What is the Spanish medical interpreter gap in the US?

Medical interpreters serve as a linguistic bridge to help patients and doctors to communicate confidently.

A doctor visit is often times an intimidating and uncomfortable affair.

When you cannot speak the local language well enough to tell a doctor about your medical problem, the stress level soars.

The so-called "medical language gap" is increasing in the US - too many Limited English patients (LEPs) are  unable to interact with their physicians.

Spanish Medical Interpreter Gap

Because there is an insufficient number of certified medical interpreters to LEPs in hospitals and clinics, especially for Spanish speakers, there is a "medical interpreter gap"."

Spanish is the second most common language in the US after English - and growing.

For example, Florida is the second fastest-growing Latino population after Georgia with an 85% increase since 2000.

The Pew Research says one-third of Hispanics are not English proficient.

Unfortunately, relatively few health care organizations – anywhere from 38 to 68 percent – employ professional interpreters, who assist patients either in person or remotely via phone or video.according to the study.

Thus, Spanish medical  interpreters are needed to help LEPs to effective communicate with medical staff.

Interpreters in hospitals and clinics show cultural competence and ensure patient-and-family-centered care.

They also improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities.

Just because one cannot speak some English (or at all) should not condemn them to inferior health care.

That is not right!

Fundraising Goal

While I am a certified translator  now, I now want to go a step further to be a certified Spanish medical interpreter.

I thought about becoming a certified legal interpreter, but I prefer medicine.

But, I need your donation to help me pay for the classes in January. I really do appreciate it!

Conclusion

I need to take Spanish medical certification classes in January and get a better computer to help me study.

In a later post, I will explain more about the serpentine certification process. In short, it is not a overnight project!

Please give what you can today to help. I really do appreciate it!

Thanks for reading this entire post!

p.s. Please Retweet this article to your friends. 

Press Release: Certified Translator Hopes to Narrow Language Gap in Central Florida Hospitals with Crowdfunding Campaign

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Certified Translator Hopes to Narrow Language Gap in Central Florida Hospitals with Crowdfunding Campaign

ORLANDO, Florida, November 20, 2017 – Winfield Trivette II, a certified translator of Spanish and Portuguese text to English, announced today that he is raising funds via a crowdfunding campaign on GoGetFunding to pay for his Spanish medical certification courses and exams.

Mr. Trivette set out to raise $6,000 on GoGetFunding to become a certified Spanish medical interpreter in order to narrow the unfair language gap between Limited English Hispanic patients and their doctors in Central Florida.

A third of Hispanics are not English proficient, one quarter are elderly, according to the Pew Research.

The resultant language gap between primarily Spanish-speaking patients and English-speaking health care providers causes unfair health disparities and inferior health care.

More storm victims of Hurricane Maria from Puerto Rico potentially could widen the language gap between Hispanic patients and medical providers in Central Florida.

While the Pew Research indicates 86% of Puerto Ricans identify as English proficient, that means a sizable number do not.

"Fortunately, a short-term solution is more certified Spanish medical interpreters," says Mr. Trivette.

"I need help to pay for my classes and exams. Then I can help close the language gap as a certified medical interpreter here in Central Florida."

After passing a 40-hour credit course and both a written and oral exam, a candidate can become certified by the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters.

To help narrow the unfair language gap between Spanish-speaking patients and medical providers, visit: https://gogetfunding.com/fund-spanish-medical-interpreter-certification/

 For more information:

Mr. Winfield Trivette II
winn[at]atranslationace.com

About Winfield Trivette II

Mr. Trivette II is a certified translator of Spanish and Portuguese text to English who has lived and traveled extensively in Spain and Latin America. He is studying to become a certified medical interpreter – converting speech between people who speak different languages.

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