Welcome to my Medical Spanish Website

            In the medical world, one of the most important aspects of patient care is communication. Physicians, nurses and other healthcare staff need to be able to communicate with the patients so that they may understand diagnoses, treatment plans, and risks. In this fast-paced field, a slight miscommunication could mean the difference between life and death.

            Effective communication with everyone that enters a hospital is becoming more and more difficult with the growing diversity of our country. The largest minority group in the United States today is Hispanics, at 44.3 million as of July 1, 2006 (U.S. Census). Many U.S. citizens do not speak or understand any English at all. For this reason hospitals hire translators to bridge the gap between minority patients and their physicians.

            Translators are important for the effective functioning of a hospital. However, hospitals are often encountered with emergencies when a translator is not available. Translators cannot be with all the patients at all times, often leaving minority patients feeling in the dark or helpless in communicating their concerns, questions, and needs. It is important for physicians to form a trusting relationship with their patients and to make sure that patients feel comfortable. This is quite difficult when the only means of communication is through a third party. In a hospital system it is important that some physicians have a basic comprehension of minority patients’ language and culture. With Spanish being one of the most widely spoken languages in the U.S., a lesson in medical Spanish would be beneficial to all healthcare workers.

             This website was designed as an informative and educational resource for healthcare workers who are interested in expanding their knowledge and communication skills to better accommodate for their minority patients. The information given on this site is not intended to generalize all Spanish-speaking patients, but rather to give examples of what could be encountered in medical situations.