Updated: August 10, 2022
Navigating the U.S. healthcare system can be a challenge for any individual. However, the obstacles to healthcare can be more significant for those born outside the U.S. or who do not speak English. Research shows that the relationship between Hispanics and healthcare can often be complex.
The good news is that you have options that can make healthcare accessible, minimizing frustration and empowering you to care for yourself and your family. Locally-based Hispanic clinics, such as those operated by Centro Médico Latino, can provide personalized care and a significantly improved healthcare experience.
Centro Médico Latino in Charlotte, NC, understands that different people have different needs. Visiting your local Hispanic clinic offers benefits that no other medical center can.
Benefits of Visiting Your Local Hispanic Clinic
There are numerous advantages to visiting a Hispanic clinic. Our patients describe their experience at our clinics as being dramatically different from those they have had with others. Here at Centro Médico Latino, we thoughtfully tailored care to your situation paired with a knowledgeable team that understands your unique circumstances.
The benefits of seeking care at a Hispanic clinic include:
1. No language barrier
The language barrier is one of the biggest obstacles for Hispanic individuals seeking healthcare. But at a Hispanic clinic, that is not an issue. Communicating with providers in Spanish can make a difference for many patients and dramatically improve treatment quality. About 80% of Hispanic adults that predominantly speak Spanish would prefer to see a Spanish-speaking provider.
And yet, less than 6% of doctors can speak Spanish fluently. And of all health care practitioners and technicians, only 9% are Hispanic. Not only can this cause frustration and discomfort for Hispanic patients, but it can also trigger misunderstandings resulting in incompatible treatments and care with your situation. 44% of U.S. Hispanics report that communication problems are associated with worse health outcomes.
Leave Your Translator at Home
Quite often, when a Spanish-speaking family member gets sick, they have to bring someone else along to their doctor’s appointment. This can complicate matters for the family since two people have to take time off work. Attending a medical center specializing in Spanish-speaking patients gives you independence.
There are also the little things that a Hispanic clinic understands. We realize that it can be scary and intimidating to walk into a doctor’s office without speaking the language. When the receptionist, nurses, and doctor talk in Spanish, that fear fades away.
Your Language Means Faster Recovery
Studies have shown that receiving instructions in your language leads to a faster recovery. Much of this is because people misunderstand instructions or advice when given in a second language. Seemingly innocuous details, like when to take a pill or what medicines you should not combine, can significantly impact your health.
Patients who receive medical attention in their native language tend to return more frequently for follow-up visits and checkups, leading to better lifelong health.
2. Cultural Understanding
While speaking the language is essential, it is far from the only important characteristic of a Hispanic clinic. Perhaps more important than the language is the cultural understanding of Spanish-speaking doctors and medical staff.
No Judgment
Numerous studies have revealed that many Hispanic patients feel as though they are judged by others when they visit hospitals and local clinics. For instance, a mother who doesn’t bring her child in for checkups as frequently as she would like to may feel guilty, especially when the doctor asks why she hasn’t kept up with the schedule.
Part of cultural understanding is recognizing the socio-cultural realities of different ethnicities. Hispanic parents are more likely to have multiple jobs and are also more likely to be uninsured than the average American patient. Doctors who aren’t used to this reality may perceive their patients as lazy, disinterested, or even negligent.
That fear of judgment makes many Latino communities shy away from medical treatment. We want the exact opposite to happen. We strive to create an environment where people feel welcomed and safe.
Cultural Competence
A growing term in the medical industry is cultural competence. Cultural Competence refers to the medical practitioner’s self-awareness of their own beliefs and biases, their knowledge of other groups’ beliefs, and how they put that knowledge to use. A culturally competent medical provider is more likely to promote diversity training and engage in community outreach.
When a clinic chooses to focus on a particular community, as is our case, it means we aim to have a high level of cultural competence. You should not only feel heard but understood. That is our goal with every visit
3. Better Diagnoses
The previous two points combine to give us the third. When you visit a clinic that can speak your language and understands your cultural background, you get a better diagnosis. Shouldn’t that be the primary goal of all medicine?
Knowing your culture makes it easier to diagnose you. There are differences in lifestyles and habits that can facilitate diagnosis. For example, a traditional Latino diet differs considerably from the standard American diet. That dietary difference can impact the diagnosis of diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and even liver disorders.
More Time to Talk
When Spanish-speaking patients visit a regular clinic, doctors rush them through the process, often because they don’t speak Spanish. Therefore, most don’t take the time to get to know their patients.
When both parties can effectively communicate, a sense of relaxation follows, and both sides can speak freely without fear of being judged. To ensure the doctor understands the problem accurately, they must access the patient’s inner thoughts. Doing so can make a more informed decision about what needs to happen next.
Mental Health
Mental health is one of the most significant health issues affecting the Latino community; even if the increase in depression and psychiatric disorders affects everyone worldwide, physicians chronically under-diagnosed Hispanic patients for these problems. Why is this?
Part of the problem goes back to culture. Many Latino men have a stigma of having mental health issues. For men, who are supposed to stay strong, depression is seen as a sign of weakness.
