maybe you can share with us kind of, you know, the bits and bytes of what does it mean to be in the ER with kind of facing different cultural aspects or patients with different backgrounds.
Jeffrey Chen (02:56)
Absolutely. So, I still remember that LinkedIn message and our first times connecting. I was so excited by this mission of No Barrier because it's such a big problem, right? We, both in the ER as well as outpatient clinics and anywhere really within the healthcare system, the United States is an increasingly diverse place and San Francisco is particularly a melting pot. I remember as a medical student at UCSF,
and doing a lot of rotations at San Francisco General Hospital, now known as the Zuckerberg Chan General Hospital of San Francisco and Trauma Center. We really had such an incredibly diverse patient population where about a quarter of patients were primarily Spanish speaking, maybe a quarter of patients were primarily Chinese speaking, a quarter of patients were English, primarily English speaking, and then maybe a quarter of patients were all other languages.
Russian, Arabic, et cetera. And it was really during this time, during my formative years, that I realized there's such a big gap in terms of the care that's provided to patients who speak English really well, as well as those with LEP, what we call limited English proficiency. And so I remember, I was particularly drawn to emergency care because you got to see everybody and everyone. You got to treat all kinds of conditions.
from heart arrhythmias to respiratory failure, to broken bones, to trauma, deliver babies. and so I, I loved the, come one, come all aspect of emergency medicine. How at San Francisco general hospital, you could be in one room taking care of the CEO of a multi-billion dollar tech company. And in the next room have a homeless immigrant who doesn't even speak English, who's coming to seek care and.
And to be able to care for that broad of a spectrum is really incredible. Now, the way I got to see No Barrier is such an important product is because as a medical student, it was always my job as the least most valuable person on the team to be able to sit on a phone, you know, for five minutes, wait through phone menus. Welcome to X interpreter service. Please dial one for Spanish. Please dial two for Chinese.
Please dial three. excuse me, I didn't hear what you said. Can you please try again? Welcome to X interpreters. It was just such a mind boggling, frustrating use of time. And that's why it always fell upon the medical students to get the interpreter on the line and then page the team once the interpreter was finally available to be able to communicate with our patients. And I thought, you know, there has to be a better way.
Eyal Heldenberg (05:47)
Yeah, yeah, amazing. Going back kind of the diversity, specifically in San Francisco or maybe even California, do you see any kind of specific properties or something around the different cultures that you see every day?
Jeffrey Chen (06:08)
Yeah, I mean, you when people come to San Francisco, they're they're coming to a world renowned city where they might have some relatives, they might have some friends. And so you may know San Francisco is actually oftentimes somewhat divided into kind of ethnic neighborhoods. It's obviously increasingly more more blended. But for example, Chinatown, it's one of the oldest Chinatowns in kind of the new world.
San Francisco Chinatown has been around since the 1800s, 1840s during the gold rush. to this day, there's a hospital there called Chinese Hospital that I practiced at for a couple of years that provides care primarily to the Cantonese, Tosunese speaking population in the area. And, you know, in the SF Mission neighborhood where San Francisco General is located, there happens to be a pretty heavily Hispanic population.
that speak Spanish only. And so, you know, as people move across oceans, across continents to come here, they tend to find people who speak their own language, you know, their own cultural customs. And as a result, you know, different hospitals will be caring for different populations.
Eyal Heldenberg (07:28)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, got you. Amazing. All right, so let's go back to the room where you have your provider and patient, let's say like in other non-English language. guide us through different experiences when you need to have medical translator with you, remote, maybe in person. Is it bilingual provider, maybe a friend of yours?
family member, like what are the different kind of set up that you probably see you saw in the last years?
Jeffrey Chen (08:03)
Yeah, so there's a number of different options. You bring up family members and that's, I think, one of the more common options, especially in specific populations. I think it's pretty well known that a lot of folks within the Hispanic community, their family members might have had a bad experience at some point in a hospital. So oftentimes, Spanish-speaking patients
will come in with a family member who will serve as an interpreter, right? And they'll, you know, this other family member, whether it's a child or grandchild or cousin or whoever, will be taking a day off of work, right? To be able to come in and accompany their family member into the ER, into the clinic, because they have a little bit of distrust in the health system to provide proper care. Right? I can imagine, I can remember, you know, there was one attending that I worked with at San Francisco General who would
look at a patient and you know their physical exam right rather than waiting for the interpreter to get online and everything they would just point at their head and be like the Lord point at their chest and be like the Lord point at their belly the Lord the Lord the Lord is there the Lord here is there the Lord there and you know exactly yeah it's it's it's not optimal care and so I think a lot of Spanish-speaking patients and then you know obviously this applies to all cultures as well they'll they'll end up bringing in a family member to ensure that they have
Eyal Heldenberg (09:12)
It's the get by, right? The get by solution.
Jeffrey Chen (09:29)
kind of linguistically and culturally competent care. So, you know, I'd say that's, especially in California, in this area where there happens to be a lot of Spanish speaking patients, that's probably, you know, 20 to 40 % of encounters depending on exactly where you are. In addition to that, you know, there are phone interpreters and iPad interpreters at big academic medical centers, right? Like at UCSF and in Boston where I trained.
at Mass Stardom and Birdom, were fantastic in-person interpreters as well. And it was actually, you know, I made friends with a lot of them. They were really, really patient in teaching me Spanish. I decided to learn Spanish in my last year of medical school because I was so fed up with this whole process and I thought, you know, it's a good life skill to have anyway. And so, those are options as well. They have their pluses, they have their minuses.
And then increasingly, of course, AI is all the rage and anywhere you open the news and increasingly there's AI interpreters such as No Barrier, which I'm really excited to be working with. Beyond that, there's kind of unofficial non-sanctioned AI interpreters such as Google Translate, which are obviously amazing products, but also not necessarily designed and regulated for use within
healthcare settings where privacy laws are so strict.
Eyal Heldenberg (11:00)
Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, we talked to many providers and you know, in the last 40 years, I would say medical translator is the go-to solution. And we've heard that, I would say the goal standout here is to have an on-site interpreter, right? So like, I'm sure that you are aware that there are pros and cons to that. what, can you kind of guide like,
why on-site interpreter would be kind of a really, really good solution or maybe sometimes there are some drawbacks here.
Jeffrey Chen (11:36)
Yeah, so mean, obviously in-person interpreters are, you know, they're the gold standard, right? Humans, even with how amazing AI is, even with how amazing, you know, video technology and audio technology can be, nothing replaces having a human-human interaction. And...
In addition, an in-person interpreter is able to read the room, of feel the tension, read body language, really be able to understand things a lot better that might be lost over the airwaves. Now, of course, they're not always available. And even in the current ERs I work with, which are pretty big, they're not frequently used because they're expensive. And beyond that, you know,
What I have seen in the past is sometimes, you know, certain language's community is actually quite small. And so a patient coming in with a very private medical issue, maybe related to their own previous drug use or sexual health history, they would be very shy to speak with someone that could possibly know someone within their community. And so those are some of the drawbacks.
You to be able to have someone available Saturday at 3 a.m. in the ER when someone comes in after a big car crash, right? Like, that's not always feasible.
Eyal Heldenberg (13:02)
Yeah, yeah, yeah. And when we compare it to remote, let's say phone interpreters, I would say some of the cons are the pros here, why there is anonymous, like anonymous phone call in a way, right? Or do you see any advantage or disadvantage on audio phone calls?
Jeffrey Chen (13:21)
Yeah, I mean, so audio only and even with a video over an iPad, for example, There's pluses and minuses, think. It's for the most part accurate, but there will be a lot of stuff lost in translation, right? Sometimes, I remember before I learned to speak Spanish, I would hear a patient speak for two minutes.
My hurts and my arm and I also lack air.
Eyal Heldenberg (14:08)
haha
Jeffrey Chen (14:15)
Beyond that, there's still the time aspect. Even though very few places use those touch tone menus like we used to, right? And oftentimes there's an iPad that you can just press Spanish or Chinese on. There's still a delay, right? You need to wheel around this iPad around the emergency department. And let's say you've got a Chinese speaking patient in room five and then all the way in room 23, you've got a Spanish speaking patient.
literally we're paging overhead, hey, can someone please bring the iPad interpreter card from room five to room 23 and that cuts out, cuts off room five's time with the interpreter and then the patient room 23, you know, the providers and the nurses, they're a little frustrated having to walk back and forth between just to move this piece of equipment. And so, so certainly that can be an issue. And then obviously there's still the issue of access, right? Saturday at 3 a.m. even online, like,
sometimes can be hard to find certain languages.
Eyal Heldenberg (15:20)
Yeah, yeah, yeah. So basically we assume that on-site interpreters, phone and iPad interpreters are kind of a certified medical translators where sometimes family members most likely are not. So this is another kind of advantage of a professional translation. But I totally agree on the other kind of waiting time. Sometimes we know that there is audio quality.
and disconnections of calls, so you need to do it all over again. Perfect. I wonder if you have like a miscommunication story that you either saw or were part of or something like that.
Jeffrey Chen (16:09)
Too many, Eyal. I mean, there's so many that it's hard for me to select. One pretty funny one that I can think of though is it actually comes from myself. So even after having learned Spanish, would frequently be in a patient's room as the nurse is going in and putting in an IV, right? And so, even though I'd say my Spanish is pretty decent, there were still some...
certain words that get lost here and there. And so when a nurse is putting in IV, I used to think like, oh, you know, like I would tell the patient, oh, you're going to feel a little pinch, right? And then so I would tell the patients, oh, you know, like, I was saying this for like two years. And for those who speak Spanish, you must be cracking up right now because you know that pinch or pinch and certainly in
certain areas of Latin America and in Spain could be a very derogatory word. And so I was just blindly going in and telling these patients, like, you're going to feel a little expletive, right? Like really bad word. And then so, you know, most patients, they're already like very surprised that, you know, me and my Chinese face can speak Spanish. And so oftentimes patients wouldn't say a word until one brave patient told me like, no, no, no, no, you shouldn't say pincha. Pincha means
bad bad word. You should be saying piquete instead or piquetito. And so here it was for two years saying like blindly a very bad word anytime a patient got an IV and finally I've learned to say it correctly right like te vas a sentir un piquetito. You're gonna feel a little pinch in your skin, a little sting, a little bug bite as we put in this IV.
That's, you know, I feel a little bit bad, right? Because I want to provide the most linguistically competent care that I can. And I hope, you know, at the very least it made patients laugh a little as they're getting their IV. So hopefully that took away a bit of their pain, but you know, always, always a learning experience, right? Also two different words that are used for constipation. Very, very frequently mixed up. think by a lot of folks who learn Spanish as a second language, this can certainly...
Eyal Heldenberg (18:11)
You
Jeffrey Chen (18:30)
I think make a lot of Spanish speaking patients laugh as well.
Eyal Heldenberg (18:33)
Nice, nice. Yeah, this is a good one. We heard kind of different kind of stories about miscommunication, for example, in diagnosis. We heard something, I think less funny of there was an interpreter that, you know, they were telling a patient you have cancer in...
type two or stage two something that was interpreted like you have two cancers. so yeah. So but I think one of the family members kind of caught that. we heard kind of many different stories about kind of some of sometimes it's kind of on the on the funny side. Sometimes it's it's getting lost in translation and could get to some misunderstandings. And and you know, I think, yeah, I think also the thing that you
Jeffrey Chen (19:07)
my goodness, yeah.
Yeah, absolutely.
Eyal Heldenberg (19:28)
on yourself to learn Spanish, really emphasize your commitment to a new standard of care for Spanish communities in that sense. I wonder if you have other tips or recommendations to other providers which may face this
Daily Challenge.
Jeffrey Chen (20:00)
Yeah, absolutely. you know, I, um, I, I, I'm very passionate about this issue as you can tell. And so, um, that's why during my fourth year of medical school, most, uh, physicians trained in the U S know that, uh, fourth year of medical school is generally a little lighter, right? You get brutalized during your entire third year or whatever year you have clinical rotations doing 80 hour weeks, uh, you know, 24 hour shifts every other day, super painful, but fourth year, um, generally has a lot more elective time. And so I took a lot of this time to
You know, really dive deep into textbooks, start using Duolingo, watch a lot of YouTube and Netflix series in Spanish with different Chrome extensions to be able to pause and really study hard the language. Not everyone has that time. And so, you know, I wouldn't expect everyone to just, you know, be able to pick up, you know, three other different languages. I'm also very lucky, lucky that, you know, my ethnic background is Chinese. And so
As a result, I'm able to speak Chinese, which is the second most common non-English language in the EDs that I work in. And so, you know, it's for me, it's been a product of luck and hard work to be able to communicate with these patients. I don't speak Russian. I don't speak Arabic. I don't speak Turkish, right? I don't speak Tagalog. And so for these reasons, I still need an interpreter for these patients.
