Dentists Rate the Widening Language Gap A Top Challenge Facing Urban Dental Practices

A national survey reveals that dental clinics are in urgent need to better communicate with patients who don't speak English. This is the first survey to spotlight the language gap in dentistry. Based on the results of the survey, efforts are under way to develop language tools specifically for dental offices.

(PRWEB) December 13, 2003 --In a recent survey of dental offices, 61% of dentists believe that they are in need of providing better language assistance to their non-English speaking patients, while 83% of dental receptionists and office managers indicate that translated materials can help them become more productive on the job. These results have important implications on how dental practices can adequately and profitably service the countrys fast growing immigrant populations.

This national survey of 415 dental practices was conducted by Transcendent International, a leading language services agency based in New York City. In the decade between 1990 and 2000, the number of Americans with limited English proficiency (LEP) grew nearly 40%, to 14 million. The widening language gap heightens the need for linguistically competent services, as reflected in the results of the study:

-- When compared to communicating with English-speaking patients: 20% of dental receptionists rate their interaction with LEP patients much more difficult," and 46% rate it somewhat more difficult."
-- Among the dentists interviewed: 28% believe that, by communicating with patients in their native languages, their practice can improve patient retention; 36% believe that it can encourage LEP patients to keep follow-up appointments and return for regular check-ups; and 17% believe that it can improve payment collection from LEP patients.
-- Only one in every six receptionists and office managers interviewed are bilingual (the majority of their language pairs being English-Spanish).
-- Less than 8% of dental practices interviewed offer translated materials to LEP patients.

One of the most intriguing findings of the survey is that even bilingual receptionists want to have tools that can help them communicate with patients who dont speak English," says William Tan, president of Transcendent. Their overwhelming desire is to focus on doing their job as receptionist and office manager, rather than doubling up as an interpreter and explaining how to fill out a health history form."

Based on the results of the study, Transcendent is currently developing language software specifically catered to the dental industry. Dubbed LanguageMate," this software application will put multilingual materials - frequently used phrases, forms, questionnaires, medication instructions, educational brochures, etc. - at the fingertips of dentists and their staff. The first release of LanguageMate will debut in mid-December 2003, and will feature four languages: English, Chinese, Russian, and Spanish.

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Transcendent International is a leading language solutions provider, offering services in over 100 languages to help clients meet their multilingual communications needs. For more information about LanguageMate, please visit http://www.LanguageMate.com.

Contact: Elizabeth Foster, 212-274-1636, info@LanguageMate.com