¡Pegue esto donde el Sun no brilla!
From EurekAlert!
Surprisingly few pharmacies in the U.S. are able to translate prescription medication instructions into Spanish, making it difficult for patients who speak only Spanish to understand how to take their medications properly, according to a new study from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. The first multi-state study investigating the ability of pharmacies to translate prescription labels found more than half of the pharmacies were unable to translate any labels or could do only a limited number of translations. The study looked at pharmacies in states with a large existing Latino population (Texas and Colorado) and in states with a rapid growth in Latino population (Georgia and North Carolina). These states -- because of their large Latino populations -- are likely to have the greatest demand and capability for translation. Other states may be further behind, researchers said.
"The lack of translation for prescription medication instructions is a major problem," said lead author Stacy Cooper Bailey, clinical research associate and director of the Health Literacy and Learning Program at Northwestern's Feinberg School. "If you don't know how to take your medications correctly, it is going to be difficult for you to manage your medical condition. Taking medications incorrectly could cause serious problems or even death." The data also showed that 44 percent of pharmacies located in counties where the Latino population exceeds a quarter of the population were unable to provide comprehensive Spanish medication instructions. "The numbers are much worse than I anticipated," Bailey said. "A lot of effort has gone into improving language services in hospitals, but pharmacies have been overlooked," Bailey said. "That is unfortunate because a lot of people take medications. It's one of the most common health tasks that you have to perform. Knowing how to take your medications correctly is essential."
Bailey said some pharmacists report being afraid to use translations because they don't know what the Spanish translations mean. "They worry they are giving an incorrect instruction and they will be liable for it," Bailey said. "Pharmacies also may not be aware of software programs that offer translations," she added. Availability of translations is likely to be even worse for people who speak a language other than Spanish, Bailey said. "We have to be able to provide medication instructions in multiple languages, even beyond Spanish. More laws need to be passed to guide and enforce language services in pharmacies. We also need to come up with innovative ways of helping pharmacies provide these services. There are ways to overcome this obstacle."
"The lack of translation for prescription medication instructions is a major problem," said lead author Stacy Cooper Bailey, clinical research associate and director of the Health Literacy and Learning Program at Northwestern's Feinberg School. "If you don't know how to take your medications correctly, it is going to be difficult for you to manage your medical condition. Taking medications incorrectly could cause serious problems or even death." The data also showed that 44 percent of pharmacies located in counties where the Latino population exceeds a quarter of the population were unable to provide comprehensive Spanish medication instructions. "The numbers are much worse than I anticipated," Bailey said. "A lot of effort has gone into improving language services in hospitals, but pharmacies have been overlooked," Bailey said. "That is unfortunate because a lot of people take medications. It's one of the most common health tasks that you have to perform. Knowing how to take your medications correctly is essential."
Bailey said some pharmacists report being afraid to use translations because they don't know what the Spanish translations mean. "They worry they are giving an incorrect instruction and they will be liable for it," Bailey said. "Pharmacies also may not be aware of software programs that offer translations," she added. Availability of translations is likely to be even worse for people who speak a language other than Spanish, Bailey said. "We have to be able to provide medication instructions in multiple languages, even beyond Spanish. More laws need to be passed to guide and enforce language services in pharmacies. We also need to come up with innovative ways of helping pharmacies provide these services. There are ways to overcome this obstacle."
I was very pissed off when I read this. All I could see was pharmacies being forced to provide translators somehow and that it would be regulated and sanctioned by the State. Livid I was. El toro enragio. Then my little sister came by and came up with the perfect solution. Simply have a toll free phone number for the druggists and customers to use for translation. She also figured out how to pay for it - publish the availibility of that service everywhere. The pharmacies would get free advertising, the customers would get the help they need and the lawyers looking for malpractice or civil rights class action suits could go fuck themselves and it wouldn't cost the taxpayer a dime. Which is why the idea will never see the light of day.
Hard to see good ideas - or anything else for that matter - when your head is where the Sun don't shine.
Too easy Steel
Posted by: Jim McFalls | 05/31/2009 at 08:20 AM
Good God in Heaven, why is this something that needs to be agonized over? If these people can't or won't learn our damned language, why do WE have to fret over it? Can't they find someone in their community sufficiently knowledgeable in English to capably translate instructions? Are they ALL English-illiterate?
Crikes, every time I hear of stupid ass-licking shit like this, it makes me wish for ALL of them to be deported, regardless of their status. What the hell ever happened to personal initiative and personal responsibility?????
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama | 05/31/2009 at 11:18 PM