The U.S. Hispanic population is growing steadily, and so is the population of those who speak primarily Spanish. However, the number of Spanish-speaking physicians is fewer than Spanish-speaking patients.
The proportion of Latino physicians per 100,000 Hispanic individuals dropped from 135 to 105 between 1980 and 2010, according to a University of California, Los Angeles study. In some states, such as Texas, the difference is more pronounced — Texas has only 78 Latino physicians per 100,000 Hispanic residents. California has only 50 per 100,000 residents.
The number of interpreters also falls behind the number of patients who could use their services.". Some health IT companies, such as Stratus Video Interpreting, are trying to fill that gap. Clearwater, Fla.-based Stratus connects clients with staff interpreters through video on an on-demand basis, accessible in 175 languages, according to a news release.
"The growing doctor shortage and relatively low proportion of Latino physicians have made it increasingly difficult for limited English proficiency patients to obtain treatment from healthcare providers who speak their language," said David Fetterolf, president of Stratus Video Interpreting, in the news release. "They may have to wait weeks for an appointment with a Spanish-speaking doctor; so in time-sensitive cases, they often receive treatment from someone who doesn't speak their language. This has the potential of creating confusion or miscommunication between doctors and patients, which can have serious repercussions on patients' health and safety."