Authors of a study published in Health Affairs found communication difficulties with Latino patients is one of the biggest challenges for primary care physicians.
The authors studied challenges faced by physicians treating primarily Latino patients compared to physicians treating primarily white and non-Latino patients. They found primary care physicians especially struggled with inadequate time with patients; ability to pay; nonadherence to recommended treatment; communication difficulties; relative lack of specialist availability; and lack of timely transmission of reports among physicians.
The authors suggest legislation should assist these physicians in closing health disparities.
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The authors studied challenges faced by physicians treating primarily Latino patients compared to physicians treating primarily white and non-Latino patients. They found primary care physicians especially struggled with inadequate time with patients; ability to pay; nonadherence to recommended treatment; communication difficulties; relative lack of specialist availability; and lack of timely transmission of reports among physicians.
The authors suggest legislation should assist these physicians in closing health disparities.
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Joint Commission, HHS Release Video to Improve Language Access in Healthcare