Of course, it's oftentimes going to be easier to bust out my phone and use no barrier rather than, you know, run from room 23 back to room five to go grab that iPad. Right. When I've got five other patients waiting to be seen, know, 30 in the waiting room, this, this nurse is trying to show me this EKG that that family is trying to reach me and flag me down. This patient is trying to get, you know, this just it's nonstop and literally every second.
counts and makes a difference in the ER. And so for the other doctors and nurses who are listening to this, I presume that you're also very interested in being able to communicate with our patients with limited English proficiency. And so I would encourage you to do the right thing for the patient, right? Like even if someone brings in a family member trying to interpret for them, at least offer.
Um, a professional interpreter service, right? We're legally mandated to, and whether or not that's, um, through an iPad or through something like no barrier, you know, try not to, um, do the, do the easy thing and just say the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord. Right. Um, and so, um, that's number one, I think number two, like as, as we move forward and AI kind of takes over everything, um, you know, don't be afraid to adopt new technologies such as AI interpreters.
so obviously make sure that things are cleared with your hospital's, departments and that you're compliant with everything. but, you know, obviously a big benefit of no barriers, it's, it's, it's totally HIPAA compliant. and so, yeah, before thinking, try to do the right thing for the patient. and then beyond that, and Eyal, you and I have talked about this before, right?
beyond just language, right? There's so many cultural kind of details, right? That I think also make a big difference in patient's care. Some of you might've seen the movie, The Farewell, starring Awkwafina, who's a young woman whose grandma gets diagnosed with stage four cancer. And it's definitely a thing in Chinese culture and in a few other cultures where really bad medical news, oftentimes the family will try to guard the patient from knowing.
And so in this movie, right, they somehow are able to, you know, celebrate an entire, Chinese New Year party. Or I think they, they, they fake a wedding. They literally fake Awkwafina's wedding so that everyone has an excuse to go see grandma one last time without ever letting her know that she has stage four cancer. And she, you know, at various points, they're trying to trick her into getting treatment for what they, what they say is something else. I I've literally seen that in my own family in Taiwan, where a lot of the
Doctors are calling me, as the doctor in the family, to make a life or death medical decision without telling the patient what is going on with her or him. whether or not that's right or wrong, I think it's important that everybody learns the cultural intricacies and the little idiosyncrasies as well that can come up.
Eyal Heldenberg (24:27)
Wow.
Jeffrey Chen (24:47)
And hopefully, the product down the line will be creating little cultural guides that will help folks be able to understand the patient populations that they're working with more.
Eyal Heldenberg (24:59)
Yeah, Amazing. You cover a couple of things that I wanna, I wanna go again. One is that specifically the emergency department comparing to outpatient clinic, the rhythm and the mindset is very kind of quick response, overload tasks. like it's kind of every minute counts, like literally like, so this is one thing.
and basically the interpretation or let's say you need the Spanish medical translator right now, like how do you get it faster? So I totally get the sense. And the other topic that you raised on the cultural aspect where it's kind of how to navigate to get the patient autonomy, right? To get them to know what's going on regardless to the background culture, maybe family member in the room that kind of can...
Jeffrey Chen (25:47)
Mm-hmm.
Eyal Heldenberg (25:56)
and influence the flow of the call. We've heard also about some bias that could come from medical interpretation also. What's the background of each player in the room, I would say? This is kind of a nice thing to consider at least.
You kind of mentioned the AI, so maybe kind of a last question for the podcast or kind of maybe a vision or a future, what gives you hope for the future in our field, in our context?
Jeffrey Chen (26:38)
Yeah, I mean, I think increasingly, right, within medical school education, there's such a focus on providing care to an increasingly diverse population throughout the US. And so I think, you know, new doctors, new nurses, people are very hyper aware of these issues and they're and they're going to do the right thing. Because, you know, not just because we all say that a Hippocratic oath, but because in our heart of hearts, we all want to do what's best for a patient.
And so with new technologies like No Barrier being able to really expedite that, I'm really optimistic that, you know, folks are going to be able to go to a healthcare setting, a clinic, hospital, an emergency department, and be able to trust that their doctors and nurses are really able to understand them, to really be able to communicate with them and to explain to them what's going on and help.
make decisions together on kind of next best steps in a patient's care. And so I'm really optimistic about the future, I really am.
Eyal Heldenberg (27:44)
and through that. All right, so Dr. Geoffrey Chen, again, always a pleasure to talk now live on the podcast. So thank you and hope you had a great listening and take care.
Jeffrey Chen (28:00)
All right, take care,
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## Language Access in Healthcare
Announcement
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million to Eliminate Language Barriers in Healthcare 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million 💪**
**No Barrier Raises $2.7 Million**
[View the Full Story →](https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding)
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# Language Access in Community Centers: Improving Care With Medical Translation with Louis D. Simmons
Host:
Eyal Heldenberg
Duration:
44:56
Release Date:
April 30, 2025
7
[Play Episode](https://youtu.be/RqBv7lIKRxg)
Language Access in Community Centers: Improving Care With Medical Translation with Louis D. Simmons - YouTube
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## About this podcast:
In this insightful conversation, healthcare leader **Louis D. Simmons** shares practical wisdom from his 15+ years of experience addressing language barriers in diverse healthcare settings. With a background spanning from academic medical centers to community health centers, Simmons offers a unique perspective on delivering equitable care to patients with limited English proficiency.
As America grows increasingly diverse, healthcare providers face significant challenges connecting with patients across language and cultural barriers. Simmons explains how Community Health Centers serve as critical safety net providers and explores practical approaches to ensuring quality care for all patients regardless of language ability.
**Key Moments**
**On Community Health Centers (04:02):** "We are a what's called Community Health Center... we actually serve in what's called medical underserved areas... we provide services to a community that's deemed a medically underserved community."
**On Integrated Care Model (14:20):** "To have the ability to have all your services in one location like oral health care... we have medical, dental, behavioral services... In comparison, they would have to go to multiple locations from a private care perspective."
**On Language Barriers (22:55):** "It's always been important to have in my opinion a certified medical interpreter... I also believe, that for documentation purposes, it's also helpful to even document that exchange with the patient."
**On Technology Evolution (30:53):** "I've seen medical interpretation go from having in-person medical interpretation... And then I've seen that evolve to telephonic interpretation and then video interpretation, which I think is great because you can do either verbal or American Sign Language."
**On Implementation Advice (38:47):** "First evaluate your patient population... have a champion for LEP patients, but not only that, have a champion for promoting quality care from a culturally competent perspective."
## Listen this episode on:
[Spotify](https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/no-barrier-ai/episodes/Language-Access-in-Community-Centers-Improving-Care-With-Medical-Translation-with-Louis-D--Simmons-e326ll2) [Youtube Music](https://youtu.be/RGPiUnDUJ3o) [Apple Music](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/language-access-in-community-centers-improving-care/id1795321107?i=1000705534486)
## Chapters Timeline:
**1\. Introduction to Care Culture Talks \[00:10-00:43\]**
- Welcome and introduction by Eyal Heldenberg, CEO of No Barrier
- Introduction of Louis D. Simmons
- Purpose of podcast: exploring language accessibility and cultural competency in healthcare
**2\. Simmons' Professional Background \[00:43-03:30\]**
- 15+ years in healthcare leadership
- Started as administrative fellow at Emory Healthcare
- Experience in acute care operations and perioperative services
- Extensive work in physician group practice management
- Current position at Whiteford Inc., a nonprofit with Community Health Centers
**3\. Understanding Community Health Centers \[03:30-08:44\]**
- Role as safety net providers across America
- Serving medically underserved areas and populations
- Operation under HRSA 330B program guidelines
- Sliding fee discount program for patients below 200% of federal poverty level
- Integrated service model: medical, dental, and behavioral services in one location
**4\. Efficiency and Accountability of Community Health Centers \[08:44-13:01\]**
- Annual assessment based on universal clinical quality measures
- Reporting requirements through uniform data system
- Federal Tort Claim Act requirements for risk management
- Three-year accreditation process with 19 evaluation areas
- Resource constraints driving operational efficiency
**5\. Community Connection and Care Coordination \[13:01-15:19\]**
- Integration of services in one location
- "Warm hand offs" between service departments
- Place-based care within patients' own communities
- Benefits of coordinated care versus fragmented private services
**6\. Impact of Language Barriers on Care \[15:19-21:27\]**
- Different Community Health Centers models serving diverse populations
- Medical interpretation needs across different patient groups
- Connection between language barriers and medical decision-making
- Cultural considerations beyond just translation
- Health disparity statistics for minority populations
**7\. Challenges with Using Family Members as Interpreters \[21:27-25:47\]**
- Patient experiences with family member translation
- Medical decision-making errors due to miscommunication
- Documentation concerns with informal translation
- Benefits of certified medical interpreters
- Ensuring accurate medical terminology communication
**8\. Staff Training for Cultural Competency \[25:47-30:19\]**
- Training staff across all roles in cultural competence
- Potential for medical interpreter certification
- Importance of bilingual billing and administrative staff
- Status-neutral care training
- Soliciting feedback from limited English proficiency patients
**9\. Evolution of Translation Technology \[30:19-34:48\]**
- Transition from in-person interpreters to remote services
- Development of telephonic interpretation
- Three-way communication capabilities for appointment scheduling
- Video interpretation advances
- Integration with telehealth services
**10\. COVID's Impact on Telehealth and Interpretation \[34:48-38:32\]**
- Expansion of telehealth during pandemic
- Insurance billing changes enabling greater telehealth adoption
- Sustained telehealth use in behavioral health
- Need for integrated interpretation services in virtual care
- Language access considerations in telehealth settings
**11\. Advice for Healthcare Leaders \[38:32-45:06\]**
- Evaluating patient population demographics
- Assessing limited English proficiency patient data
- Developing staff capabilities in medical interpretation
- Regular review of language access needs
- Creating champions for culturally competent care
**12\. Closing Remarks \[45:06-45:54\]**
- Summary of conversation
- Importance of equitable healthcare access
- Appreciation and conclusion
Key Themes Throughout the Episode:
- Medical interpretation best practices
- Cultural competency in healthcare delivery
- Language barriers affecting health outcomes
- Evolution of translation technology
- Community Health Centers operations and care models
- Safety net healthcare services
- Integrated care approaches
- Staff training for diverse populations
- COVID-19's impact on telehealth accessibility
- Leadership strategies for language access
- Documentation considerations in cross-language care
- Community connection and place-based healthcare
## Episodes Transcript:
Eyal Heldenberg (00:10) Hi, everyone. Welcome to Care Culture Talks. My name is Eyal Heldenberg. I'm the CEO of No Barrier, an AI medical interpreter for healthcare providers. This podcast is about language accessibility and cultural competency. Happy to have a dear guest in the podcast, Louis Simons. How are you today?
Louis D. Simmons (00:30) I'm doing well. You all on yourself?
Eyal Heldenberg (00:33) All good, all good. Perfect. So maybe we'll start with just a quick intro. could you kind of guide us through your journey in healthcare?
Louis D. Simmons (00:43) Well, again, thank you so much, y'all, for inviting me to the podcast. I look forward to sharing my experiences as well as this very interesting topic. My journey into healthcare is that I have been a part of the healthcare community for over 15 years. I began as a administrative fellow at Emory Healthcare, and then from there, I decided to focus.
my attention on acute care operations. And so I started in the perioperative and endoscopic space for over three and a half years for Emory hospitals in Atlanta, Georgia. From there, I decided to progress in my career and wanted to gain more experience in the physician group practice arena. So for over 10 years, I've been focused on the physician group practice management side of healthcare. And so I also began that journey at Emory healthcare.
specifically Emory School of Medicine and then had an opportunity to also work on the Emory Healthcare side for a multi-specialty clinic. And then from there I migrated to work for community health systems, one in Athens Regional.
more specifically Athens Regional Health System as the Assistant Director of Practice Operations. And then I moved from there to join Morehouse School of Medicine and be a part of their faculty practice plan, Comoros Health Care, still doing multi-specialty physician group management and then had a wonderful opportunity that I couldn't resist to come to where I am today, which is Whiteford, Inc. We are a nonprofit based in Atlanta, Georgia, more specifically the Edgewood area. And we are
a organization that has been practicing for over 30 plus years and we've been practicing in a couple of spaces. One space we have a Early Learning Academy and then that we have operated for a number of years and then also we have what's called a Fairly Qualified Health Center operation where we have five clinical care sites that are deemed Fairly Qualified Health Centers or also known as Community Health Centers and three of those are currently within school-based health centers.
environments and so we partner with both the Atlanta Public Schools as well as KIPP Metro Atlanta. So for over 15 years I've had the opportunity to lead in both acute care and physician group settings as well as been able to manage areas like revenue cycle management, project management, financial analysis, financial budgeting. So my focus has always been operations for each of the entities that I work for.
