• Alexis G Antunez, Juan P Herrera-Escobar, Saba Ilkhani, Ana Hoffman, Katie M Foley, Carolyn Zier, Lorna Campbell, Nathaniel Pinkes, Madeline D Valverde, Gezzer Ortega, Emma Reidy, Amanda J Reich, Ali Salim, Nomi Levy-Carrick, and Geoffrey A Anderson.
• From the Departments of Surgery (Antunez, Foley, Salim, Anderson), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.
• J. Am. Coll. Surg. 2024 Nov 1; 239 (5): 411420411-420.

BackgroundSpanish-speaking trauma and burn patients have unique needs in their postdischarge care navigation. The confluence of limited English proficiency, injury recovery, mental health, socioeconomic disadvantages, and acute stressors after hospital admission converge to enhance patients' vulnerability, but their specific needs and means of meeting these needs have not been well described.Study DesignThis prospective, cross-sectional survey study describes the results of a multi-institutional initiative devised to help Spanish-speaking trauma and burn patients in their care navigation after hospitalization. The pathway consisted of informational resources, intake and follow-up surveys, and multiple points of contact with a community health worker who aids in accessing community resources and navigating the healthcare system.ResultsFrom January 2022 to November 2023, there were 114 patients identified as eligible for the Non-English-Speaking Trauma Survivors pathway. Of these, 80 (70.2%) were reachable and consented to participate, and 68 were approached in person during their initial hospitalization. After initial screening, 60 (75.0%) eligible patients had a mental health, social services, or other need identified via our survey instrument. During the initial consultation with the community health worker, 48 of 60 patients with any identified need were connected to a resource (80%). Food support was the most prevalent need (46, 57.5%). More patients were connected to mental health resources (16) than reported need in this domain (7).ConclusionsThe Non-English-Speaking Trauma Survivors pathway identified the specific needs of Spanish-speaking trauma and burn patients in their recovery, notably food, transportation, and utilities. The pathway also addressed disparities in postdischarge care by connecting patients with community resources, with particular improvement in access to mental healthcare.Copyright © 2024 by the American College of Surgeons. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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