Monday, December 22, 2025 12/22/2025

Improving Outcomes for Spanish-Speaking Surgical Patients with Limited English Proficiency

Award Number: K23MD016129
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CENTER ON MINORITY HEALTH AND HEALTH DISPARITIES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/19/2022
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 02/28/2027

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Improving Outcomes for Spanish-Speaking Surgical Patients with Limited English Proficiency - Project Summary In 2018, nearly 67 million people in the US spoke a language other than English at home and, among them, 40% met criteria for limited English proficiency (LEP). People with LEP are at higher risk of adverse events during medical care. In fact, 1 in 12 patients is at risk for adverse events because of barriers created by language discordance, which occurs when the patient and provider do not share a common spoken language. Surgical disparities have been studied in various disciplines, but very few studies have focused on the impact of language. Understanding the impact that language and language discordance or concordance have on surgical outcomes represents a vital component of providing effective, high-quality patient care. Our overall objective is to improve outcomes for surgical patients with LEP. The central hypothesis is that socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors impact outcomes of surgical care for patients with LEP and that identifying those factors through quantitative and qualitative research rooted in a social ecological model (SEM) will provide an opportunity to design interventions that address these risk factors and reduce surgical disparities. Building on a deeper understanding of patient experiences and social risk factors, this project will test the use of a mobile technology for live medical interpretation provided directly to patients. We seek to determine if such a solution can improve communication and promote patient-initiated language concordant encounters, thereby leading to better surgical outcomes. While some research suggests the effects of language discordance may be mitigated by the use of trained interpreters, qualified interpreters are not reliably used for all patients with LEP, even at resource-rich health centers. These barriers threaten to compromise the provision of patient-centered care for this patient population. To that extent, we will test our central hypothesis by pursing three specific aims: (1) Determine whether language concordance is associated with surgical outcomes in a large retrospective surgical patient cohort; (2) Identify the social factors that influence the use of formal interpreter services to treat primary Spanish-speaking surgical patients with LEP; and (3) Evaluate if an immediate interpreter mobile application enables language concordant communication for primary Spanish-speaking patients with LEP. Likewise, studying the complex interaction of structural, interpersonal, and individual factors will enrich our understanding of the impact of language across the continuum of surgical care. The research proposed in this application is innovative because no one has sought to elucidate precisely how LEP may influence surgical outcomes and nor have they applied the SEM in an attempt to have a profound impact on all populations. Also, by providing the mobile interpretation application directly to patients (in addition to surgeons and nurses), we hope to empower patients with LEP to serve as drivers of their care and improve the patient-centeredness of their care. Ultimately, the findings of this study could be applied to other fields of medicine and patient populations to improve the care of millions of patients by mitigating language and communication barriers to reduce health disparities.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2026	2025	BRIGHAM & WOMENS HOSPITAL INC	75 FRANCIS ST	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	000	4	12/9/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $172,800 )
2025	2025	BRIGHAM & WOMENS HOSPITAL INC	75 FRANCIS ST	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	000	4	3/31/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$172,800
														Subtotal = $172,800

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $172,800 )
2024	2024	BRIGHAM & WOMENS HOSPITAL INC	75 FRANCIS ST	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	001	3	5/29/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$17,280
2024	2024	BRIGHAM & WOMENS HOSPITAL INC	75 FRANCIS ST	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	000	3	2/20/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$155,520
														Subtotal = $172,800

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $172,656 )
2023	2023	BRIGHAM & WOMENS HOSPITAL INC	75 FRANCIS ST	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	000	2	2/27/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$172,656
														Subtotal = $172,656

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $172,720 )
2022	2022	BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL, INC., THE	75 FRANCIS ST	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	000	1	5/19/2022	NEW	$172,720
														Subtotal = $172,720

Grand Total All Awards = $690,976

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Improving Outcomes for Spanish-Speaking Surgical Patients with Limited English Proficiency

Award Number: K23MD016129

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CENTER ON MINORITY HEALTH AND HEALTH DISPARITIES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/19/2022

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 02/28/2027

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