And that is a nutshell for me.
Eyal Heldenberg (03:30) Amazing, Perfect.
So maybe we'll hone on this community centers experience. I think it's called, you know, also the safety nets across America. There is kind of a known knowledge that these specific segments serve a really diverse patient population. Can you guide us through like what are the unique challenges
Louis D. Simmons (03:36) Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
Yes, so we are a what's called, as I said earlier, Community Health Center. And so we are under the umbrella of the what's called the HRSA 330B program, which funds federally qualified health centers. And those centers are either what's called lookalikes or, you know, community health centers. And what we do is, is we actually serve in what's called
medical underserved areas.
so what we do is that we provide services to a community that's deemed a medically underserved community. And that could be based on not having specific providers in their area to enable community members to receive the care that they need when they need it. Or also what's called medical services underserved populations. So you may be in a population
where you are considered to be a medical underserved population based on the service the types of services that are needed are not available so these community health centers serve as a access point
for patients, particularly patients who are what's considered low income compared to what's called the federal poverty level guidelines every year. So specifically for community health centers, more so what's called federally qualified health centers that we are, we have to provide what's called a sliding fee discount program, which means any person that is 200 % or below the federal poverty level, we are required to provide reduced services on fee for the services that we provide.
So for our center, what makes us unique is that we provide medical data of AVL services in one location. What also makes us unique too is that we not only accept commercial insurance plans, but we also have this unique sliding fee program which is specific and required for community health centers. Now the other piece that is important to note that you mentioned is that we are a part of the safety net.
umbrella and that is true. So we serve collectively, federally qualified health centers across the country, which there are, you know, thousands of them, over a thousand of them across this country. I think the last number I remember was over 1,400. And we also provide services in a year to over 30 million Americans. And so when you think about it from that perspective, we serve a number of
patients a year and these individuals receive quality care from these community centers. So that's also what makes us unique is because not only do we provide care to low income individuals, but just like private health institutions, we provide care to all that will come to us. But in particular, we're known to have a sliding fee count program. So therefore we are a clinic that can cater to and is really
developed to support persons who are 200 % or below the priority profile level. So that's how we are integral into the safety net umbrella because we provide that access point that a patient may not otherwise have. With that said, we also are what I like to call a connector to specialty services because as a further qualified health center, you are required to provide primary care services and that could be in the form of a internal medicine physician or family medicine physician.
pediatrician or a OB-GYN physician. It could also mean it could be provided by what's called a mid-level or associate provider, which is a nurse practitioner or a physician assistant or certified nurse midwife.
So when you think about it from that perspective, it's really creating a primary care pipeline for patients to receive care and then that primary care unit then links them with specialty care when needed. So yes, we are considered part of the safety net umbrella and we provide exceptional care, I think, to anyone who needs health care, but also we do it in the privacy and background of their own community.
That's why we also here at our organization refer to this as place-based care. We want our community members who live in the community, we want them to come and receive care at our health center so that where they live and play, they can also receive quality health care from qualified health care providers and from a very supportive staff.
Eyal Heldenberg (08:40) Yeah, I I read in LinkedIn that the FQHC got into a very efficient level comparing to other, may I say private, private operations.
Louis D. Simmons (08:54) Yes, I think, we have learned and historically, I believe, community health centers have learned to be efficient, but they've also been.
Also, from a governmental perspective, we are assessed on an annual basis based on specific criteria. That could be what's called universal clinical quality measures that we have to where, you know, we have to report annually to the federal government, specifically HRSA, which is the Health Resource and Service Administration, through a program called...
the uniform data system reporting that we have to report on over 16 measures now because of change. They added two more this year, which are related to substance use disorders. But we have to report every year on measures such as diabetes management, hypertension management, cervical cancer screening, HIV screening. Now, this is not different from other measures that we have to report to specific payers like HEDIS measures,
et cetera. But we also have to report from a Federal Tort Claim Act perspective in order to receive medical malpractice coverage from the federal government. We also have to report on our specific programs such as our quality assurance program, our risk management program, our claims management program, because they want to make sure that the program is ensuring that they are credentialing and privileging all of their providers and staff as appropriate, that they are
enacting and are sustaining a quality and robust clinical risk management program and also similarly a robust quality assurance and improvement program as well to ensure that we're providing quality patient care. So because we are required to report those things, it also allows us to ensure that we are evaluating ourselves appropriately to see if we are providing quality care to our patients.
And that's also a way for HRSA to assess and compare and contrast to not only other federally qualified health centers, but also to through the nation and comparatively, and the nation, if we are providing quality care. The other piece of that is every three years, similarly to joint commission, which, they, they do it on a multi-year basis. they evaluate hospitals and they also do clinics. for us.
We have a similar accreditation process that is every three years. As a matter of fact, we are slated to have our own upper side visit, which is what it's called, for our organization in June. And that specific evaluation reviews 19 areas of your entire organization. That's everything from your needs assessment that you're supposed to every three years and asking the question, do you use that data to inform the services that you provide?
to looking at board composition, board authority, and conflict of interest, as well as clinical staffing, et cetera. And that is important because similarly to Judge Wong Commission, they too want to make sure that there is an assessment in place to evaluate each entity to ensure that they are and are being cognizant of the appropriate...
processes and procedures that they need to have in place in order to continue to provide quality patient care, as well as to create positive patient experiences and also thoroughly to have a assessment to provide information to the health center on ways to improve. So I think because of all those things, I think it has been assessed, as you said, in studies that federally qualified health centers or community health centers or even the lookalikes that we're able
to provide and sustain providing quality patient care. and to be very efficient because we've had to for various reasons. And a lot of organizations, we are not resource rich, but we've learned various ways on to how to be efficient and lean. Even this organization that I'm a part of, we are lean and that's not uncommon.
in a number of community health centers. And also too, because I think we, and because I believe that as a part of being a member of the community of our FQHCs, we are highly connected to our communities. So I think that's the other benefit too, from a perspective of our engagement and our intention, because we are so focused on ensuring that our community has the services it needs when it needs it. That helps us to be more
engaged as well as it helps our performance and so that's why I also think that you have an opportunity
to receive quality care because we try to be very connected. And so to have the ability to have all your services in one location like oral health care, in our example, we have medical, dental, behavioral services. So we were able to provide that one patient all those services in one location. In comparison, they would have to go to multiple locations from a private care perspective. They have to go to another area for
they have to go to another area for primary care, they have to go to another area for mental health services. So to be able to do that in one location as well as to do it in real time because that's what we sometimes have to do. And we call those warm hand offs to other services. That is one of the hallmarks, I think, of a federally qualified health center, that happens. that does not happen.
in a vacuum that really happens in a coordinated fashion. And so from that perspective, that's already providing a model that's different when you compare it to being in an academic medical center or a private environment most of the time. So I think that's the other advantage of being a part of an FQHC.
Eyal Heldenberg (15:02) Perfect. So I think let's go over language barriers.
Louis D. Simmons (15:07) I think they can definitely be impacted by the level and types of care that a person receives. From a Federally Qualified Health Center perspective, there are various types of programs that are supported by the Federally Qualified Health Center. We happen to be a part of what's called a 330 grant, and a part of the 330 grant, there's different funding models. So there's a Federally Qualified Health
Center, is term 330B. There's also 330H, which is specifically for homelessness. And then there's 330, I think it's H, which I believe is for...
or I think it's 330 I's for public housing and then 330 H is for seasonal or migratory workers. So you have specific models that the 330 program, which is an act, 330 program funds.
And in each of those models, it's a little bit different, right? So when we talk about language barriers, cultural barriers, let's just even think about, which we are not, the model of having a health center that specifically supports seasonal or migratory workers. In that environment, you're definitely going to have potential language barriers, which means that you also have to supportive interpretive services in order to support the clients that come and see you. And so with that said,
And
if they did not have that service of medical interpretation available for the provider and for the patient, then of course specific medical information would be lost and therefore it would limit the provider's ability and impact the provider's ability as well in medical decision making.
And because based on that medical decision making leads to decisions that he or she will have to make related to the care of that patient. And then on the patient side, based on.
what is found through various tests and evaluations and assessments. They will then have decisions to make based on that information. And if the barrier then is language or even cultural, because that's what I think it's very important too that we remember when we're delivering care and even for non-clinical interactions, meaning
when we talk about patients coming to the health center, they're interacting with persons at the front desk who are not clinical and then they're going through their journey through the visit, it's very important to make sure that we are being very sensitive to...
to various persons in the community who may have cultural or language implications that we need to be aware of. So going back to the migratory seasonal worker example, in that community, there are definite cultural, language, and social aspects that we as providers have to take into account. Same thing as the Federally Qualified Health Center related to us, are comparatively, we are one of the smaller FQHCs in
our state of Georgia and also nationally. And so for us, you we have less than 20 % of our patients who are identified as limited English proficiency speaking patients. But with that said, we are required to provide language interpreter services. But not only to that community, when we talk about language, we need to also talk about disability as well, because for persons who are blind or deaf, we also have to provide those services. So from that perspective,
It's very important for health centers to document instances where their patients need support. And one of those supports is around language barriers. The other support is around disability barriers. And so that could be vision or deaf. And then the other piece of that is providing culture comments and care. And so it's very important for providers and staff to be trained in providing culture competent and care.
Because we know through, and as you're aware, through when we look at the data on chronic disease results, as you are aware, African Americans and the Hispanic or Latino or Latino populations, our...
statistics are some of the worst when we look at various disease states. And that can be diabetes, hypertension, maternal health. You know, those specific indicators show that African Americans and Hispanic or Latina
persons have higher rates of incidences of those disorders. But when you look at the outcomes and when you see that those same individuals have individuals who are taking care of them that understand cultural competencies and that understand how to partner with them on their health care journey, their outcomes get better. And so that...
And we know that that's the case, right? Because there's other studies that show that those persons who are taken care of by persons that look like them ethnically and culturally behave the way that they do, there's a deeper connection between that provider and that patient, which leads to potential better outcomes because of that connection. definitely language barrier, cultural barrier is very important in the practice of medicine.
Eyal Heldenberg (20:57) Yeah, totally agree on that. One of the, I would say, bad practices is to bring family members and kind of bypass, know, a provider could get by with what's in the room. I wonder what's your position on that, if you have your stories around that or, yeah.
Louis D. Simmons (21:12) Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
Well, I think, you know, historically, you know, organizations have used
in certain instances, and I've been witness of it too, that sometimes the patients will want to use a family member or a friend who speaks in their same language to serve as their interpreter. You know, there are instances where that happens. There's also instances where we have staff who are bilingual or some even trilingual who will also assist, and all those things are helpful. I think where we have to be careful is
you know, we need to make sure that those individuals who are interpreting that we have a mechanism in place where we train them on really medical interpretation. And I say that because I've had instances where, you know, what was supposed to be communicated to a patient was not. And then that led to different medical decision-making errors, in my opinion, that could have been avoided if the patient
Eyal Heldenberg (22:15) Hmm.
Louis D. Simmons (22:25) understood completely why they were coming to receive care. And so because in this example, the patient did not, they were unaware of what type of medical services
services they were coming to have to be provided to them. you never want a patient to present to an institution and not know completely and be fully aware and engaged about what services are about to be delivered for them. And I know the case where that was not the case for this one patient. And unfortunately, the family member who was accompanying them didn't communicate clearly.
what they were coming to that institution for. So with that said, it's always been important to have in my opinion in a certified medical interpreter, and that could still be a staff member of that clinic. I also believe, that for documentation purposes, it's also helpful to even document that exchange with the patient.
because sometimes when there is a third party and they're trying to interpret for them, it's also good to have something documented that's show about something, it is best practice to document that conversation. if we ever need to go back to that exchange, the information is there. And it's also important to, I think, to have a third party there because sometimes information can get lost in translation.
And it still can between two people. I think the benefit of having a medical interpreter, particularly specifically, is that we can actually keep the dictation.
We need to if there's any discrepancy related to what was communicated between the doctor or provider and the patient. And I think that's important because It definitely allows us to ensure that whomever is giving the interpretation has been trained to do so, understands the
medical terminology understands the nuances and medical interpretation in order to provide the best experience for both the provider as well as for the patient in particular that they're trying to communicate.
on behalf of to ensure that both parties understand what medical needs are warranted for that patient. And then it also enables the medical provider in their best judgment to provide the best medical decision-making based on the information that's been communicated. So I think there's benefits in having a third-party medical interpreter, in my opinion, for those reasons.
