Background: Addressing health disparities in U.S. border states requires overcoming linguistic barriers that disproportionately affect the Hispanic/Latino population. This review critically evaluates the potential of Medical Spanish Certification (MSC) in medical school curricula as a strategy to advance health equity by improving communication between healthcare providers and patients with Limited English Proficiency (LEP).

Methods: This review was conducted by systematically searching PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases for literature published up to 2023. The search focused on studies, policy documents, and educational materials related to MSC, language concordance in healthcare, and the feasibility of MSC implementation in medical education. Selection criteria were established to include articles that directly address the debate on MSC in border states, its implications for healthcare delivery, and educational challenges. The review concentrated on analyzing arguments for and against MSC, evaluating evidence on the benefits of language concordance, and identifying barriers to MSC program implementation. Quality assessment and thematic analysis were performed to ensure a balanced evaluation of the available evidence.

Results: Evidence highlights that language concordance through MSC significantly enhances patient care outcomes, satisfaction, and access. Proponents argue MSC bridges communication gaps, potentially reducing medical errors and improving care engagement. The growing demand for Medical Spanish courses mirrors the urgent need for bilingual healthcare skills amid demographic shifts. However, challenges such as curriculum constraints, resource allocation, and the potential for ethical dilemmas and tokenism raise concerns about mandating MSC. While the demand for Medical Spanish courses is rising among medical schools, there is variability in program implementation and a lack of standardized assessment methods.

Conclusion: Incorporating MSC into medical curricula presents a nuanced approach to mitigating healthcare disparities and advancing health equity in border states. A voluntary certification model, supplemented by adequate resources and a focus on cultural competency, offers a practical solution. Standardizing MSC education and conducting further research are essential steps toward leveraging language concordance as a means to enhance health equity for the Spanish-speaking LEP population.