Language Barriers May Drive Maryland's Rising Hospital Errors

Maryland hospitals experienced a concerning 5% increase in medical mistakes during fiscal year 2023, with the state health department's annual report on the Hospital Patient Safety Program documenting 808 serious level 1 incidents, including 49 patient deaths. The report attributes the rise to pandemic after-effects and personnel issues stemming from staffing shortages and stress, with falls and pressure injuries like bedsores accounting for most serious injuries. However, the analysis suggests a potential overlooked factor: communication challenges among foreign-born healthcare workers who comprise approximately 26% of Maryland's healthcare workforce.

The article presents compelling firsthand observations from a patient who underwent 51 days of treatment at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, where approximately one-quarter of staff may speak English as a second language. While acknowledging the excellent care received and the medical proficiency of foreign-trained professionals, the author documents multiple instances where medical instructions were misinterpreted due to language barriers, requiring intervention to prevent potential errors. This communication gap between doctors, nurses, and aides represents a systemic vulnerability that could contribute to the rising medical mistake rates documented in the official report.

The piece argues that clear communication is fundamental to patient safety outcomes and suggests that Maryland health officials should investigate language proficiency and communication protocols as potential root causes for medical errors. With nearly 50,000 foreign-born healthcare workers in Maryland's system, the article calls for enhanced language standards and communication training to ensure that staffing solutions don't inadvertently create new patient safety risks while addressing healthcare workforce shortages.