The missing strategy in addressing language barriers

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic is magnifying preexisting health disparities whereby patients with limited English proficiency receive lower-quality health care and experience poorer outcomes. To address these realities, language interventions to date have focused on interpreter services and linguistically tailored health information. But these limited solutions fail to target a more upstream, overlooked, and modifiable factor: a patient's access to improving their English proficiency and health literacy. We present recommendations for addressing language as a social determinant of health by improving access to English as a Second Language programs. This article outlines steps that health systems and policy makers can take to more directly treat upstream causes of language disparities.