SM 29

                                1  SENATE MEMORIAL 29
                                2    57TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - SECOND SESSION, 2026
                                3  INTRODUCED BY
                                4  Shannon D. Pinto and Linda M. López
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                                10  A MEMORIAL
                                11   REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER
                                12   TO COORDINATE WITH HEALTH CARE FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE
                                13   TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNICATION BARRIERS AND GAPS IN THE
                                14   HEALTH CARE SYSTEM THAT PREVENT THE EFFECTIVE TREATMENT OF
                                15   PATIENTS AND TO DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO OVERCOME THOSE BARRIERS
                                16   AND FILL THOSE GAPS.
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                                18        WHEREAS, language access in health care is vital for
                                19   patient safety and equitable care; and
                                20        WHEREAS, effective communication between health care
                                21   providers and patients can reduce medical errors by up to fifty
                                22   percent; and
                                23        WHEREAS, limited language access in health care leads to
                                24   major health care disparities; and
                                25        WHEREAS, there is a particular need for language access in
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                                1    New Mexico's health care system because of the melting pot of
                                2    cultures and languages in the state; and
                                3  WHEREAS, many of the hospitals in the state lack
                                4    sufficient language access services; and
                                5  WHEREAS, the need for more medical interpreters in New
                                6    Mexico is urgent; and
                                7  WHEREAS, to grow the medical interpreter workforce, the
                                8    state's infrastructure for training medical interpreters needs
                                9    to expand; and
                                10        WHEREAS, to adequately grow the state's capacity of
                                11   medical interpreter training programs, it is necessary to fully
                                12   understand the barriers and gaps in the health care system that
                                13   are preventing effective communication with patients;
                                14        NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE
                                15   OF NEW MEXICO that the university of New Mexico health sciences
                                16   center be requested to coordinate with health facilities across
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                                17   the state to better understand the communication barriers and
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                                18   gaps in the health care system that prevent the effective
                                19   treatment of patients and to develop strategies to overcome
                                20   those barriers and fill those gaps; and
                                21        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the university of New Mexico
                                22   health sciences center be encouraged to obtain and share data
                                23   related to the barriers and gaps in the health care system for
                                24   patients to assist persons who are developing or expanding a
                                25   medical interpreter training program; and
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                                1  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be
                                2    transmitted to the university of New Mexico health sciences
                                3    center.
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