By Raquel C. Malo, MS, RD, LD/N

Many Hispanics in this country are “acculturated”—meaning we have adopted behaviors, lifestyles, and language of Americans—but there are those who, particularly the elderly, don’t speak English and are more comfortable with Spanish-speaking or bilingual doctors who offer them a more personal, culturally-sensitive relationship.

Unfortunately, finding these physicians can be challenging. In fact, research from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation indicates that one-fifth of Spanish-speaking Latinos throughout the U.S. say they don’t seek care because of language barriers. Even so, don’t be discouraged. There are a number of steps you can take to find a Spanish-speaking physician serving your community.

Getting Started

What’s the best way to begin looking for a Spanish-speaking physician for your loved one?  Here are some tips to guide you:

• Begin by asking family and friends—this is usually the best way to start because personal referrals are highly valued and respected among Latinos.
• Check with your church or other local faith-basedorganizations—faith is a very important part of Latinos’ lives and a trusted referral source for a variety of health and social services in the community.
• Contact community organizations—often these groups work in partnership with local hospitals to bring health services to a local church or community center—familiar places where Latinos feel secure.
• Ask your health plan—for those covered by private health insurance; some providers can help direct you to Spanish-speaking doctors in the network.

You can also contact these national organizations that have local affiliates to help you find a Spanish-speaking physician in your area:

• The American Medical Association(AMA) offers a directory of doctors across the U.S. at www.doctorfinder.com. Here you can locate physicians serving your geographic area and in turn, inquire if they are Spanish-speaking and/or have allied health professionals in their office who speak Spanish.
• The National Alliance for Hispanic Health is a network of health and human service providers for Hispanic consumers throughout the U.S. You can access this organization’s resources on line at www.hispanichealth.org or by calling either of these toll-free health hotlines supported by bilingual information specialists:
• • Su Familia: The National Hispanic Family Health Helpline  Call toll-free 866-783-2645
  • National Hispanic Prenatal Helpline Call toll-free 800-504-7081 
• TheNational Council of La Raza, the largest national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. NCLR’s Institute for Hispanic Health (IHH) works in close partnership with NCLR affiliates, government agencies, private funders, and other Latino-serving organizations to deliver science-based, linguistically appropriate and high-quality health services. Learn more at www.nclr.org.

If you’re still having trouble finding a doctor who speaks Spanish after exhausting these options, ask the receptionist at the medical practice if there’s a Spanish-speaking staff member who can facilitate communication between your loved one and the doctor.  Although up to 65% of Latinos express some concerns about using an interpreter,  working with one may help put your loved one at ease with his/her physician.  Interpreters or translators who are bilingual and bicultural—with an ability to translate subtleties of the language—actually may be best suited for this role.

Also, the federal government has recognized the increasing need for more Spanish-speaking physicians and medical staff in the U.S. and now requires physicians who accept Medicaid and Medicare payments to pay for interpreters for patients with limited English. Furthermore, some doctors are learning Spanish and becoming bilingual with the goal of providing the best possible care to allpatients.

 
Making an Appointment

Once you’ve found a doctor or group practice, call to make an appointment. At that time tell the scheduling nurse your loved one prefers being treated by a Spanish-speaking physician.  If the practice is culturally-sensitive—recognizing, respecting, and responding to cultural beliefs and values—the nurse will either build in time during the first appointment to “get to know the patient” prior to treatment or will set up an initial consultation for you and your loved to get acquainted with the physician. 

As the caregiver, also consider contacting the physician’s office to set-up a “pre-appointment” when you two can talk about your loved one’s health needs and condition, prior to the patient’s actual appointment.  Topics for this conversation may include the patient’s age, gender, Spanish-speaking only or bilingual, religious affiliation, diet & exercise plan (if any), how long the condition has existed, other medical professionals recently visited for condition, medications prescribes, and identification of  the family’s decision-maker on health issues. 

With this information in-hand, the physician will be better prepared to talk with and treat your loved one in a culturally-respectful manner which can positively affect your loved one’s behavior and potentially improve healthcare outcomes.

For example with Latino families, physicians must often consult first with a male family member before any decisions are made about treatment for a female member of the family. If the healthcare professional only speaks with a female family member, the treatment may be refused for this reason. This is one of many examples of how culturally-relevant care can help your loved one. This approach not only acknowledges the physician’s understanding of Latino cultural values, but also helps build trust with your loved one and the whole family.