As international borders are becoming more accessible for working professionals, especially for experts in the healthcare field, the importance of English language in medical field is also significantly increasing. English has become one of the common languages of communication across nations in all scientific fields, including the field of medical science and healthcare.
Globalization and accelerated exchange of information require knowledge of a common language for international communication, particularly for special features and the use of terminology in the medical professions. Consequently, it is necessary to acquire reading skills and a good understanding of the medical literature in the importance of English in medical field for progressing in the field of healthcare.
To communicate and exchange ideas, beliefs, emotions, and feelings, English is preferred as a common language in the healthcare sector. Let us see how the importance of English in nursing benefits healthcare professionals.
Benefits of Knowledge of English for Healthcare Professionals
Good command over the importance of language in healthcare occupies a crucial space in the healthcare field for several reasons:
- The healthcare professional who speaks English is aware of current trends in the health sector as they can go through foreign medical journals and the latest healthcare & scientific papers, that are generally published in English.
- If planning to study medicine/paramedical in a foreign university, knowledge of English or other foreign languages can be a boon.
- It is important to grow professionally, participate in international research projects, and English is the medium of most of the events.
- Knowledge of English is essential to work in a team with foreign specialists. Many domestic hospitals/clinics cooperate with foreign healthcare institutions, invite foreign experts to work or carry out consultations in difficult cases, to make a diagnosis jointly or to determine the methods of treatment of patients.
- Regardless of the occupation, whether you are a doctor, specialist, healthcare or paramedical staff, if you speak one or more foreign languages, you will be considered as a valuable asset in any healthcare institute that is cooperating with foreign partners.
Enhancing Patient Care and Safety through English Proficiency
There are several areas in the healthcare delivery system that should not be overlooked, and patient safety and communication are among them. Since every action has a bearing on the health of a person, there is a need to have an efficient flow of information. The importance of English language in medical field is gradually being adopted in the medical field for doctors and nurses, the paramedical staff, pharmacists, technicians, and the administrative staff.
Enhancing Patient Safety through Communication
The first importance of English in medical field in the healthcare sector is that it minimizes the chances of making mistakes. This is because failure to communicate with the patients may lead to a wrong diagnosis, wrong treatment, and even death.
Enhancing Doctor-Patient Relationships
The relationship between a doctor and a patient is one of the most sensitive and close-knit that require the cooperation of the two parties. When doctors, nurses and other caregivers use a language that can be easily understood by the patients, they are likely to get information from the patients on their symptoms, concerns and past illnesses. The importance of english in nursing allows doctors to explain to the patients medical terms and the disease that the patient has and the treatment that will be carried out on them. This also promotes empathy because patients feel they are being understood hence improving their health.
Facilitating Medical Research and Innovation
The healthcare industry is a large and expanding one as it is dynamic in nature. New articles, new treatments, and new studies are published in scientific journals, and the majority of them are in English. These resources are easily accessible to the healthcare professionals who have mastery in English and therefore can update themselves with the new trends in the health sector. The importance of language in healthcare also helps students in their clinical practice and supports the development of new and improved treatment plans for patients. Furthermore, the attendance of international medical conferences, workshops, and training courses presupposes a sufficient level of English as the means of communication with foreign partners.
Supporting Multicultural Patient Populations
Today, patients admitted to healthcare facilities have cultural and linguistic differences. In large hospitals, private practices, emergency departments, and other centers, it is possible to meet patients who use different languages. The importance of English language in medical field is sometimes used as a medium of communication in such circumstances.
For example, in a country where there are different languages or in a hospital that deals with international patients, the practitioners need to understand English so that every patient can be attended to. This is particularly important especially in emergency cases where time is critical and any form of communication that is not clear may result to loss of lives.
Importance of English in Hospitals
Here are a few examples of why the importance of English in medical field is crucial in a healthcare institute –
- Some hospitals have interpreters for communication. But, with the knowledge of local languages, hospital staff should also know English to reassure patients from a foreign country or other states and handle the situation in a better way.
- Most admission forms are either in English or regional languages. Before getting admitted to a hospital, patients and families have to fill forms regarding history of illnesses, allergies, medical issues, etc., and they might struggle to fill the form. Here, a healthcare professional can come and help the family to fill the form.
Drawbacks of Not Understanding the English Language
Most hospitals in the country use a mixture of two or more languages in their communication with patients. Hence, healthcare professionals must be proficient in their use of English. In the healthcare field, even the smallest miscommunication could be potentially devastating. The importance of language in healthcare cannot be underestimated.
With lives at stake, words need to have pinpoint precision. Healthcare staff needs to be silver-tongued and empathetic individuals to give patients a comprehensive understanding of their health situations.
It is observed that, quite often, healthcare providers blame patients for not adhering to medical prescriptions and treatments when the problem may be that patients simply don’t understand the medical terms. The importance of English in nursing also applies here, as patients need clear explanations to follow prescribed treatments properly.
Immigrants may know how to speak English but vocabulary related to the medical field is very specific and lends itself to more miscommunication. The importance of English language in medical field is particularly relevant in ensuring proper patient care and reducing misunderstandings.
Conclusion
Healthcare professionals have many reasons to learn English. In the healthcare industry, people lives are at stake, so any misunderstanding is risky. It is therefore crucial to pay attention to language in fostering a trustful and comprehensible relationship between healthcare staff and both patients and family members. The choice of words used is highly important to avoid confusion and to calm and ease the mind of the family members.
Having considered all the above points, we can conclude that the importance of English in medical field cannot be ignored. This is the language that connects professionals, makes it possible to transfer experience, skills, and knowledge, and is very important to provide quality care to patients.