A Latino might chalk his depression up to work stress or exhaustion with your average doctor. However, a proper diagnosis emerges when they can open up to a Spanish-speaking doctor who understands their reality, and successful treatment follows.
4. Less Biased Treatment
Another factor that produces better results in our clinic is our lack of bias. Bias comes in two forms: implicit and explicit. Explicit bias is when someone openly says something biased against a particular group. Implicit bias is more straightforward than explicit bias because it is not apparent; it is revealed in people’s subtle actions rather than overt words.
Sadly, about 25% of Latino and Black patients reported experiencing racial discrimination when seeking healthcare. This discrimination can range from blatant prejudice to less severe but visible racial bias. In a healthcare setting, prejudice and discrimination can look like this:
- Providers dismissing the symptoms or concerns of a patient
- Offering treatment based on the patient’s insurance coverage
- Refusing to provide care in a patient’s native language
- Perceiving patients as more difficult
- Failing to provide quality care
A 2013 study titled Assessment of Biases Against Latinos and African-Americans Among Primary Care Providers and Community Members demonstrated that primary care providers had a significantly higher implicit bias towards Latinos and African-Americans. Although discrimination was worse for African-Americans, the study provided the first evidence of bias against Latinos in medicine.
Racial Bias in Medicine
It’s an open secret these days that medicine has a significant racial bias towards minorities. How this bias manifests from place to place depends on the minority in question.
An example of this is how doctors manage pain. Studies show that doctors are more likely to prescribe painkillers to white patients. Some justify this by declaring they believe Latinos or African Americans are more rigid and able to withstand the pain. Others claim they are worried about the medicines resold on the streets as drugs.
These attitudes prevail in many parts of the country, and unfortunately, minorities have to prove their innocence. At a Hispanic clinic, you never have to
5. Affordable Treatment
In a 2006 study, Flores Abreu and Tomany-Korman surveyed over a thousand parents to learn more about Latinos and health insurance. The results were alarming. Around 19% of the Hispanic community is uninsured.
That same study aimed to identify some risk factors for being uninsured. One of the most significant factors was English proficiency. When parents can’t speak English, their children suffer. Another one was whether or not the parents were legal immigrants.
Although the Affordable Care Act has helped improve the options for individuals needing health insurance, it has not been a perfect solution. The number of Hispanics without insurance has decreased somewhat, dropping from nearly 33% in 2010 to about 20% in 2019. Hispanics are significantly more likely to be uninsured than White patients, which can present a significant barrier for those needing healthcare. It is widespread for individuals to avoid seeking care simply because they are concerned that they will not be able to afford it.
How We Can Help
Clinics catering to the Hispanic community understand that many members will be uninsured. As a result, we strive to keep costs down as much as possible without sacrificing quality. In addition, most Hispanic clinics are willing to accept a broader selection of insurance plans.
A lack of insurance should not be the determining factor in whether a person receives medical attention or not. We aim to make healthcare accessible to the Hispanic community rather than barring access.
Medical Debt
When patients cannot afford medical care, they often are faced with tough choices. Medical debt has become a significant burden for many people in the United States, not just the Latino community.
The average American spends more than $10,000, nearly $12,000 yearly, on healthcare; this would represent a significant portion of someone’s income, especially in the Latino community. It’s estimated that 32% about 50% of American workers have medical debt.
By working with a clinic that understands your situation and needs, you can avoid crippling medical debt. Our strategic partnerships with several organizations allow you to access specialists and laboratories at a fraction of the cost of other providers
6. Immigration Issues
First-generation immigrants know what it’s like to live life on the edge. At Centro Médico Latino, we do not discriminate based on your immigration status or ask questions about it.
What’s more, we can help you to attain proper immigration status. One of the requirements to apply for permanent residency is a medical exam that certifies that you are healthy and won’t spread diseases to other people. We have considerable experience in this regard and can help you to get the documents you need to immigrate properly.
Have No Fear
Generally speaking, a doctor’s job is not to report you to the authorities. However, it’s common for Spanish-speaking patients to feel uncomfortable entering a hospital or clinic because of their immigration status.
Rest assured, at a Hispanic clinic, you have nothing to fear. Not only do we not ask any questions about the issue, but we are under no obligation to give any information to the authorities.
Find Spanish-Speaking Clinics in Charlotte and Get the Quality Healthcare You Need
At the Centro Médico Latino clinics in Charlotte, we take pride in providing excellent healthcare in a personable and welcoming environment. With training, our Hispanic centers permit us to customize care to meet patient needs, including those who do not speak Spanish. Our doctors and clinic staff are compassionate and understanding, committed to helping improve health outcomes for the Hispanic population.
The same warmth and care they would receive from family members are how patients are treated at our clinics by a team of professionals who understand their language, culture, and values.
With three offices in the Charlotte area, there is a Centro Médico Latino location near you. Our services include:
- Pediatrics
- Women’s Health
- Men’s Health
- Geriatrics
- Minor surgeries
- Fertility
- Immigration needs
Our clinics also provide flu shots in Charlotte, which are extremely important for patients of all ages.
We accept walk-ins, or you can schedule appointments in-person or via phone. Contact Centro Médico Latino for more information today.
