Ann Bagchi, PhD

A Trip to the ER

Dr. Ann Bagchi joins the show. She is co-author of a new research article in the Annals of Emergency Medicine about Medical Interpreters in the ER and how it can impact your health. She will discuss racial and ethnic health care disparities for low income population groups.

Ann Bagchi (PhD – sociology, University of Wisconsin-Madison) is a senior health researcher at Mathematica Policy Research with expertise in racial and ethnic health care disparities for low income population groups, including barriers to health care utilization among Latino and other immigrant populations. Much of her work has focused on problems in access to care for patients with limited English proficiency. Her current study, forthcoming in the Annals of Emergency Medicine, examined satisfaction with communication between Spanish-speaking patients and providers in emergency departments. The same study also examined the costs and benefits of the use of professionally-trained medical interpreters versus telephonic and ad hoc interpreters.

Dr. Leigh Vinocur

7 / 30 / 2010