A survey released by the United States Census Bureau
revealed that more than 60 million Americans five years and older spoke a
language other than English at home. Unsurprisingly, more than half of these
individuals speak Spanish. Other popular languages included Chinese (Mandarin),
Tagalog, Vietnamese, French, German, and Korean.
We know that nearly all colleges in the United States
mandate that some sort of foreign language requirements be met for graduation;
usually at least 2 years worth. We also know that no dental school has such a
requirement, and that students have a tendency to forget their acquired
languages after they are no longer being graded on them.
The question is: how are you as a dental professional going
to handle patients in your office who may not speak English as a primary
language, or at all?
Being the only practice in town that has a plan to cater to
this growing demographic could be what sets your office apart from others, and
ultimately makes you successful. Things to think about include:
- Staffing;
would you require your office staff to be multi-lingual?
- Marketing;
how could you spread the word that your office can accommodate non-English
speaking patients?
- And
Special Accommodations; what “little things” could you do in your office
that make non-English speaking patients feel comfortable?
Share some of your best suggestions with your peers in the
comments section below!