A patient who speaks limited English has come in for a consultation and, based on the initial greeting, does not appear to fully understand the medical assistant's questions. What should the medical assistant do to facilitate effective communication?
Arrange for a qualified interpreter to assist in communication.
Use hand gestures and visual aids exclusively to communicate with the patient.
Ask the patient's accompanying child to interpret the medical information and relay the patient's concerns.
Proceed with the consultation using simple English and hoping the patient understands enough to provide informed consent.
The medical assistant should arrange for a qualified interpreter to ensure accurate and effective communication between the healthcare provider and the patient. Using family members, especially children, or friends may result in miscommunication, breaches of confidentiality, and is prohibited or strongly discouraged in healthcare settings. Relying on the limited English proficiency of the patient could lead to misunderstandings concerning health information and consent. It's important for healthcare providers to use qualified interpretation services to minimize errors, ensure informed consent, and maintain legal and ethical standards of care.
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