1 / 12

Delivering Services to Multilingual Communities

Delivering Services to Multilingual Communities. Shiva Bidar-Sielaff, M.A. Director of Community Partnerships UW Health. Demographics (2006 Census Data). Foreign born residents US: 1 in 8 WI: 1 in 22 Residents speaking a language other than English at home

jescie-soto
Télécharger la présentation

Delivering Services to Multilingual Communities

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Delivering Services to Multilingual Communities Shiva Bidar-Sielaff, M.A. Director of Community Partnerships UW Health

  2. Demographics (2006 Census Data) • Foreign born residents • US: 1 in 8 • WI: 1 in 22 • Residents speaking a language other than English at home • US: 19.7% of total population) • WI: 4.4% of total population speaks language other than English at home (2006 Census)

  3. Limited English Proficient (LEP) Individual “An LEP individual is a person who is unable to speak, read, write or understand the English language at a level that permits him or her to interact effectively with health and social agencies and providers.” Office for Civil Rights

  4. Who Is a Qualified Interpreter? • Fluent in two languages • Trained as an interpreter • ability to accurately transfer information between 2 languages • familiar with medical concepts & terminology • familiar with Western biomedical culture and LEP patient’s culture • understands and adheres to the Interpreter’s Code of Ethics • Not a family member • In one study family members mistranslated or did not translate 23-44% of the questions asked by physicians • Never a minor child

  5. Unqualified “Interpreter” Bloopers... • Gallbladder as vagina/ bladder • Seizures as loss of consciousness/ cramps/stitches • Cervix as neck/cervical vertebrae/hip/uterus • IUD as catheter

  6. The Role of a Medical Interpreter • The role of the interpreter is to facilitate communication between a provider and a patient/family who are speaking a different language • How? • Interpreting accurately everything that is being said • Asking for clarification, in a transparent way, if there is confusion • Providing a cultural framework if there is a misunderstanding between provider and patient based on a cultural reference

  7. Working Effectively Through an Interpreter • Have a brief pre-session with the interpreter • Make sure everybody is positioned appropriately • Speak directly directly to the patient, not the interpreter • Use the first person and active voice, i.e. ”I will be listening to your heart.” • Look at the patient • Speak at an even pace in relatively short segments • Use normal tone of voice (not louder!) • Stop after 3-4 short sentences or one long one

  8. What Should You Avoid... • Highly technical speech/jargon • Idiomatic expressions/similes/metaphors • Comments that you do not want interpreted. • Asking the interpreter about the patient’s history or state of mind

  9. Un Poquito de Español: Know Your Limits • Language acquisition is a very long process • Due to Latino cultural norms of politeness and respect for those in authority, patients will not tell a provider directly that they don't understand the providers' Spanish • Communication with limited fluency prevents accurate/complex communication. Nuances are often missed. • Spanish is a highly variable language, with tremendous variations in accent, vocabulary, syntax depending on the region of origin (country, urban/rural, etc.).

  10. When to Use a Phone Interpreter (OPI) Service? • When face to face interpreter not available • OPI Services available in 140 languages, 24/7 • OPI Services available on demand • When both parties are already communicating on the phone (i.e. confirming an appointment, checking in with a patient)

  11. Written Translations • A qualified interpreter is not necessarily a qualified translator • Interpreting: facilitating oral or sign language communication between two or more speakers who do not speaking, or signing, the same language. • Translation: transferring the meaning of a text (written message) from one language in another language • Use trustworthy sources (i.e. Medlineplus, AAFP) • Make sure it is reviewed by a native speaker • Never use free translation websites

  12. Remember • The interpreter is there to support the development of your relationship with the patient. • You are in control: you need to ensure that there is appropriate communication. • Be patient: it may take longer but, accurate communication is key to a good outcome. • Language is the tip of the iceberg

More Related