GLOBO Launches AI Interpreter for Broader Access to Language Support in Healthcare Settings
GLOBO Language Solutions has made its AI-powered interpreter, GLOBO KAI™, available to
clinicians and healthcare staff at more than 3,000 health systems, hospitals, and physician
practices across the United States. The tool is designed to help providers communicate
more effectively with patients who have limited English proficiency (LEP), particularly in
administrative and non-clinical environments.
AI Interpreter to Support LEP Patients
KAI is integrated into the GLOBO Connect App and currently supports over 20 languages,
including Spanish, Arabic, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Brazilian Portuguese, with more
languages in development. The tool is aimed at improving communication touchpoints
throughout a patient's healthcare experience.
Pilot testing earlier in 2025 showed the AI interpreter to be particularly effective in
administrative areas such as registration and pharmacy, helping healthcare teams manage
patient flow and reduce communication-related delays.
“We found that it was really beneficial for our front desk staff, who were previously
struggling to efficiently connect patients with interpreters,” said Jennifer Winters, Assistant
Vice President of Value Based Care at Affinia Healthcare, a community health center in St.
Louis, Missouri. “With the AI interpreter app, we could direct patients through registration,
pharmacy, and back to Convenient Care much faster.”
Cost and Operational Impact
AI-powered interpretation is also positioned as a cost-saving measure. According to
estimates from McKinsey & Company and Harvard researchers, AI could reduce overall
healthcare expenses by 5–10%, potentially generating savings of up to $360 billion annually.
Language services for LEP patients are currently estimated to cost healthcare facilities about
$279 per patient each year.
“Reducing healthcare expenses is a national priority—especially for federally funded
programs,” said Dipak Patel, CEO of GLOBO. “New AI innovations like GLOBO KAI present a
promising path forward to improve cost efficiency and sustainability, while vastly improving
patient engagement and overall care.”
Language Barriers and Health Equity
Language barriers have long been associated with poorer health outcomes, longer hospital
stays, higher readmission rates, and increased risk of medical errors for LEP patients. While
many healthcare organizations acknowledge these challenges, consistent access to high-
quality interpreting services remains a concern.
GLOBO’s AI interpreter is intended to address this gap by offering faster, more scalable
access to interpretation in non-clinical settings—such as reception, pharmacy, or discharge
planning—without replacing human interpreters in high-stakes clinical interactions.
“Our solution effectively demonstrated that mobile AI interpreting can help to reduce
language barriers and improve patient-clinician relationships,” said Patel. “This is especially
effective when used in combination with in-person, telephone, and video language
services.”
Pilot Program Results
The AI interpreter was piloted at several provider organizations from January to April 2025.
Participants included Affinia Healthcare and multiple hospitals and clinics across Illinois,
Michigan, and Louisiana. Clinicians used the tool to conduct calls with Spanish-speaking LEP
patients, focusing on evaluating interpretation quality, patient understanding, and overall
satisfaction.
Results from the pilot were presented at ATA Nexus 2025 by Jenny Esno, GLOBO’s Senior
Vice President of Commercial, who highlighted how mobile AI tools are reshaping
communication between clinicians and patients.
About GLOBO
GLOBO is a Philadelphia-based provider of on-demand interpreting and translation services.
Through platforms like GLOBO HQ and GLOBO Connect, the company supports over 430
languages and dialects. Services include audio, video, on-site, and sign language
interpreting, as well as document translation. GLOBO serves sectors including healthcare,
government, education, and legal services.
The company is ranked No. 17 globally and No. 10 in the U.S. on Slator’s 2025 Language
Service Provider Index, and No. 35 on Nimdzi’s list of the 100 largest language service
providers. It was also named to Modern Healthcare’s 2025 Best Places to Work in
Healthcare and has received recognition from Inc., Deloitte, and Healthcare Innovation.
For more information, visit www.helloglobo.com.
