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Good communication between health care providers and patients is part of good healthcare, but how does someone receive good healthcare when their first language isn’t English? Resources, like translation apps and medical interpreters are valuable assets that help with the problem but there is room for improvement.

Although I don’t struggle with English, I have witnessed firsthand how difficult it is for my parents when they go to the doctors. A simple doctor’s appointment becomes an overwhelming game of telephone between the patient, interpreter, and doctor. Things inevitably get misunderstood and lost in translation. 

For my BFA project, I created a healthcare app called Patch, which is aimed at helping to build a stronger foundation for communication between doctors and patients with limited English proficiency (LEP). LEP patients can use Patch to find doctors whose offices have experience in accommodating LEP patients; assist patients in describing why they are visiting the doctor; and finally, to provide a summary of the doctor’s visit. I plan to create a prototype of the app in English and Spanish. For the exhibit, to provide more public visual appeal and understanding, I plan to create a poster and brochure to advertise the app to potential users.  

Healthcare and design are two fields that have a direct impact on human lives. Brought together, I believe they have the potential to foster wellness and improve our lives. The goal of this project is to further improve healthcare access for LEP patients. Strong communication in healthcare can help save lives and help people live longer, which is why it’s an important topic to address.

 

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