Healthcare for All: Ethnicity & Culture

The Philadelphia Refugee Mental Health Collaborative (PRMHC) 

Communication was identified as the first main area by provider interviews: how do you communicate across a language barrier, as well as *how* a provider is communicating about mental health. 

Lessons in Communication

• Introduction to the patient
  • Apply Cultural Understanding
  • Use native language greetings
  • Explain your role
  • Enable a comfortable pace
  • Ask open-ended questions
• Navigating Language Barriers 
  • Broaden your language skills
  • Body language & nonverbal cues
  • Simplify language and concepts
  • Repeat question in different ways
  • Don't assume understanding 
• Language Access
  • Maintain appropriate eye contact
  • Speak clearly and adjust volume (when talking on the phone with an interpreter)
• The Referral Process
  • Use you trusted network
  • Follow up for feedback
  • Consider barriers to access