Improving drug labeling and counseling for limited English proficient adults

Language barriers between patients and providers adversely affect quality of care and a patient's ability to obtain, understand, and act on health information. Health care organizations are mandated by law to provide language concordant services. While health systems have taken steps to promote language access, minimal effort has been made to improve pharmacy practice. This is problematic, as patient misunderstanding of prescription drug instructions is a root cause of many adverse drug events occurring annually in outpatient settings. Enhanced, language concordant prescription labeling and counseling is needed to promote safe use of prescription medications among limited English proficient patients.