SYNOPSIS

Australian patients with low English proficiency are considerably disadvantaged compared to patients who are fluent in English; they stay in hospital longer, have higher readmission rates, and undergo more diagnostic tests. When these patients also have a disability or a mental health condition, the divide is even greater. ‘Diversity’ in the health context mainly translates to ‘disadvantage’ and inequality; this Grand Round will argue that we need to change the perception of ‘diversity’ as a problem, and embrace it as a solution.

Health services have the capacity to adequately address and bridge the divide; we have evidence that by putting in place strong organisational structures we can achieve tangible results. When health services ignore or fail to invest in culturally appropriate services, Australians with low English proficiency are further disadvantaged and the cost to the tax payer is higher.

My talk today suggests ways to address diversity in the health context; it analyses reliable data, and discusses the structural changes hospitals ought to make to improve the health outcomes of patients with low English proficiency, and give equal access to services to all Australians regardless of their language proficiency.

SPEAKER

Emiliano Zucchi manages the Transcultural & Language Services (TALS) Department at Northern Health, and is responsible for the organisation’s Cultural Responsiveness Plan. He has also developed the Northern Health Disability Policy and Disability Action Plan.  Emiliano is an Adjunct Industry Fellow in Translation and Interpreting Studies in the School of Languages, Literature, Cultures & Linguistics at Monash University. His research focuses on the impact cultural competence has on the health outcomes of patients with low English proficiency. He has managed a number of successful projects, including a video-interpreting pilot program which led to the implementation of video-interpreting at Northern Health, and various projects in collaboration with Donate Life, the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI), and the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine (ACEM).