Pandemic imperiled non-English speakers more than others By Martha Bebinger, WBUR
Share: Interpreter Ana Maria Rios-Velez demonstrates the screening app at the front entrance of Brigham and Women s Hospital in Boston. It has a multilingual function to better communicate with non-English-speaking patients and staffers. (Jesse Costa/WBUR/KHN/TNS)
BOSTON In March 2020, just weeks into the COVID-19 pandemic, the incident command center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston was scrambling to understand this deadly new disease. It appeared to be killing more Black and brown patients than whites. For Latinos, there was an additional warning sign: language.
Patients who didn’t speak much, or any, English had a 35% greater chance of death.
COVID-19 Imperiled Non-English Speakers More Than Most
Hospitals across the country have reported more hospitalizations and deaths of Black and Latino patients than whites. Black and brown patients may be more susceptible because they are more likely to have a chronic illness.
April 28, 2021 •
TNS
(TNS) - In March 2020, just weeks into the COVID-19 pandemic, the incident command center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston was scrambling to understand this deadly new disease. It appeared to be killing more Black and brown patients than whites. For Latinos, there was an additional warning sign: language.
Patients who didn’t speak much, or any, English had a 35% greater chance of death.
Pandemic imperiled non-English speakers more than others
In March 2020, just weeks into the Covid-19 pandemic, the incident command center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston was scrambling to understand this deadly new disease. It appeared to be killing more Black and brown patients than whites. For Latinos, there was an additional warning sign: language.
Patients who didn’t speak much, or any, English had a 35% greater chance of death.
Clinicians who couldn’t communicate clearly with patients in the hospital’s Covid units noticed it was affecting outcomes.
“We had an inkling that language was going to be an issue early on,” said Dr. Karthik Sivashanker, then Brigham’s medical director for quality, safety and equity. “We were getting safety reports saying language is a problem.”
Jesse Costa / WBUR
In March 2020, weeks into the COVID-19 pandemic, the incident command center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston was scrambling to understand this deadly new disease that appeared to be killing more Black and Brown patients than whites.
For Latinos, there was an additional warning sign: language.
People who were infected and who didn’t speak much, or any, English had a 35% greater chance of death.
Clinicians who couldn’t communicate clearly with patients in the hospital’s coronavirus units took note.
“We had an inkling that language was going to be an issue early on,” said Dr. Karthik Sivashanker, then Brigham’s medical director for quality, safety and equity. “We were getting safety reports saying language is a problem.”
Jesse Costa, WBUR
Interpreter Ana Maria Rios-Velez demonstrates the screening app at the front entrance of Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston. It has a multilingual function to better communicate with non-English speaking patients and staff.
Apr 23, 2021
Martha Bebinger
In March, just weeks into the COVID-19 pandemic, the incident command center at Brigham and Women s Hospital in Boston was scrambling to understand this deadly new disease. It appeared to be killing more black and brown patients than whites. For Latino patients, there was an additional warning sign language.
Patients who didn t speak much, if any, English had a 35% greater chance of death.