3 minute read
COVID-19 Through the Eyes of Your Latino Patients
By Camila A. Calderón, MD
Familia. In the Latino culture it is the absolute core of everything and anything we do. It is who we are. As Latinos in the United States, our households are often little versions of our countries — multiple generations gather around the table enjoying a taste of home while the sound of salsa music is drowned out by loud Spanglish and laughter. The custom of greeting each other with a hug and a kiss is something that has very much remained a part of our culture as we have assimilated into this country.
As both a Latina and an emergency physician I visualize my 87-year-old abuelita being covered in COVID kisses every time she is greeted by my family. And each time my 92-year-old abuelito enjoys his empanadas I envision COVID-filled droplets spraying with each bite. It is terrifying! What is equally alarming to me is the thought of how lonely my abuelos have been these past five months in social isolation, visiting with family only when they drop off groceries and from the safe distance of the driveway.
The COVID pandemic has been hard on everyone, but there is clear data from the Texas Department of State Health Services that show it has especially impacted the Latino community, in terms of fatalities. Moreover, Hispanics are more concerned than Americans overall about the threat the COVID-19 outbreak poses to the health of the U.S. population and their personal health, wealth, and well-being.
Language barriers, the socioeconomic impact of not being able to work from home, the fear of seeking medical care due to being undocumented and our (literally physically) tight-knit culture have all contributed to alarming rates of COVID infections and hospitalizations in Latino communities across the country. I have shared in the frustration of the COVID non-believers, but I do not believe this group comprises most Latinos; rather, I believe they simply do not understand.
While I plead with all my patients to wear masks and to practice social distancing, I have found that I have had to approach my Latino patients differently. Fortunately, and foremost, as their Spanish-speaking Latina physician, I already have a connection with them
they may not have with a physician that does not share their background. I listen to their thoughts and concerns about the virus, wearing masks, and what they have heard on the news. Then, I educate them, empathize with them, and acknowledge their frustrations. I share with them my family’s ways of coping and I appeal to them as the granddaughter of Latino grandparents who are the cornerstone of our family and must be protected.
Some of my patients have no choice — they are undocumented, they are essential workers, they live with six other people in a one-bedroom apartment, and they do not speak English. For them, I pray extra hard, and while prayer (another pillar of the Latino community) is important, it is not enough. We must educate other health care workers on the disparities the Latino community faces against COVID. We must continue to educate ourselves on health policy and reform, and we must speak out against the unjust societal norms we have tolerated for far too long.
Providing better care to your Latino patients can be achieved with simple steps:
First, ensure you have an interpreter when interviewing your patient. This allows them to feel comfortable and provides quality care and education.
Second, take the extra time to ask about your Latino patient’s family dynamics— who lives with them, how often do they visit others, what kind of work they do.
Third, discern what they understand and don’t understand about COVID, the importance of wearing masks, and the purpose of social distancing.
Finally, use all the information you have gathered to provide tailored education to your patient and provide suggestions and instructions that are feasible to their unique situation.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Calderón is an Ecuadorian immigrant, second-year emergency medicine resident, and an advocate for patients underrepresented in medicine, specifically refugee and Latino patient populations.