I think as we, from a patient population perspective, as you know, we are becoming more more culturally diverse. And so I think it's even going to become more more important that we have a basis for and a grounding for training individuals in the medical interpretation space.
Eyal Heldenberg (25:20) Yeah, I totally agree. A medical translator, especially on site. I would say this is the golden standard. I would say that the second will be video interpreter over phone because video would get to see, you get to see face, but we're going to talk about it. And maybe question like from your experience, what would be the best way to train
Louis D. Simmons (25:31) Mm-hmm.
Eyal Heldenberg (25:39) and prepare your staff to work effectively across those language and cultural barriers around professional development and things that other clinics should look into.
Louis D. Simmons (25:52) Yes, I definitely think clinics should look into how to provide culturally competent care. think clinics should also explore the benefit of maybe having staff certified as medical interpreters, not only from a non-clinical and clinical perspective, but even we don't even think about this sometimes, is even from a billing perspective, to have a person who is bilingual or
who knows how to communicate to a patient about their payment that is needed or about their medical bills, I think is very important. But I also think it's important too when we talk about those additional services that we provide to patients like care coordination or connecting them to specialists. So really trying to think about how do we provide Coaching Conference in care throughout
not only the in-person or virtual patient visit, but also patient engagement after the visit, right? And that's both in writing as well as in-person or virtually. So for me, one of things that programs can do is they can bring in persons to talk about cultural competent care. What does that look like? What does that look like at different roles? Because it is going to be different when we talk about how does it look for a front desk person? How does it look
for a phlebotomist, how does it look for a nurse, and how does it look for a provider. It is just going to be different. not only having that type of training, but also status neutral training, To really think about making sure that all persons understand throughout the patient interaction continuum how to provide what's called status neutral care to everyone. The other piece that I would also advocate for, not only having training for
for
staff, not only front desk staff and clinical staff, but also providers on medical interpretation. Because I think it's a different experience when you know that your provider speaks two or more languages and you can specifically coordinate schedules to allow providers who are bilingual, trilingual, to be able to write care to that population. And so now you're building somewhat of a pipe.
when that's somewhat your building a pipeline for those patients. So I think those are the various ways that you can educate your staff as well as to provide professional development for them to attain some sort of certification in medical interpretation because I think it's very important. And then the other piece I would say that would be great is that you begin to poll your patients who are considered limited English.
preventive speaking patients to really gauge and understand.
what their needs are and ask them questions around what can we do to improve your experience with this and whether that be by services or whether that be by how we engage with you or how we communicate with you. That's important too because just like we survey patients in our practice, we survey patients after every visit about their experience. I think it is helpful to also survey, you know, cohort of patients like LEPs just to get additional information about
we can provide that patient population a better experience giving their additional need of making sure that we provide adequate, limiting-use, proficiency-speaking services, i.e. translation services, so that they can understand the type of health care needs that they may have.
Eyal Heldenberg (29:44) Maybe going back a bit on the medical translation part. It's kind of an old problem. think we have medical translation in the last, I don't know, 40 years or so. I wonder how was the technology changed throughout the years from your perspective to cover those gaps?
And what innovations have you found most promising throughout the years?
Louis D. Simmons (30:13) Well, in my over 15 years experience, you know, I've seen medical interpretation go from having in-person medical interpretation where, you know, we had to request a medical interpreter and then we had to cover out of the two or four hours of that medical interpreter's time and they would come to the hospital and regardless if it was two hours or four hours of time, we would still be charged for that time and then of course the hourly rate.
So we will be charged with hour rate plus the transportation piece of at least two or four hours, depending on the contract. And then I've seen that evolve to telephonic interpretation and then video interpretation, which I think is great because you can do either verbal or American Sign Language for those patients who need it. And to me, that's a game changer. The other piece I've seen too is that from a telephonic perspective,
we've been able to provide also three-way medical interpretation communication. So when a patient calls us in particular, we're able to, from a patient appointment scheduling perspective, if we notice that the patient is limited English proficient, then we can actually connect them to our telephonic interpreter. And then it's a three-way call now, then the interpreter, the...
patient staff member and the patient are all on a three-way call trying to complete this one function of patient registration, patient appointment scheduling, et cetera. So from that perspective.
What we have is now we have the ability for the patient to be seen and heard, right? And so for me, I've seen that evolve from that in-person individual coming to the organization and sitting with the patient and then speaking to the patient and the provider as they walk through the various paperwork that's involved as well as having the
ability to communicate between the two during the visit about the medical care that's needed or in medical decision making and so that's evolved from that point to now having it be telephonic and now having the video interpretation. think those are wonderful game changers, particularly the video because now with
the expansion of telehealth and even for us, in our organization, particularly for behavioral health, behavioral health for us, 50 % of that patient visit population is telehealth. And so that's big, and I think you'll notice in the health industry related to telehealth, engagement, behavioral health, or mental health is one of the service lines that has the highest adoption of telehealth.
encounters, if you will. And from that perspective, we can now, if needed, have
even on a telehealth basis, we can also request interpreters. So I think, you know, the video piece has allowed us to grow along with telehealth in order to make sure that, you know, LEP patients are getting the same type of care from an access perspective as our non-LEP patients. And that's important because that means that we are providing consistent care to both groups, regardless of their ability to speak.
the national language. And think that's important because at the end of the day, what we want for our patients is we want them to have the best version of what they feel like is optimal health for themselves. And so by doing these things, we're hoping that it aids them in that journey.
Eyal Heldenberg (34:09) Yeah, totally agree. think also the COVID period gave a lot of boost to the video component. Maybe it was kind of overlooked, but now it's kind of obvious.
Louis D. Simmons (34:14) Mm-hmm.
Yes.
Well, I think when COVID hit, we were converting to telehealth. And I can tell you the organization I came to prior to this organization, we had two clinics and we decided to convert one to in-person and another, we decided to do telehealth. And I think too, some of the billing and payment practices from insurers, particularly CMS also opened the door to providing more telehealth services given that telehealth service payment and
Eyal Heldenberg (34:36) Mm.
Louis D. Simmons (34:51) billing rules were changed for that period. And some have maintained, some of them have not. So I think because of COVID and because of the implications COVID provided from the ability of patients being able to see another provider opened the door, I think, to expanding the use of telehealth. Because as you know, before COVID, telehealth adoption was not as great as it was
during the COVID period. So with that said, I think that because of the changes in health plan, health payer billing practices and payment practices, it actually enabled telehealth to spawn into multiple environments. And that's medical services, behavioral services, and even done on certain parts of the country. So with that said,
it's very important to have as you're expanding in telehealth the ability to connect with your limited English proficiency speaking patients. And one of those ways is making sure that you provide that same translation service benefit when they're doing telehealth because even during that time it was very important as well. Don't have any data around the
Well, I haven't seen any data yet around the...
the quantity and also the effectiveness of having translation service or what the effectiveness of providing language interpretive services during the COVID period. I haven't seen any data about that and then if it was consistently used. If patients who are considered LEP when they did receive care, did they do it by telehealth in person? And if it was telehealth, what was the experience? I haven't really seen any data on that.
I wouldn't be surprised if there was data on it, because I'll be curious to see that. Because during that period, we had to pivot to that. And so I think that you're right that because of COVID, really spawned evolution of telehealth. And I think it's great. Now that we're not necessarily past COVID, but what you've seen sustained from the COVID experience.
related to service offerings, the highest service that utilizes telehealth is still behavioral health, mental health services that you still see. So that has been able to retain itself. It still has been impacted, but still when you do comparatively, that's one of the services that has been able to maintain the telehealth engagement of patients.
Eyal Heldenberg (37:47) Yeah, I agree on that. Maybe last question from your experience. What advice would you give to healthcare leaders who are just beginning to address language barriers in their organizations?
Louis D. Simmons (38:02) A couple of things that I would offer to those organizations is, one, first evaluate your patient population and determine if, well, one, what needs that group require from you. As you know from a regulatory perspective,
if you receive funding from the federal government in any pathways such as research, re-enumeration, you are supposed to provide.
language and derivative services to patients at no cost. So most organizations and most private practices who opt in to receiving Medicare services, even Medicaid services, or who have specific funding from the federal government, they are required to do so. most, as I said, organizations and
that receive that type of funding are already required to do so. So that's one. And if they're not...
Then, and that's part two of this is then it's helpful to assess and this is even if you're not receiving funding is for all organizations is to see in your patient population. What is your limited English proficiency speaking patient population? Do you know what that is? And if you do, what data do you have that reflects that patient population?
Is
it, you have patient visit data? Do you have patient satisfaction data? Because if you do, then from a recommendation perspective, I would utilize that data to talk about how do we provide more clinically competent and supportive care to this population? What is the percentage of patients that are LEP? What are the various languages?
Are we seeing being spoken by our patients? And then what types of communication should we be providing to them both written and verbally to assist them in their health literacy, right? Thirdly, what I would ask the organization to do is to look at your human resource capital and evaluate who on your team, both provider and staff, are bilingual, trilingual.
and then think about giving them professional development if they so choose to look at the opportunity to maybe become a medical interpreter. So when you have patients come in, you have designated persons who are subject matter experts on medical interpretation.
and they can be advocates for your LEP patients. And this could range from persons who are referral coordinators to, you know, patient informant schedulers to providers themselves. And because what you end up doing then is you're now creating a community of individuals that can assist this specific population. And lastly, what I would say as a recommendation is that you evaluate these things on a routine basis. And that could be every year,
you know, at least every year in my opinion, because things change. And you also need to strategically think about when you are opening other clinics or other sites or other services, who is the target population of those services, of that site, and also reviewing if you're going to have a need for increased LEP services for that target population, target service.
if so, make sure that you incorporate the level of services that are needed for that population to make sure you're providing consistent, culturally competent and quality care across your organization. So those are the four things that I would say. And the last thing I would say is have a champion for LEP patients, but not only that, have a champion for promoting quality
quality care from a culturally competent perspective. And sometimes, you know, having that person could inform how we communicate to certain target populations, because we want to make sure that we're communicating in a very supportive, thought-provoking, as well as informative way. And maybe having a designated person to serve in that capacity would be helpful when we talk about how we communicate with our patients.
how we engage with our patients, what does that look like, even based on the service because and I will be specific and say
One of the two other service lines like family medicine and peach, know, we deal with the family. So how are we communicating with the parents of a potential patient who could be, you know, first generation Americans and they have a grasp of English, but how do we engage that parent or guardian or parents?
or guardians on understanding the care that's being provided to their relative. So with that said.
think having a point person that understands how to provide these types of arrangements for a patient, I think is very important. So really having an advocate for this would be helpful. And that same person could also be the same person who looks at these activities across the entire system, which I think is important because you want to make sure that you're providing consistent
you know, care and activities for patients who no matter where they seek care in your ecosystem, that their experiences are identical.
Eyal Heldenberg (44:21) Yeah, those are great tips. All right, Luis Simons, it was pleasure to have you in Care Culture Talks and thank you so much for sharing your experience and your tips.
Louis D. Simmons (44:31)
Thank you so much, Eyal It was great being here and I enjoyed having this conversation and I look forward to hearing what other people thought about the experience. But I thank you so much for having this podcast and really talking about this ever increasing important topic.
Eyal Heldenberg (44:50)
Thank you.
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## Language Barriers in Emergency Care
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# Seconds Count: Dr. Sam Frenkel's Frontline Perspectives on Language Barriers in Emergency Medicine
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## About this podcast:
In this candid conversation, emergency physician Dr. Sam Frenkel takes listeners inside the controlled chaos of emergency departments serving diverse populations. Having practiced across the country—from Washington DC to San Diego to rural Virginia and now San Francisco—Dr. Frenkel offers a unique perspective on how language barriers and cultural differences impact care when time is of the essence.
Unlike outpatient settings where appointments can be extended, emergency medicine operates on compressed timelines where delays in communication can impact multiple patients waiting for care. Dr. Frenkel reveals the practical challenges of the current interpreter workflows, where a single iPad translator device might be shared across an entire department, creating bottlenecks that frustrate both providers and patients.
### **Key Moments**
**On Workflow Challenges** (08:54): "Every time you go in, you have to go through the same process of finding the language... Usually it's not the same person. And then they go through the same, 'give me your name, the hospital, okay, can I talk to the patient?'"
**On Parallel vs. Sequential Care** (10:07): "The ideal flow in the emergency department is you show up, you're immediately seen by everyone, all of your tests get done in parallel... If that happened every time, people's wait times would be 30 minutes or an hour, not many."
**On Patient Understanding** (16:53): "Making sure they can repeat back to you what was said and why it's important would be a wonderful thing for residents to take away... You'll go home feeling better, they'll go home feeling better."
