Linguistic and Cultural Competence at Hospital Discharge

Abstract

Hospital discharge is one of the most vulnerable moments in a patient's experience of care. One relatively unexplored area to improving transitions of care is how to meet the needs of diverse populations in a growing multicultural world. The intersectionality of language, race, ethnicity, and culture adds an additional layer of complexity to the hospital discharge process and raises the already high risk of communication failures. This article aims to review the role of language, race, ethnicity, and culture during the hospital discharge process; to discuss potential solutions to improve discharge outcomes amongst diverse populations; and to identify priority areas for future research.