How Can We Make Sure Technology Bridges Healthcare Gaps - Not Widens Them?

At the recent HIMSS 2025 Conference, one question dominated the conversation: How do we ensure technology bridges healthcare gaps rather than widens them?

With over 28,000 healthcare leaders from 88 countries gathered in one place, an urgent theme surfaced among those with whom we spoke: As digital health advances, so does the risk of leaving non-English-speaking patients behind.?

AI-driven language tools, digital inclusion, and the role of language in health equity emerged as critical topics —each shaping the future of patient care.

Will AI Translation Be Enough in the Exam Room?

In hospitals, language barriers can mean the difference between a correct diagnosis and a life-threatening mistake. HIMSS showcased a wave of AI-powered translation tools, from real-time interpretation apps to smart devices capable of converting speech into text.?

But the excitement was tempered by a stark reality: AI isn’t perfect. While automated interpreting is improving, it still struggles with dialects, cultural nuances, and complex medical terminology. A small error—for example, misinterpreting “feeling dizzy” as “feeling lighthearted”—could lead to the wrong treatment.

Wearable AI devices may soon offer real-time translation directly to patients, displaying subtitles on smart glasses or delivering whispered interpretations through earpieces. However, these tools must be tested rigorously for medical accuracy before they can be relied upon in clinical settings.?

The consensus was that AI will be a powerful tool in breaking language barriers, but it won’t replace human oversight for critical healthcare patient interactions.?

In fact, one of the most important capabilities that emerged from the AI discussions at HIMSS is the critical need to enable seamless escalation to live medically qualified interpreter when the need arises, 24/7.?

The Digital Health Divide: Who Gets Left Behind?

As telehealth, mobile health apps, and AI chatbots become standard, a new challenge is emerging: many patients can’t access these tools at all. For non-English speakers, the problem isn’t just translation, it’s that most digital health platforms were never designed with them in mind.

Imagine trying to schedule a telehealth appointment when the interface is only in English, or attempting to understand medication instructions from an AI chatbot that misinterprets your native dialect. For millions, digital health is not an entry point to care—it’s a barrier.

At HIMSS, healthcare leaders called for culturally competent tech development:

● AI that adapts to regional dialects, not just standardized translations.

● Voice-based AI for patients with limited literacy.

● Chatbots designed with cultural norms in mind.

Regulations already require language accessibility in telehealth; however, further regulation is needed that ensures all digital platforms and health apps meet the needs of diverse populations. Without these changes, health care’s digital transformation risks excluding millions of non-English speakers.

Language Access as a Social Determinant of Health

This idea was pervasive at HIMSS: Language is not just a communication issue; it’s a health risk factor. Patients who struggle to communicate with their doctors are less likely to seek preventive care, more likely to be misdiagnosed, and at greater risk for medication errors.

Despite this, language access remains an afterthought in many health systems. Studies show that patients with limited English proficiency are twice as likely to experience an adverse medical event, yet few hospitals prioritize language services in their digital health strategies.

The message among health professionals was resounding: Language access isn’t a luxury; it’s a matter of health equity. Without addressing it, digital health will only deepen existing disparities.

The Future Must Be Multilingual

HIMSS 2025 made one thing clear: The future of health care must be multilingual. AI-powered translation, culturally competent digital tools, and language-conscious policy changes are not optional add-ons, they are fundamental to making health care truly accessible.

In the rush to modernize, the healthcare industry must ensure that no patient is left behind simply because they speak a different language.

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