At Vaya Health, celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month is as much about honoring culture as it is a reminder of our year-round commitment to breaking down barriers, expanding access, and providing culturally responsive care for every community we serve.
Clear communication is the backbone of safe health care. For patients with limited English proficiency, especially Spanish speakers, misunderstandings can lead to delayed diagnoses, medication errors, or improper follow-up care.
According to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 1 in 5 people (22%) age 5 and older in the United States spoke a language other than English at home from 2017 to 2021. Although NC Medicaid beneficiaries are U.S. citizens, some may have Limited English Proficiency (LEP). Furthermore, family members, caregivers, and others involved in their care or community support may also lack English proficiency, making clear communication and culturally appropriate services essential.
Preventing Errors and Saving Lives
Miscommunication is a leading cause of medical mistakes. A well-known example is the mistranslation of “once” in prescriptions, which means “eleven” in Spanish, not “one time”. Professional Spanish translation services ensure accuracy that ad-hoc interpreters or machine tools cannot guarantee.
Legal and Ethical Obligations
Federal law, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, requires health care providers to offer language assistance to patients with limited English proficiency. Beyond compliance, translation services demonstrate respect and build trust, which leads to better adherence to treatment plans.
Public Health Impact
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the role of language access in emergency response. Communities with strong Spanish translation infrastructure were better able to distribute accurate health information and improve vaccination uptake.
In a health care system under pressure to deliver both empathy and efficiency, Vaya’s investment in training represents a forward-looking model—where communication isn’t a barrier, but a bridge to better health.
Examples of Vaya’s commitment to the Spanish-speaking communities we serve include:
- Vaya Health is proud to partner with Vecinos, Inc. to expand culturally responsive care for Hispanic communities in western North Carolina. Through this collaboration, Vaya is funding a full-time bilingual therapist to provide behavioral health outreach, direct care, and connections to primary care and other supports. Serving Haywood, Transylvania, Jackson, Swain, Macon, Clay, Graham, and Cherokee counties, this initiative helps break down barriers such as language, geographic isolation, and limited resources—ensuring Spanish-speaking community members have access to the vital care they need.
- Equipo de Recursos de Educación Sanitaria y Envejecimiento de Vaya (HEART) held its first fully Spanish-language mental health education session. The class, titled “Una Descripción General de la Salud Mental (An Overview of Mental Health),” occurred on July 9 at the Centro de Mayores Rufty-Holmes (RHSC) in Salisbury. Participants learned about treatment options, explored the differences between mental health and mental illness, and gained practical tools to help reduce stigma within their communities.
- As of Nov. 2024, all text on VayaHealth.com became available in English and Spanish, and designed for seamless access on both desktop and mobile smartphones. This ensures patients and families can connect with resources in the language and format that works best for them. VayaHealth.com content is available in Spanish when clicking ES on the upper toolbar. Those needing additional translation services can contact Vaya’s Member and Recipient Service Line at 1-800-962-9003 (7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday – Saturday).
Spanish translation services reduce errors, improve outcomes, and fulfill both legal and ethical obligations. In a multilingual nation, they are not a luxury but a lifeline.
