AI in Healthcare: Designing Beyond Language for Limited English Proficiency
Millions of U.S. patients with limited English proficiency face more than a “just translate it” problem. This study asks: how could AI help Spanish‑speaking patients—and where might it make things worse?
- What they did: Interviewed 14 patient navigators using storyboards of AI for on‑demand translation and visit preparation.
- What they found: Risks of cultural and linguistic misunderstandings, privacy worries about sensitive details, misinformation, unstable tech access, and low digital literacy. AI can ease social and institutional barriers, but may weaken human camaraderie.
- Design takeaways: Build trust through rapport‑building features and clear education; offer strong privacy controls; support language without replacing people; and minimize disruptions to existing workflows.
Bottom line: AI for healthcare must be designed beyond language alone—attending to people, context, and systems—so LEP patients can get equitable, trustworthy care.
Read more: http://arxiv.org/abs/2511.07277v1
Paper: http://arxiv.org/abs/2511.07277v1
Register: https://www.AiFeta.com
AI Healthcare HealthEquity LanguageAccess LEP ResponsibleAI HCI PatientExperience Spanish
