Better emergency care for people who speak different languages
Improving linguistic health equity in prehospital emergency care
This project aims to make emergency care fairer and more effective for people who do not speak English well.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11111455 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
When people who don't speak English well call 9-1-1, they often face delays and may not get important instructions before help arrives, which can lead to worse health outcomes. This project looks closely at these communication challenges in emergency situations, from the initial 9-1-1 call through prehospital care. We want to understand where the gaps are in the current system and find ways to improve how emergency services communicate with everyone. The goal is to make sure that all patients, regardless of the language they speak, receive timely and effective emergency care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This work is relevant to patients who are non-English proficient or have limited English proficiency and may need emergency medical services.
Not a fit: Patients who are fluent in English are not the primary focus of this specific effort to improve language access.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to faster, more accurate emergency responses and better health outcomes for patients who speak languages other than English.
How similar studies have performed: While professional interpreters have shown success in hospital settings, their optimal use in 9-1-1 dispatch is still being understood, making this approach somewhat novel in the prehospital context.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Meischke, Hendrika W. — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Meischke, Hendrika W.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.