**On Resource Constraints** (12:50): "My department has, I think, only two of these iPad translators... if it's in room 20 and you need it in room four, you're waiting until they're done. We're constantly paging overhead, 'Does anybody have the translator?'"
**On Family Dynamics** (25:17): "In this family, the grandmother is the matriarch. She's the one who makes these decisions... I missed the cultural cue here... It absolutely made this interaction longer and more uncomfortable for everyone."
## Listen this episode on:
[Spotify](https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/no-barrier-ai/episodes/Seconds-Count-Dr--Sam-Frenkels-Frontline-Perspectives-on-Language-Barriers-in-Emergency-Medicine-e32skpc) [Youtube Music](https://youtu.be/siE8Y3CsRvY) [Apple Music](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/care-culture-talks/id1795321107)
## Chapters Timeline:
### **Dr. Sam Frenkel Interview Timeline**
1. **Professional Background & San Francisco Experience** \[00:55-03:32\]
- Training from Emory to Georgetown to UCSD
- Contrast between San Diego, DC, rural Virginia, and San Francisco diversity
- "Walking around this city, you see everyone from everywhere"
- Gap in medical training around cultural competency
2. **Current Medical Interpretation Workflow Reality** \[05:17-09:15\]
- The dreaded iPad interpreters: "Every provider in healthcare hates them"
- Triage limitations: "You get to ask three questions. Where does it hurt? How long? Then move on."
- Repeat process for each encounter: "Every time you go in, you start over"
- Language rarity impact: "The more rare the language, the longer it takes"
3. **Improving Emergency Department Workflow** \[10:07-12:30\]
- Parallel vs. sequential care model
- Team-based approach where all providers see patient simultaneously
- "If you pull everyone into the triage room... we're all going to do this at the same time"
- Time-saving potential: "That's 15 minutes of that person's day... it adds up"
4. **Resource Scarcity Reality** \[12:30-13:55\]
- "We only have two of these iPad translators" for entire department
- "We're constantly paging overhead: 'Does anybody have the translator?'"
- Impact on patient waiting times and care efficiency
5. **The Power of the Teach-Back Technique** \[14:39-16:53\]
- The danger of assumptions: "It is really easy to assume someone understands"
- Resident pressures: "You feel so rushed... someone nods and you think, 'okay, they got it'"
- The 30-second solution: "Take that extra time to make sure they can repeat back to you"
- Building joint decision-making and patient autonomy
6. **Consent Forms Across Languages** \[17:46-21:00\]
- The challenge of written consent: "Have I asked if they can read well enough?"
- Safety concerns during procedures: "I don't want someone moving during a central line"
- Need for both written and verbal approaches
7. **Cultural Hierarchies in Healthcare Decisions** \[22:17-26:10\]
- The grandmother matriarch case study
- "I missed the cultural cue that she was the one who needed to say we're getting the care we need"
- Impact: "It would have taken five minutes instead of 15"
8. **Continuous Learning Journey** \[26:36-29:18\]
- "I am humbled very regularly"
- Value of experienced colleagues: "Partners who I can bounce ideas off"
- Aspiration to teach residents: "I hope they can learn from the ridiculous silly things I've done"
### **Key Takeaways:**
- Emergency medicine magnifies language barrier challenges due to time constraints
- Resource limitations create bottlenecks that impact all patients
- Team-based, parallel care models could significantly improve interpreter workflows
- The teach-back method is crucial for ensuring understanding across language barriers
- Cultural competency is an ongoing learning process even for experienced physicians
- Understanding family decision-making hierarchies can dramatically improve care efficiency
## Episodes Transcript:
Eyal Heldenberg (00:10) Hi everyone, my name is Eyal Heldenberg. I'm the CEO of No Barrier, an AI medical interpreter for healthcare providers. I'm very pleased to have Dr. Sam Frenkel with us. Sam Frenkel, how are you today?
Sam Frenkel (00:24) I'm doing great, how are you?
Eyal Heldenberg (00:26) All good, all good. So just to be a full disclosure, so Sam has been with us. He's one of our first beta users for our AI medical interpreter, I think more than a year. And we had a chance to talk on many things, on many topics. So I'm truly excited about the opportunity to record this episode. So maybe Sam, just give us your career, your background, your location, etc.
Sam Frenkel (00:55) Yeah, this is San Francisco. I grew up in Washington DC or just outside. I went to Emory for undergrad in Atlanta, back to Georgetown in DC for a master's and then medical school. I did residency at UCSD in San Diego in emergency medicine. I finished in 2020. And since then I worked in San Diego for a few years. I worked in a pretty rural site in Virginia for about a year and then moved out here and I've here for almost two years now.
Eyal Heldenberg (01:28) All right, perfect. So you're coming kind of from the ER aspects of healthcare. So maybe just your kind of initial experience of the San Francisco area. We know this is a diverse population. just give us a taste of a shift of what's coming in the door.
Sam Frenkel (01:50) It has been very interesting living in this place. San Diego, I certainly thought was more diverse. DC is certainly exceptionally diverse in plenty of ways, but walking around this city, you see everyone from everywhere. And obviously if people are walking around, they are finding their way into emergency departments. from language to culture to ethnicity to race to... Everyone is coming into the emergency departments around here. It is wonderful. And I think part of what we'll talk about is all the struggles and difficulties of trying to see people who have different expectations or different prior experiences than you do and how to manage that in a way that you can still provide good care for them. It is something that isn't a major focus of any part of training and something that a lot of us slowly piece together over careers.
Eyal Heldenberg (02:54) Yeah, yeah, like it's kind of a dynamic learning throughout the time. And you're right, we talk to many providers and it seems like, you know, if you treat a patient, you know, from your culture, from your language, healthcare is, you know, it's hard enough, but when you try to, you know, integrate more of a, cultural nuances and of course language barriers, it kind of becomes even more difficult. the get-go. I wonder if you could share your, what's the current workflow? Like how institutions, for example, in your institution, what is the workflow to handle those cultural and language barriers when they come?
Sam Frenkel (03:32) cultural barriers, there is no official workflow. I think there isn't a lot of understanding or training. I don't want to say support, there isn't a lot of, "we understand that people of many different cultures come in and let's make sure that you have a good understanding of these cultures and how they view medicine, they view doctors, how they view just people of authority in situations." So it is up to each of us to try and figure out how to make our way through these experiences. And all of us have plenty of stories of making huge mistakes and hopefully the patients don't suffer from that. But if someone has an expectation they come in with due to language, culture, heritage, whatever it may be, and you don't find the right way to acknowledge that and work with it, they may not accept your care. They may not do what you ask them to do to stay healthy. There are a lot of ways where it has huge impacts and part of why I'm excited to have this conversation is so we can dive into a lot of that.
Eyal Heldenberg (04:46) we talked with many providers on the importance of medical interpretation. you need to make sure as a provider, according to the law, but also as kind of as a practical manner to make sure you have someone certified or qualified to do this. you know, to do this communication. So I wonder if this is kind of your daily practice. How do you view the specific workflow?
Sam Frenkel (05:17) With translation, Translation has been different at every hospital I've worked at. And that was true through multiple hospitals, just while I was in residency, through each hospital as an attending. I was very fortunate to have in-person Spanish interpreters at my prior job, but if you weren't speaking Spanish, then it went back to, most places have these iPads.
Eyal Heldenberg (05:18) Yep.
Sam Frenkel (05:43) and every provider in healthcare hates them for the most part. I mean, they do the job and we don't have a better way to do it, so we all use it. But, I mean, the patient shows up in the emergency department and the nurse in triage has an iPad, they pull up the language, it takes a few minutes, they talk to this person and get a very brief story, as much as they can. You know, the line's out the door, the emergency department is full, they cannot get a great story There just isn't time for them. Someone three people back may be dying from a heart attack or a stroke. You have to just get through people and you get to ask three questions. Where does it hurt? How long does it hurt? Yeah, don't know if you had surgery, whatever the third question is, and then you have to move that patient forward. write a quick blur, or they write that quick blur, and the translator's turned off. That patient then waits. They get put into either another room to see someone for a little bit longer, or they get pulled back into the main emergency department, where generally the nurse that's there will pull up the translator, and hopefully you're not in another room and can get in there and do it at the same time. But plenty of times, if you are in room two and that person's really sick and new person gets pulled into room one the nurse will go in there speak to them or a slightly longer period with the translator but you then have to pull this iPad back in restart this whole process this adds on time every time the software no barrier has been wonderful about cutting down on that time in-person interpreters or Wonderful for that since they also have some of the, and potentially have some of the cultural intuition, though that also can become an issue if they are male and this is a female patient talking about something they feel is, needs to be protected, or they feel uncomfortable talking about in front of men. There are plenty of times where they are not perfect, but in person is wonderful in a lot of ways. AI has been a nice bridge between the two to get us fast access. That's really our flow. And then you go back into the room and whenever you need more information to explain things or give them discharge instructions, you pull that translator up again and that's how the flow in the emergency department has worked.
Eyal Heldenberg (08:16) every touch point you need to wait for another agent, for another interpreter, It's not like the same one goes with the patient.
Sam Frenkel (08:27) No. So you pull up this roller with an iPad and you hit the button and put in the code and then you find the language and then however long it takes to find someone, they don't necessarily have someone available all the time and you may want somebody for a video so you can say, Hey, can you ask about here" but only audio is available. But every time you go in, you have to go through the same process of finding the language, finding
Eyal Heldenberg (08:47) Hmm.
Sam Frenkel (08:54) calls and it finds whatever person. Usually it's not the same person. And then they go through the same, give me your name, the hospital, okay, can I talk to the patient? They explain what they're doing to the patient and then you can proceed.
Eyal Heldenberg (09:10) Got you, and all in all it takes a couple of minutes basically, every time.
Sam Frenkel (09:15) So Spanish on the iPads tends to be faster. There are a few languages that are faster. The more rare the language, the longer it takes, which obviously is fair. There are just fewer people who are able to speak both languages proficiently enough to translate, and those people have to be willing to give up their time to just be available for translation.
Eyal Heldenberg (09:18) Mm-hmm. Yeah, yeah. So I think maybe, you know, this is a kind of a, there is a clear cut between kind of a relaxed outpatient clinic when there is, you have those 15 minutes or 20, whatever. And the ER that just don't have time, cut, cut, cut. Like you need to go to, so I think in your case, in the ER case, it's the access to care, the time is kind of on the seconds, not on the minutes. Like you need you need to be super efficient. which leads me to the next question. You've seen this workflow. I wonder if you have any initial thoughts on how can emergency departments better design this specific workflow with the interpreting services.
Sam Frenkel (10:07) Absolutely. one of the hospitals that I worked at did, it wasn't for this purpose, but I think what they designed actually would work well for this. you're always trying to minimize the amount of wasted time in the emergency department, the amount of time you're sitting there waiting. The ideal flow in the emergency department is you show up, you're immediately seen by everyone, all of your tests get done in parallel, and then you get dispositioned as quickly as possible. If that happened every time, people's wait times would be 30 minutes or an hour, not many. I think that a way that this hospital did that with English speaking patients who could be essentially turned over quickly is there was a doctor, a nurse, and a tech who ran this small zone and the patient would be brought in and all of us would go into the room at the same time. we would all have one conversation and then that person would go back to the waiting room, you'd bring in the next person. And we essentially just, we had a few rooms we did this with and there was a person who would just take people in and out and then put new ones in. So we, as a team just went in and while I was talking to the patient, the nurse was doing their charting and putting in the vital signs, the tech was drawing blood and doing the EKG. And so all of this happened in this tiny period of time, for most emergency department visits. You show up, you see the triage nurse, then you see the nurse in the main ER, then you see the doctor, then the tech comes in to draw the blood. Each thing happens in series instead of in parallel. So if you could take, especially in translation, if you pull everyone into the triage room and say, hey, we have a patient who speaks Tagalog and we need a translator, I've pulled up the translator, pulled the doctor and the tech and we're all gonna do this at the same time, cutting down on that three to five minutes of waiting for the translator and giving them the information they need to get started and them explaining their job, that's 15 minutes of that person's day. And you do that however many times a day, that's a lot of time.
Eyal Heldenberg (12:30) Yeah, it adds up. I think one of one other, I don't know to call it trick or it's kind of a budget thing is just getting more iPads, more devices because sometimes this lack of resources, right? Because there is another usage and now you need it, right? I don't know if you encountered that.
Sam Frenkel (12:50) All the time. so there's, my department has, I'm sure I'm misquoting them, but I think that we only have two of these iPad translators, and one almost always sits out front where it belongs. You need someone, the person in triage, to be able to say, what language do you speak? If you're having an emergency emergency, you're having stroke-like symptoms, this is a massive heart attack, and you can't explain that you have chest pain or that your arm doesn't move. So one has to sit out there, which means that there's really one floating around. And if it's in room 20 and you need it in room four, you're waiting until they're done. And then even afterwards, you may not know where it is. So we're constantly paging overhead saying, hey, does anybody have the translator? Can you bring it to room four as soon as it's available? And in meantime, that person just sits there and you can try and if you're lucky enough to have another way to translate with that person, then great.
