G4. Oral Session: Advancing Health Equity and Well-Being: AI in Health Literacy, Language Access, and College Student Perspectives
G4.02 - Oral: AI-enhanced Language Access: Advancing Health Equity with Human and AI Interpreting
Friday, April 18, 2025
8:15 AM – 8:45 AM PST
Location: Gallerie I, 1st Floor
Area of Responsibility: Area VI: Communication Subcompetencies: 6.1.2 Identify the assets, needs, and characteristics of the audience(s) that affect communication and message design (e.g., literacy levels, language, 6.2.3 Identify factors that facilitate and/or hinder the intended outcome of the communication. Research or Practice: Practice
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
Identify at least three ways AI can enhance language access in public health settings while maintaining cultural competency and adhering to existing regulations.
Attendees will demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate the ethical implications of implementing AI-powered language solutions in healthcare, balancing technological innovation with cultural sensitivity and legal compliance.
Apply a decision-making tree to several real-world scenarios for integrating AI-powered language solutions into healthcare.
Brief Abstract Summary: In public health, language barriers perpetuate health disparities and social injustice. This session explores how AI can enhance language access while preserving culturally competent care. We’ll examine AI’s potential to improve communication with diverse populations, adhering to regulations and ethical frameworks. Through real-world examples, we’ll gain insights into balancing technological innovation with cultural sensitivity, legal compliance, and ethical considerations.
Learn practical approaches to responsibly leveraging AI in alignment with health equity goals. We’ll discuss strategies for deploying AI solutions that are culturally appropriate, legally sound, and aimed at reducing disparities.
Leave equipped to balance AI-driven and human language solutions, creating inclusive, accessible, and equitable health services across communities, addressing systemic health inequities, and promoting social justice in healthcare delivery.
Detailed abstract description: In today's diverse healthcare landscape, language barriers continue to contribute to health disparities and social injustice. As public health professionals, we face the ongoing challenge of providing equitable care to all communities, regardless of linguistic background. This session examines how artificial intelligence (AI) can enhance language access in public health, while prioritizing cultural competency, the inclusion of DEI principles and adherence to existing language access legislation.
Attend this session to: 1. Explore current AI applications that improve communication with diverse populations. You'll learn how these tools can complement human interpreters, potentially expanding your reach and improving health outcomes for limited English proficient (LEP) individuals.
2. Understand the ethical considerations of AI implementation in healthcare. Gain insights into maintaining compliance with existing regulations while advancing technological innovation. This knowledge will help you make informed decisions about AI adoption within your organization.
3. Examine a brief case study demonstrating the integration of AI-powered language solutions. You'll gain ideas for implementing similar initiatives in your own work.
4. Learn about balancing technological advancements with cultural competency. You'll consider ways to ensure AI solutions enhance, rather than replace, culturally responsive human interpretation, allowing you to provide more effective care to diverse communities.
5. Participate in a brief interactive scenario that challenges you to apply AI solutions ethically. This experience will introduce you to key considerations in using AI for language access in real-world settings.
6. Receive a short list of resources, including AI tools, ethical guidelines, and research papers, that you can explore further after the session to enhance language access in your work.
By attending this session, you'll leave with an overview of how to consider AI's potential to address language barriers while upholding the law, standards of cultural competency and ethical practice.
