Medical TranslationsMedical Writing
On 17 September, the World Patient Safety Day was celebrated, an initiative promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO) aimed at raising public and professional awareness of the importance of patient safety in the health system. This year’s theme wanted to underline the fundamental value of inclusion and complete access to information, diagnosis, treatment and procedures. All this is well summarised by the leitmotif “Engaging patients for patient safety“.
The focus of 2023 was to be a recognition of the crucial role that patients, families and healthcare professionals play in ensuring the health safety for everybody. Through the slogan “Elevate the voice of patients“, WHO wanted to turn the spotlight on the work of all stakeholders.
Work and commitment capable of ensuring a fruitful involvement of the patient in the formulation and management of their care.
This is because, as well expressed by the Organization: “Evidence shows that when patients are treated as partners in their care, significant gains are made in safety, patient satisfaction and health outcomes. By becoming active members of the health care team, patients can contribute to the safety of their care and that of the health care system as a whole.”
For all this to happen, this year’s event proposed four main objectives:
- Raise global awareness of the need for active engagement of patients and their families and caregivers in all settings and at all levels of health care.
- Engage policymakers, health care leaders, health and care workers, patients’ organizations, civil society in the effort.
- Empower patients and families to be actively involved in their own health care.
- Advocate urgent action on patient and family engagement.
A small part of this mission can be carried out by language service providers, who are committed to guaranteeing linguistic access to doctors and patients.
Engaging patients: The Role of Translators and Interpreters
“Safe health care is a partnership, in which everybody has a role to play. , and most importantly patients themselves. ”
With this quote, taken from the contribution of Dr. Liam Donaldson (published on the WHO website) we want to take up a topic already covered within our channels.
See also:
- Translation and Clinical Trials: How to Seize Opportunities
- Life Science Translations and The Use of Cat Tools
Patient involvement, as we have seen, is still one of the great challenges for health systems today.
Action that for some patients is even more difficult and complicated.
We talk about all those cases where stakeholders do not share the same linguistic system and/or cultural heritage. How is it possible to include the patient in the process of care and healing, if it is not possible to have clear and complete communication with them?
Language barriers are an obstacle in various professional fields, but one of the most affected by its negative aspects is the medical one.
Medical translation can break down these barriers, allowing patients to be involved for their own safety. Indiscriminately.
To learn more about medical translation and medical writing services, follow the orange links.