Eyal Heldenberg (13:32) Wow.
Sam Frenkel (13:47) But otherwise, they're waiting and you're wasting your and their time.
Eyal Heldenberg (13:55) this is something that could easily be, you know, with the right budget, it's not like amazingly high, but with the right budget, those kind of small, you know, problems in workflow could be easily, solved.
Sam Frenkel (14:10) I'll vote for you for president if you want. You just gotta...
Eyal Heldenberg (14:12) haha Yeah, we should do it. Perfect. you know, before this episode, we discussed a couple of things and I want you to take us to these cultural competency elements. What do you think should be included in medicine training programs for those specific properties?
Sam Frenkel (14:39) So that's a really... think there are a bunch of different parts that are worth putting in to training. It's hard to narrow this down to one thing. I think the main point I would want to get out there is that it is really easy to assume that someone understands what you're saying to them. It is really easy when you're and this is resident, you feel so rushed and plenty of times you, this is the first time you're seeing something early on. you someone nods their head and go, okay, I think they understood what I'm saying. And you run out of the room and go tell your attending like, okay, we're good. We can go do the procedure or they said they don't want to stay. I don't know why. taking that extra 30 seconds or a minute to make sure that someone can repeat back to you. Here's what you said to me. Here's what I'm taking away from it. And the outcome is going to be X. If I am telling you that I want to leave, I understand that there are real consequences to that or you're saying you want to put a needle into my knee. I'm telling you my knee hurts, you told me to put a needle in there. There are plenty of people who just say, the doctor must know. And yeah, we're never trying to hurt anyone or make the wrong decision, but we are not perfect. having that joint decision-making , you know, there are risks to this and every procedure. They're a risk to most benign antibiotic. Yeah, we are just, it is so important to have that conversation because you are gonna feel better at the end of that interaction, not just the like, I don't know what happened, but I guess they're not my problem anymore. You get to say, I discussed this with this person, we made this decision together. They understand what's going on and now we get to move forward and you go home feeling better, they go home feeling better. I think making sure that you take the time to make sure they can repeat back to you what was said and why it's important would be a wonderful thing for residents to take away.
Eyal Heldenberg (16:53) Yeah, you're right, because this is something that could become a habit for a provider in those situations, right? Just keep patient autonomy, right? You are feeling more comfortable that, yeah, he understood, he repeats, he knows what's going on. So it makes you kind of feel more, assured that you can proceed. You know, before the episode we talked about, I'm now exploring this whole workflow of consent forms, consent forms in languages, in languages aspects. I wonder if you could take us to this from your experience, like what is the right workflow or maybe the wrong workflow, but in practice that, you know, that usually as part of, you know, this limited English proficiency patients that they need to sign or they need to understand something, you need to do this procedure, this surgery
Sam Frenkel (17:46) Yeah, I mean it's really tied to what we just talked about. it's really easy for me to go to the hospital I work at now has a very wealthy, a portion of its population is very wealthy. They all speak English very well. They are very well read and versed. They've all done their more research sometimes than I would like them to before coming in. Sometimes that's a different issue. And for those people you say, yeah, this is really easy. You need X procedure done. Here are the pros, here are the cons. I have a piece of paper for you to sign. I wrote down the pros and cons on it, or it's already pre-filled out, or whatever the procedure is. If you get it, sign at the bottom. And they go, have two questions. Here they are. You answer them, and they sign at the bottom. Great. But as soon as you start questioning whether this person speaks English well enough or doesn't speak English at all. Most hospitals that I've worked at have forms in Spanish, but my Spanish is not good enough to have this conversation in a way that's fair to patients. And some of them, I haven't asked the patient before this point, "Can you read well enough to understand this form?" So am I just throwing a form in front of them, having them say, "Okay, this is the doctor, the doctor thinks this is a good idea, I'm gonna sign whatever they tell me to because that's ethnically, culturally what we do with doctors in my culture." That's. That's not what any of us want. I don't want to be making decisions for these people when they have the ability. So being able to not just have the right written consent, being able to put in there, okay, here's what's going on. Here it is written. Here it is verbally. We're gonna go through this translator and make sure that you, again, can repeat back to me. Here is the risks. Here are the benefits. I'm getting this procedure because of X. And because we discussed the risks and benefits and the benefits to me outweigh the risks, let's proceed. Now I'll sign at the bottom of this form and everyone can go into this. I don't have to worry. I'm halfway into trying to put a central line can be like a big needle up here into the neck and have them turn around and like, what are you doing? I don't want someone moving. I want them to really understand.
Eyal Heldenberg (20:14) Wow.
Sam Frenkel (20:17) You need to turn your head away and keep turned away. I know that there's a sterile cover. I know that the sterile cover can be uncomfortable. You are still getting air. We've propped it up on the side to make sure that you are. If you're uncomfortable, please say something, don't turn. If I don't have a way to communicate with you... there's no guarantees that that won't happen and it's a bad outcome. And I don't want that. Obviously the patient doesn't want that. So getting consents in multiple languages, the written form is wonderful. And I think being able to do that written and verbal is the right way to make sure that we are appropriately consenting patients.
Eyal Heldenberg (21:00) Yeah, I think it's getting made to patient autonomy where you're making sure that they're fully aware to everything. maybe it's a use case. The consent form is there for a reason, right? It's not just a regular, "Here's your appeal to take" or something. The system thinks that this is something you need to stop, right? There is a step here to stop, to validate, right?
Sam Frenkel (21:25) Absolutely.
Eyal Heldenberg (21:26) And maybe in those cases, it's even more important to have a medical translator either on site, phone, video, whatever, because if the system wants you to stop as a provider, get all the right resources to keep this consent form in practice, right? I totally get your perspective on the importance of that. Maybe just a word on, you know, there are some, maybe we started with that. There are some cultural misunderstandings that could be, could be because, you know, you don't know the culture. You don't know exactly what to do there. I wonder if you have like a story or something like that you encountered with patients that, you know, if you would understand that you would probably do something else or
Sam Frenkel (22:17) Yeah, I mean I think one that I'll start out with a general and then I'll go to a specific example. Something that I think is always going to be funny to at least ER doctors is a lot of us, chief complaint of dizziness is this myriad of the unknown. If you come in for chest pain, I know generally you mean here. We're not talking about your head, we're not talking about your knee, like the pain is here. And there's still a differential. In English, the word dizzy can mean lightheaded. It can mean the room is spinning. can mean those are probably the two main ones. In Spanish, the word dizzy translates roughly to mariada. And my ex-girlfriend at the time, who was from Spain, told me, it just means you feel unwell. So it could mean so many things. and trying to clarify that word. If you, I was very lucky, it was early on in residency when she told me this, so I tried to be really clear with patients. Okay, you said that, this is the word I said. This is, think, what you're hearing, and I wanna make sure I'm understanding the actual feeling and not just your, not just this word, and just jumping to conclusions. A more specific example, I did have a patient, a pediatric patient, A few months ago now, kind of tail end of winter viral season. Seven or eight year old boy, otherwise pretty healthy, had his vaccines. He's coming in with kind of cough, congestion, sore throat, something we've seen a thousand times. We all deal with this all day. We have a pretty routine process as long as your exam is okay, the history is okay. And so I'm trying to explain this to mom who is on the bed and dad who is sitting next to the bed. And I wasn't paying too much attention to the grandmother who was behind mom. So I'm asking these questions and they continue to seem confused. I'm doing this with a translator. This is in Spanish. I'm doing this with a translator and me and the translator are both struggling a little bit with why there's these delays. can tell the translator also looks a little bit confused. And as I'm getting further and further into this, I'm realizing that in this family, the grandmother is the matriarch. She is the one who makes these decisions. She's the one who is the final decision maker. So the person I needed to be talking to was her. needed to, I missed the cultural cue here that she was the one to say, we're getting the care that we need. It's okay that we do this and not do that. She was pushing for antibiotics and she had just been whispering in her daughter's ear and the translator wasn't translating that part because it wasn't directed to me. And I missed it. It absolutely made this interaction longer and more uncomfortable for everyone. and clearly they were also frustrated for a little while with me directing questions to them when they were not the ones who had questions. So once I figured this out, I started talking to the grandmother saying, hey, what were you looking for here? How can I address your concerns? And it turned out she wanted antibiotics. I was able to explain to her why that wasn't the right choice in the situation. She said, okay. And it would have taken five minutes instead of 15. But that's me missing that cultural signal delayed their ability go home.
Eyal Heldenberg (26:10) I think this is a great example, like a story that exemplified. I wonder if you feel on yourself in this time in San Francisco with these diverse communities coming. Do you think that you are kind of getting used to these nuances to look at the patient to feel. Do you think you kind of as part of the experience this comes along?
Sam Frenkel (26:36) I hope that that's true. I am humbled very regularly in this way. And people come in from, in San Francisco, people come in from all over the world. And it doesn't have to be that different of a place from the last patient to have different family dynamic, a different idea of who doctors are and what they're supposed to do for you much it's okay to question them. There are absolutely times I've been very lucky to have a nurse who saw something and said, hey, can you go back into the room one more time and just explain this? Maybe this is silly, but do you mind just taking a minute and just go back? And go back in the room and you can tell that they're right. And I find a new way to explain something and They needed to hear me say, doctors are fallible. They needed to hear me say, it's okay that you have questions. Or they needed someone to really just say, this is the right thing. We're on the right path. You are doing okay. Please take these medications. I understand that that makes you nervous. But getting called back into the room or taking, I hope I'm getting better at it, but I... I am definitely not done yet. Not by a long shot.
Eyal Heldenberg (28:03) Yeah, it's a journey, Hopefully every day we get better at what we do.
Sam Frenkel (28:13) Yeah, it's, I mean, I, right now I don't work at an academic center, but I hope in 10 or 15 years I can, I can start doing work with residents again and just tell them how all of these stories of times where I made mistakes, made cultural mistakes, I've made medical mistakes. have done all sorts of things that, I mean, I would love to be able to rewind and erase, but since I can't, they might as well learn from the ridiculous silly things that I've done so that they can then make their own mistakes and continue to pass that forward. But yeah, I am.
Eyal Heldenberg (28:51) Yeah, yeah, totally.
Sam Frenkel (28:55) I'm very lucky to have partners who I can bounce these ideas off of who have been around for a lot longer and seen a lot more and they really can give you little tips and poke ahead in the room like, this is how you kind of handle that thing. That's been a very nice part of working at my current hospital as well.
Eyal Heldenberg (29:18) Right, nice. So I think there were many kind of good stories and good tips. think maybe, you know, the greatest tip, I think, or at least one of the top is kind of making sure you ask the patient to repeat kind of the instructions or everything. I think this is kind of a small step that could kind of really make this workflow and the treatment and the care kind of an elevated step. I don't know if you had other tips on your foreclosure, but...
Sam Frenkel (29:56) I hope we get to have this conversation in five years and look back and be like, wow, I gave that advice. That was the third best thing I could have told you. Here's something even better. no, for this stage in my career, that has been probably the best thing that I've been doing to build trust in these relationships across language and culture race and ethnicity and everything is just continuing to ask questions until it really, they're able to tell me in their own words what they've heard and what they think is happening. Because otherwise, I mean, really these, it is so easy to just, I mean, we've all done this. You just say, yeah, absolutely, I get it. And you don't, you just like, I don't have another answer for you. You asked me, do I get it? And I just said, yeah. In medicine, that person goes home and they don't take their medications. They don't trust you. And that's sad. And it can't all be on the doctor, but I hope that this is a place I continue to get better at making sure that people really understand the care that they're getting.
Eyal Heldenberg (31:17) Amazing. This is a great closure. So Dr. Sam Frenkel, I want to thank you for being with us in Care Culture Talks.
Sam Frenkel (31:24) Yeah, this is my pleasure. This is awesome. I hope we get to talk a lot more.
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# Speaking Your Patient's Language: Dr. Gezzer Ortega on Cultural Competency in Medicine
Host:
Eyal Heldenberg
Duration:
24:41
Release Date:
September 4, 2025
9
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[Play Episode](https://youtu.be/RqBv7lIKRxg)
## About this podcast:
# Language Access in Healthcare: Dr. Gezzer Ortega on AI-Powered Medical Interpretation
Dr. Gezzer Ortega, Assistant Professor of Surgery at **Mass General Brigham**, explores how **AI-powered interpretation tools** can expand **language access** in healthcare while preserving the **human connection** that builds trust. With over **26 million Americans** speaking English “less than very well,” language barriers affect clinical accuracy, patient safety and provider wellbeing.
