Mr. Figureoa lived in Puerto Rico through childhood and adolescence. His first language was Spanish, and when he arrived on the mainland, he taught himself English. Although he has lived on the mainland for decades, and speaks good English, language differences still present some challenges. His English is accented, making some words hard to catch. As an example, listen to the brief video here, where he is describing his diabetes. In a health care encounter, his accent might lead to misunderstanding. In addition, particularly for technical terms, it is important to check his comprehension. While Mr. Figueroa would not need to have an interpreter present, the U.S. Civil Rights law of 1963 requires that for individuals who are not fluent in English, interpreters must be provided. As a health care professional, you should be sure to inform yourself about how to secure translation assistance when it is needed.

For more information about finding and using interpreter services in health care encounters, visit:

http://medicine.ucsf.edu/resources/guidelines/culture.html

(Video clip of Mr. Figueroa telling interviewer he has diabetes)

To consider other cultural factors, go back

To go on to a review of his treatment plan, click here