Overcoming Language Barriers: Transvaginal Ultrasound Translation Sheets For Radiology Patients

Abstract

South Shore Hospital is a nonprofit health organization that provides community care, home health, specialty care, primary care, emergency and urgent care, and wellness services. This senior internship aimed to create a resource about Transvaginal Ultrasound for staff to provide their non-English speaking patients. Ten staff members of the Ultrasound Department were interviewed about specific language barriers when working with their patients. As a result, the existing English version was translated into five documents to assist patients who spoke Cantonese, Vietnamese, Spanish, Haitian Creole, and Portuguese. According to staff, the translation sheets will improve communication with non-English speaking patients (especially understanding the exam) and overall patient satisfaction. After this internship, the department will continue to use the translation sheets to prevent future language barriers.