Clinic Website Breaks Language Barriers for Patients

Medical information can be challenging for patients to access and understand under any circumstances. When language creates an additional barrier, the task can become overwhelming. That’s why Dr. Brian Wang and his colleagues at the City Square Medical Centre have long wanted to create an online resource that serves the Mandarin-speaking population, which makes up 80% of the clinic’s patients.

Why the English-Only Website Wasn’t Enough

“We used to have an English-only website,” says Dr. Wang. Unfortunately, he reports that it was not well-used by the clinic’s patients. “Many of them are new immigrants who have difficulty with English content,” he explains.

While information in other languages exists online, it’s not always easy to access.

“It’s hard to find, especially if you aren’t able to Google in English,” says Dr. Wang.

A Tailored Digital Solution for Mandarin Speakers

Fortunately, with the help of a clinic grant accessed through the Vancouver Division of Family Practice’s Clinic Grants Program, the clinic now offers a version of the website specifically tailored to their clientele.

“When patients visit the website, there’s a button that gives them the option to view the content in Mandarin Chinese,” says Dr. Wang.

As he explains, patients are able to read about the clinic as well as the team. They can also easily find additional resources.

“The main goal of the website is to provide links to Chinese-language resources, such as those from HealthLink BC,” says Dr. Wang.

Collaboration Makes the Website Work

The upgrade is a team effort, with an external web designer, Alice, implementing the changes, and a staff member, Crystal, translating new updates on an ongoing basis.

“I like Alice’s design and layout,” says Dr. Wang. “It makes the website a lot more attractive to use.”

According to Dr. Wang, it’s not just patients who benefit from the update.

“It saves time for physicians,” he says. “Instead of going through everything with every patient, we can show them the website and they can look things up in more detail.”

Support from the Division Made It Possible

Dr. Wang says that without the Vancouver Division, the Mandarin version of the website might not have come to fruition.

“We have eight physicians in the clinic, and every expense has to be discussed and agreed upon,” he explains.

“It’s something we’ve wanted to do for a long time, and with the support of the clinic, we had an easy time kickstarting the project,” he adds.

Sharing Resources Beyond the Clinic

While the website belongs to the City Square Medical Centre, Dr. Wang welcomes other clinics to make use of it.

“Other Chinese-speaking practices are welcome to use our links,” he says. “It’s important to serve patients and give them better access to available resources.”

Learn more about Clinic Grants offered by the Vancouver Division of Family Practice!