Allegheny Health Network, in collaboration with its parent company Highmark Health, has launched the “I Speak” program to improve communication for patients whose first language is not English. The initiative provides hospital posters, handouts, and wallet-sized cards to help caregivers quickly identify a patient’s preferred language and connect them to interpreter services upon arrival at any AHN facility. Originally piloted last year by Highmark Inc. at retail locations in Delaware, the program is now expanding to AHN’s ten acute care hospitals in western Pennsylvania, as well as Highmark’s Direct Stores in Pennsylvania and New York.

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The cards are designed to resemble insurance cards and are printed in 29 languages, including American Sign Language. They are placed in high-traffic areas such as emergency departments, labor and delivery units, and outpatient medical facilities to ensure accessibility for all patients. Each year, thousands of AHN patients and Highmark members require real-time language support for medical care, appointments, or insurance information. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, over 25 million Americans have limited English proficiency, making effective communication in healthcare critical.

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Research from Midwestern University indicates that language barriers can negatively affect the quality of care. Patients with limited English skills are more likely to undergo additional tests, experience longer emergency department stays, have more hospital admissions, face higher medical costs, and encounter increased anxiety. They may also spend less time in therapy, experience more medical errors, and be less likely to seek mental health services.

The “I Speak” program is led by Highmark Health’s Institute for Strategic Social and Workforce Programs (S2W), which focuses on ensuring accessible, high-quality care across the region. Veronica Villalobos, Vice President of S2W at AHN and Highmark Health, explained that understanding patients’ needs is essential for effective care. She emphasized that the initiative empowers patients to communicate clearly and ensures that care teams can provide the support necessary for safe and effective treatment.

The expansion of “I Speak” underscores AHN and Highmark Health’s commitment to equitable healthcare by breaking down language barriers and enhancing patient experience, enabling clinicians to deliver care with greater accuracy, efficiency, and compassion.

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