## The Challenge: Language Barriers in U.S. Healthcare
Nearly one in twelve Americans struggles with English proficiency comparable in scale to the nation’s diabetes population. This group faces higher risks of **miscommunication**, **medical errors** and **reduced trust** in care providers.
Dr. Ortega explains that language access isn’t just about translation it’s about **understanding meaning, culture and emotion**. He highlights how one word can hold **opposite meanings** across Spanish-speaking regions, underscoring the need for interpreters who grasp both **language and context**.
## From Personal Experience to Clinical Research
As the son of **Dominican immigrants**, Dr. Ortega grew up serving as an informal interpreter for his parents. That early experience now fuels his mission to make healthcare communication **more equitable**.
In his current work, he leads **digital health initiatives** for marginalized populations at **Mass General Brigham**, combining empathy and technology to address communication inequities.
## The Promise of AI in Medical Interpretation
Dr. Ortega envisions a future where **artificial intelligence** enhances, rather than replaces, human interpreters. AI can help:
- **Scale access** to interpretation in under-resourced settings.
- **Reduce clinician burden** by providing real-time translation support.
- **Maintain continuity** in multilingual patient care.
But he emphasizes that **“small talk matters.”** Technology must preserve the personal exchanges such as greetings, reassurance, humor that strengthen trust between patient and provider.
## A Balanced Vision: Technology + Human Touch
Dr. Ortega’s message is clear:
“Technology should **enhance**, not replace, the human connections that define compassionate care.”
By pairing **AI interpretation tools** with **professional interpreters**, healthcare systems can achieve **equity at scale** without losing the empathy that makes healing possible.
this insightful conversation, Dr. Gezzer Ortega, Assistant Professor of Surgery at Mass General Brigham, draws from both his research expertise and personal experience as the son of Dominican immigrants to explore the complex landscape of language access in healthcare. With 26 million Americans speaking English "less than very well" a population nearly as large as those living with diabetes Dr. Ortega illuminates how language barriers create cascading effects throughout the healthcare system.
Unlike many academic discussions that focus solely on policy, Dr. Ortega brings a practitioner's perspective to understanding how communication breakdowns impact both patient outcomes and provider wellbeing. From his childhood role as an informal interpreter for his parents to his current work leading digital health initiatives for marginalized populations, he offers a nuanced view of how technology can enhance rather than replace human connection in medical interpretation.
The conversation reveals the hidden complexities within language communities themselves, where a single word can have opposite meanings across Spanish-speaking regions, and how these subtleties affect both trust-building and clinical accuracy. Dr. Ortega's optimistic yet realistic vision for AI-powered interpretation tools provides a roadmap for maintaining the "small talk" that builds patient relationships while scaling language access across healthcare systems.
### Key Moments
**On the Scale of the Problem** (02:20): "There are 31 million people in the United States with diabetes. And we think that's a big problem. So 26 million is not far from that. So it's a big problem."
**On Technology Evolution** (04:50): "There was a technology that I looked at last week, it's already outdated. You know, it's moving so fast. I can't keep up with it yet, but I'm trying to."
**On Patient Autonomy** (12:40): "They were discussing an increased sense of autonomy when they use an AI tool... because it's in their control. It's in their pocket, it's in their hands, and they can guide the conversation."
**On Dialect Complexity** (15:45): "A word I would say, ahorita, which to me meant later... And I realized that in Mexico and in many Central American countries... that word means in this moment, right? It means right now."
**On Building Trust** (19:45): "I truly believe that patient care happens in the small talk... when we work with an interpreter... we become very transactional... You don't tend to ask about the dog or the cat or who lives at home."
**On Future Regulation** (22:30): "We need the technology sector and the healthcare sector and the clinicians to work together on these policies... from the very beginning for everyone to be in the same room."
## Listen this episode on:
[Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/2D7zN0mlnP4ThggfOoTJ0V) [Youtube Music](https://youtu.be/RqBv7lIKRxg) [Apple Music](https://www.nobarrier.ai/episodes/speaking-your-patients-language-dr-gezzer-ortega-on-cultural-competency-in-medicine#)
## Chapters Timeline:
01. **Professional Background & Research Focus** \[00:25-01:10\]
- Assistant Professor of Surgery at Mass General Brigham
- Center for Surgery and Public Health leadership role
- Focus on historically marginalized patients and digital health interventions
- Using technology to improve surgical care access and outcomes
02. **The Scale of Language Barriers in Healthcare** \[01:38-03:16\]
- 68 million Americans speak non-English languages
- 26 million speak English "less than very well"
- Comparison: "There are 31 million people in the United States with diabetes. And we think that's a big problem"
- Provider impact: burnout and "feeling of not... letting your patient down"
- The prevalence of workarounds in healthcare settings
03. **Current Interpretation Solutions Hierarchy** \[03:42-05:07\]
- Gold standard: "A trained, certified medical interpreter in that language"
- Importance of nonverbal cues and emotional capture
- Scalability challenges leading to phone and video alternatives
- AI transformation: "Technology that I looked at last week, it's already outdated"
04. **Technology as Augmenter vs. Replacer** \[05:27-07:07\]
- Current perception: "Technology... is that it is a replacer"
- Vision for enhancement rather than replacement
- Workflow integration as key challenge
- Context dependency: scheduled vs. acute care situations
- Resource availability driving decision-making
05. **The Human Touch in Critical Moments** \[07:36-08:18\]
- Scenarios requiring human interpreters: end-of-life, bad news delivery, family meetings
- "It's helpful to have that person there... being able to read the room"
- Goal: "A patient... won't have any gaps in their care that are not in a language they understand"
06. **Low Health Literacy vs. Language Barriers** \[08:43-11:01\]
- Critical distinction: "A patient... who's a PhD, super high health literacy, but they just don't speak English"
- Compound challenges when both issues exist
- Technology's adaptive potential for literacy levels
- Universal cues: "That face of confusion is universal"
- The teach-back method importance
07. **Patient and Provider Autonomy Through Technology** \[11:59-13:24\]
- Patient empowerment: "It's in their control. It's in their pocket"
- Provider mobility: "If they have a mobile phone, it goes wherever they go"
- Accessibility advantage: "You have your mobile phone" when other resources unavailable
08. **Personal Journey and Cultural Insights** \[13:52-16:38\]
- Personal background: Dominican Republic immigrant parents
- Childhood role as "ad hoc interpreter"
- Regional dialect discoveries: New York vs. DC Latino communities
- The "ahorita" revelation: same word, opposite meanings
09. **The Complexity of Spanish Dialects** \[16:38-18:06\]
- Medical translator dialect mismatches creating 50% terminology overlap
- "Bicho" example across countries: toddler vs. insect vs. slang
- Technology's need to understand regional nuances
10. **Building Trust Through First Impressions** \[18:30-21:07\]
- "We as clinicians have dropped the ball... on making a good first impression"
- Having interpretation resources ready as trust-builder
- "Patient care happens in the small talk"
- Risk of transactional interactions when using interpreters
- Maintaining human connection despite technology mediation
11. **Regulatory Landscape and Policy Evolution** \[21:23-23:09\]
- Current CMS requirement: AI translations must be human-audited
- Informed consent legal complexities
- Reactive vs. proactive policy development
- Need for collaborative approach: "Technology sector and the healthcare sector and the clinicians to work together"
12. **Optimistic Vision for the Future** \[23:32-24:25\]
- Technology enabling better patient care "if we use it right"
- Equity lens: filling gaps caused by healthcare inequities
- Importance of thoughtful, mindful implementation
**Key Takeaways:**
- Language barriers affect 26 million Americans - a problem comparable to diabetes prevalence
- Technology should augment, not replace, human interpreters in healthcare
- Regional dialect variations within languages create unexpected communication challenges
- Trust-building requires maintaining "small talk" and human connection even through interpreters
- Mobile technology empowers both patients and providers with greater autonomy
- Current regulatory frameworks are reactive and need proactive collaboration between sectors
- Cultural competency requires understanding family dynamics and community-specific nuances
- The future of medical interpretation lies in thoughtful AI implementation focused on health equity
## Episodes Transcript:
Eyal Heldenberg (00:10) Hi, everyone. Welcome to Care Culture Talks. My name is Eyal Heldenberg. I'm the CEO of No Barrier, an AI medical interpreter for health care professionals. I'm very delighted to have Dr. Ortega with us today. Gezzer, how are you?
Dr. Gezzer Ortega (00:25) I am pleased, Gezzer always. Thank you for having me. I'm excited to be here.
Eyal Heldenberg (00:30) Perfect. So we're to talk about many things, of course, language access, cultural competency. But before that, Gezzer, would you like to kind of give us your professional background and journey?
Dr. Gezzer Ortega (00:41) Yeah, I'm an assistant professor of surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital, now Mass General Brigham, in the Department of Surgery, specifically within the Center for Surgery and Public Health. I lead a lot of the work focused on improving care for our patients who have been historically marginalized and or, I should say, kind of thinking about how we can use some of the digital health interventions that have come out to improve access and outcomes of surgical care.
Eyal Heldenberg (01:10) Amazing. I think, you know, we interviewed many kind of providers. I think you have a broader sense of the problem domain throughout your research and, root cause maybe. So just on a general level, when we try to think about this, language barriers, like what do we, what is the frontline? What are the providers and patients feel like in those kind of situations?
Dr. Gezzer Ortega (01:38) Yeah, no, I think it's a couple of things. One, the scope of the problem, right? There are 68 million people within the US that speak a language other than English, and of those, 26 million are considered speaking English less than very well. So that's usually the population that we're thinking about when we are trying to improve care or language access within our country.
And I bring that up because 26 million people sometimes doesn't sound like a lot, but there are 31 million people in the United States with diabetes. And we think that's a big problem. So 26 million is not far from that. So it's a big problem. It's a big issue that we have to confront. And then for clinicians in the healthcare space, it's extremely challenging when you can't effectively communicate with your patient. Because that is key.
It is vital to providing optimal care, right? Is being able to communicate a diagnosis, communicate a treatment plan and what to do moving forward. And so there are a lot of things that contribute to that when you can't do that, right? From everything from physician burnout, right? To just this feeling of not, you know, almost like letting your patient down, right? Because you don't have the language or the resources necessary to communicate with them effectively. And so I think we feel like an obligation to provide whatever resource we can to communicate with our patients. And I think it's part of the reason why there's so many workarounds that exists in this space.
Eyal Heldenberg (03:16) Yeah, there are many workarounds. This get by the situation and maybe it's more common than what we would like to think. So when we think about the different solutions out there, right? There is interpretation services, the get by solutions. Like how do you categorize them? What's best practice? What's not good, but we are doing it anyway. How do you see those?
Dr. Gezzer Ortega (03:42) Yeah, I think best practice in an ideal setting would be a human interpreter. I think that having a trained, certified medical interpreter in that language of the patient, but also someone that understands the medical language of that specific field that you're in is the ideal perfect scenario.
And it's important because there are so many languages where verbal cues, where nonverbal cues is part of the communication. And so that is captured when you have a person in there with you. But also they can capture the emotion, right? The facial expressions and some of these aspects of it. But that's not always available, right? We know that scaling that is extremely hard. And so there are other resources, right? Whether it be a phone, right? Using a telephone to reach a remote interpreter and have them communicate. We've seen video and iPads increasing in use as well, which are a little bit better because you have a video and you can interact with a person in that setting. Now we have the advent of AI that is going to really transform how we look at interpreters. But I think that that's something that I was telling someone earlier. There was a technology that I looked at last week, it's already outdated.
You know, it's moving so fast. I can't keep up with it yet, but I'm trying to. But I think it's going to be a game changer for the interpreter field as well.
Eyal Heldenberg (05:07) I totally agree on that. I wonder like, if you try to look, you know, two years from now, maybe three years from now, what would be possible, I would say perceptions on technology, maybe both on the provider side and on the patient side, what would be around that?
Dr. Gezzer Ortega (05:27) Yeah, it's tough because I think right now the perception of technology in general is that it is a replacer, right? Like sometimes when we see technology, we think, oh, it's going to take something that we know and replace it, right? And it's hard not to think of it that way, right? Because you think of like CDs now being replaced by MP3 and like you think of all these other technologies that have occurred. But I'm hoping that we see technology as an augmenter or as an enhancer, right? And not so much a replacer. There are going to be different roles and different tasks that are going to now be done by technology, similar to what we see in manufacturing, right? There are a lot of robots that do jobs that humans used to do. But I think that the big kind of within the next two or three years is seeing how the technology will evolve and how will it be implemented into the current workflows? Because to go back to your previous question of, you know, what's the ideal interpreter in the ideal setting? It depends, right? Because if I'm in a situation where, you know, we have a meeting scheduled on Thursday at three o'clock and I know that's happening and I know that you speak French, then I'm going to get that French interpreter, have them ready for our conversation.
