Limited English proficiency

Systemic and structural barriers to patients and families with limited English proficiency (difficulties with hospital directional signs, transportation, documents, prescription and treatment instructions, telephone scheduling, insurance assistance) may limit the ability of patients and families to access the system, follow instructions, and follow up on health care needs. 

Such special populations include, but are not limited to, those who are physically or mentally disabled. Health and disaster professionals may add persons with limited or no proficiency in English, and such individuals, often on the economic margins of a community, who are geographically or culturally isolated, medically or chemically dependent, homeless, or people who are frail and elderly. In addition, it is important to remember that children have their own unique needs, may come from troubled homes, and are affected differently than adults during emergencies and crisis both physically and emotionally. 

At present the SI system has been adopted officially for use exclusively in engineering and science, but the older English and cgs systems will still be used for some time. Much of the physical and chemical data and empirical equations are given in these latter two systems. Hence, the engineer should not only be proficient in the SI system but must also be able to use the other two systems to a limited extent. 

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