When I got the call that my father was in the hospital, I was worried. But when I arrived to find my little old man shriveled, meek, and sad due to his lack of English and the healthcare providers’ lack of Spanish, I was shocked. This breakdown in communication led the doctors to sedate and restrain my father, who didn’t understand what was going on. After this experience, I recommended a plan to properly care for patients with language and cultural barriers to ensure the fiasco perpetrated against my dad would not be repeated. This is a story about the importance of compassion, patience, compassion, and most importantly, Hispanic Engagement.
*This Article has originally published on HuffPost
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/a-wake-up-call-a-healthca_b_9181576