But if it's something that's acute, unexpected, and I don't have an interpreter readily available, then maybe you use someone else that works in the hospital that speaks that language, or you go get the iPad, or in very extreme situations, you just use a family member, right? Because you need to communicate and you just need something, some resources. So the acuity sometimes, the urgency of the situation really makes it a little bit harder to do what's optimal.
Eyal Heldenberg (07:07) I totally agree. I think, there would be, maybe in five or 10 years, there will be some situations where you need humans. Imagine like a senior citizen that maybe doesn't hear very well. Imagine end of life decisions. You wouldn't want AI to interpret it because it's super sensitive. So maybe like many other verticals, AI would come and probably get some big chunk of things but we need humans for many use cases right?
Dr. Gezzer Ortega (07:36) Absolutely, right? And you mentioned those like end of life, goals of care planning and some of these situations where, or even when you have to deliver bad news, right? It's helpful to have, or a family meeting, right? It's helpful to have that person there with you serving as the interpreter and being able to read the room, right? What are the emotions? What's happening, right? What's going on? And so that's really helpful. But I agree that there are going to be many uses where technology is going to fill a lot of these gaps. And my hope is that in doing so, a patient that comes into the hospital or clinic or different healthcare settings won't have any gaps in their care that are not in a language they understand.
Eyal Heldenberg (08:18) Right, in every touch point there would be some solution that is relevant for that touch point.
Let's talk about, I get a lot about the low literature patients. I wonder if we could harness technology in those encounters, for example, that maybe the patient doesn't read very well or some level of understanding, if and how we can maybe think about it.
Dr. Gezzer Ortega (08:43) Yeah, I think that the first thing I'll say with low health literacy is that that's a separate unique concept compared to individuals with a non-English preferred language, right? Because I always say like, I can have, a patient that comes in from another country who's a PhD, super high health literacy, but they just don't speak English, right? They were born in another country, doctor in another country, right? But then they come here because they have... and while they were visiting the United States, they have appendicitis or they got injured and now need care, right? And so having a non-English preferred language doesn't necessarily always mean that you have a low health literacy, right? That's like the first thing I always try to debunk, right? Is this like connection. But there are people who have, you know, a non-English preferred language and also have a low health literacy, right? And so that makes the challenge even greater, right? Because you now have to address not only a language that you need to navigate, but you also need to navigate how you're going to communicate with this patient, right? And do it in a way where they can understand what you're saying. And I think technology affords some of that, right? We've seen some of the things that can quickly adapt to the different levels of literacy that a patient may have in the moment, which is helpful. I think we as clinicians also need to get better at describing or explaining the things that we do in a way that others can understand. And so sometimes we talk about a teach back method and, or I may say to the patient, tell me in your own words, what do you understand about what we're doing today and what the plan is? And one of the things I always tell the students and the people that I work with is that the confusion, that face of confusion is universal. No matter what language you speak, you look at someone's face and you can tell like they either get it or they don't, right? And if they don't, then you need to take a step back and say, okay, well, how do I explain this in a way where this patient will understand what the plan is? And it takes some work, some practice, but that's something that I'm hoping technology can help us do a little bit more efficiently, at least a little bit faster in those settings and think about ways where we could be more creative in describing what we want to communicate to our patients.
Eyal Heldenberg (11:01) Yeah, I totally agree. I think that technology could come and help to simplify concepts. Maybe, some doctor's you know, level of language is kind of medical language. And there are some use cases where technology would come, hey, we need to simplify that or here's an example to simplify. Maybe even just the speech part, for example, patient cannot read just to have the speech part and explainable part of it could come in hand. We talk a lot about provider autonomy and patient autonomy in a sense of freedom to operate. And I would say that language barrier, when it exists in the room, both autonomies, both parties kind of not at the optimal level. I wonder like what's your position on that technology around that and could can we or should we restore the same autonomy level as English speaking provider English speaking patient.
Dr. Gezzer Ortega (11:59) Yeah, I think that that's a great point. I was recently engaging with a couple of patients and they were discussing an increased sense of autonomy when they use an AI tool, like a Google Translate, or something like that, because it's in their control. It's in their pocket, it's in their hands, and they can guide the conversation versus what traditionally happens in our healthcare system where the clinician has to bring the interpreter to you or they have to bring an iPad to you, right, or a phone so that you can communicate with them. So there's this increased sense of control, but also, we've worked with technology that is on mobile phones. And so our clinicians have loved it because using the mobile phone, they told us if they have a mobile phone, it goes wherever they go. That means they have an interpreter wherever they go and no matter what setting they are. And sometimes you may be in one place of a hospital where you don't have, you can't find the iPad or you can't find the phone, but you have your mobile phone. And so your smartphone allows you to then quickly use an app or a technology that allows you to communicate with that patient at that time. And so there's this greater sense of empowerment that exists on both ends, right? On the clinician side, the provider side, as well as the patient side, because they have access to this technology and they can initiate it whenever they need it.
Eyal Heldenberg (13:24) Yeah, I didn't mention that you are Spanish speaking, right? You're coming from the community. Maybe we'll talk about this specific community. I wonder if you could describe a bit about special things, maybe providers should know when with the Latino community, with Spanish speaking communities, specific sensitivities, cultural and it's family politics or something like that.
Dr. Gezzer Ortega (13:52) Yeah, no, I mean, it's part of the inspiration for the work, right? My parents immigrated to the United States from the Dominican Republic and, they navigated our healthcare system, our country as primary Spanish speakers. And so early on, I was that conduit, I was that ad hoc interpreter for them in various scenarios and situations as I was learning English as a child and then navigating this multilingual, bilingual world and helping them get whatever new resources they needed. And so it's the reason that I do a lot of the research and work that I do in making sure that I can provide that access. And I've learned so many things in doing this work, right? One of the things that I've, I am from New York City, but I trained in Washington, DC. And I remember being in DC where although there's a large Latino community in both cities, in DC, the Latino community is predominantly South American. In New York, you have a larger Puerto Rican and Dominican community. And we have a phrase where, you know, a word I would say, ahorita, which to me meant later. And so sometimes I would tell a patient, like, I will come back later. I would say, I'll come back ahorita. And then when I moved to DC and I said the same word, the patients were confused and they were like, what do you mean you come back ahorita? And I'll come back later and they would say, and I would say, and they would say, no, ahorita means now. And I'm like, no, it doesn't say it means later. And I realized that in Mexico and in many Central American countries and South American countries, that word means in this moment, right? It means right now. And so I had to change the phrase that I use when I leave, you know, from an encounter where I'm speaking with someone in Spanish because of that. And so there are so many little nuances even within the Spanish language, right? Of like the same exact word that has a totally different meaning. And so we have to be mindful of that. And so, my hope is that, technology can pick up on those nuances, right? Because there could be a big difference between, I need something now versus I need something later, right? And it's the same word, but depending on where I'm from, I'm interpreting that in a different way. And so, little things that I've learned along the way and just how even within the same language, you have so many different meanings for one word, but also how people use a word varies. And so I think that it's a very humbling, but also kind of an experience that makes me realize that we need to be thoughtful about how we address some of the nuances and dialects within the different countries that may speak the same languages in technology.
Eyal Heldenberg (16:38) Yeah. We heard different stories of you have patients speaking one dialect of Spanish and bringing medical translator that speaks just another dialect. And it's an overlap of 50% of the terminology and kind of slows things down because it's not exactly your choice of words, choice a wording, the tone, the pitch, even the rhythm of the speech.
Dr. Gezzer Ortega (17:19) Absolutely. I mean, one of my favorite examples, and this is not the best word, but it depends on where you're from. And so it's the word bicho. And so in Argentina, that word is like a toddler. But in Mexico, it's an insect, like a bug. But in Puerto Rico and in Dominican Republic, it's slang for penis. And so the same word has a very different meaning depending on where you are, right? And so I think that, and there are many words like that. And so I think you're absolutely right with, you have to be mindful of where the person is coming from so that when you're communicating, you understand what their meaning of that word is so that you can make sure you're on the same page.
Eyal Heldenberg (18:06) Yeah, yeah, absolutely. I wonder what's your take on, trust as a patient when you approach and have those touch points with, you know, the healthcare system, you know, trust in general and trust for limited English proficiency patients. So what's your take, what you learned throughout the years?
Dr. Gezzer Ortega (18:30) Yeah, I mean, my take on trust is that we as clinicians have dropped the ball sometimes on making a good first impression. I think to inherit trust and to work with trust, you need to make a really good first impression. I think when you don't, then you feel like you need to work to regain a person's trust or build it back because we've already lost it. And so I think that part of it is figuring out how to make that really strong first impression. And I think for patients with limited English proficiency, I think that making sure that you have the resources they need to effectively communicate makes a very strong first impression, right? Having an interpreter ready or having a resource or technology ready for them to use, but then also providing them with that resource throughout their entire care, lets them know that you want to hear what they have to say. And then the second thing I'll say about that is I truly believe that patient care happens in the small talk. And so when we have an opportunity to communicate effectively in English, I can ask you about your dog and your cat and who you live with and all these things that may not be directly related to why you're here in the hospital or in the clinic, but are important to you and are important for me to get a full picture of who you are, right? And so, for instance, if I know what your living situation is, then I may say, okay, well, maybe we need to get you rehab or a nurse at home or something because you live alone, right? Or, I may learn that you have a lot of support at home. And so, I will feel more comfortable sending you home and letting you do these things at home because you have a lot of support. But all of those things happen in small conversations and the small talk. And sometimes when we work with an interpreter or we're using another medium to communicate, we tend to forget that. We become very transactional, right? Like we just say, well, tell me what I need to know I get what I need to get and then that's it, right? You don't tend to ask about the dog or the cat or who lives at home. And so I think that what we have to be mindful of is as we, to build trust with this community, right? We need to continue to do the same things that we do, even when we're working through an interpreter or a technology, right? Not to lose that human touch in these conversations, right? Because that's where we'll be able to learn what the full scope of the patient and what we can do to really take care of them optimally.
Eyal Heldenberg (21:07) Yeah, this is a great insight. I wonder, let's talk a bit about medical translation and regulation, policy, what's now? How do you think this will evolve in the next couple of years?
Dr. Gezzer Ortega (21:23) A lot. It's going to continue to evolve. I think that currently CMS requires that anything that is AI translated be audited by a human. And so right now we're using AI technology in various spaces, especially like translation of documents is a common use of AI, but that still needs to be vetted and audited by someone, linguist that can you know, verify that the translation was correct. I think that that will get better with time. I think that we will find various use cases where we may not need to have everything vetted by an interpreter or a linguist. I do think that there are certain aspects that are gonna be a little bit more challenging than others, like the informed concept process, right? Is one in where there's a legal component to it and there's a contract that's being signed by two parties. And what does it mean to have that translated by or interpreted by AI, right? Or even interpreted, translated and then by AI and then vetted by a human, you know, right? Like we still have to work through these things. But a lot of technology, we tend to be very reactive when it comes to policies, right? We see what happens and then we say, okay, well now we need a policy to address this, versus proactive, right? And thinking about, but I think, what's important is that we need the technology sector and the healthcare sector and the clinicians to work together on these policies, right? We need from the very beginning for everyone to be in the same room thinking about these things, because if not, we could miss an opportunity have a policy that's not going to, that may have a un-consequential adverse effects or.
Eyal Heldenberg (22:48) Yeah.
Dr. Gezzer Ortega (23:09) we could miss an opportunity have a policy that's not going to, that may have a un-consequential adverse effects or.
Eyal Heldenberg (23:20) Yeah, yeah, makes sense. So maybe just one last question for today. Are you optimistic towards the future and your vision to it?
Dr. Gezzer Ortega (23:32) I'm super optimistic, but I'm also an optimist by nature. But I think that the future is going to be one in where technology is going to allow us to provide better care to our patients if we use it right, right? If we use it effectively, if we're smart about how we incorporate it, I think it has an opportunity to allow us to provide better care, but also from an equity standpoint, equity lens, I think it may allow us to really fill a lot of gaps that inequities have caused within our healthcare system. And if we can do it in a way where we're thoughtful and mindful about the populations that we're caring for, I think we can have a great impact on the overall health of our patients.
Eyal Heldenberg (24:25) Amazing, this is a great closure. Thank you very much, Dr. Ortega for being in Care Culture Talks. I appreciate it.
Dr. Gezzer Ortega (24:33) Thank you for having me. I appreciate it.
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