Dr. Amelia Barwise authors July edition of Cultural Responsiveness Blog
Boynton Beach, FL (July 9, 2025)- The July edition of the “Cultural Responsiveness” blog by Latinos en Optometry and sponsored by VSP Vision highlights an article written by Amelia K. Barwise, MB, Bch, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine and Biomedical Ethics at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.
In her article, Dr. Barwise highlights that language barriers pose considerable challenges for patients when interacting with the health care system. Indeed, studies conducted in hospital intensive care unit and other critical care environments have demonstrated that language barriers lead to poorer health outcomes.
“The federal government mandates that patients are entitled to a qualified professional interpreter during health care encounters,” she states. “However, these services are often underused, even in settings where interpreters are easily accessible.”
Many medical offices resort to ad hoc interpretation, enlisting a staff member to assist when a patient’s proficiency in English appears to be limited. That may be acceptable if the ad hoc interpreter is proficient in both languages, but in many instances, ad hoc interpretation falls short of ideal standards. In her article, she provides guidance on how optometrists can enhance care for patients in their community who may face language barriers.
Dr. Barwise’s blog is available on the Latinos en Optometry website at https://latinosenoptometry.org/news/cultural-responsiveness/.
About the Cultural Responsiveness Blog
Latinos en Optometry has partnered with VSP Vision™ to create the Cultural Responsiveness blog series. This collaborative initiative aims to assist current and future practitioners in recognizing the significance of healthcare services that cater to the social, cultural, and linguistic needs of patients. Non-members of Latinos en Optometry who are interested in accessing the complimentary blog can subscribe at https://latinosenoptometry.org/newsletter/.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the press release and blog are those of Dr. Amelia K. Barwise and do not reflect the views of her employer.