University Health is proud to serve a diverse community. Our team of professional interpreters is committed to connecting patients and healthcare providers through language and culture.
Medical interpreters, translators and bilingual patient guides
For patients and families who prefer to communicate about their healthcare in a language other than English, we provide professional medical interpreters and bilingual patient navigators free of charge.
We provide face-to-face interpreters in Spanish, Arabic, Somali and sign language, as well as telephonic interpreting in over 150 languages. In one recent year, for example, more than 100,000 language interpretation services in over 80 languages were provided.
Our interpreters do more than simply communicate. We can help you during all phases of your care including:
- Scheduling, rescheduling or canceling appointments.
- Assisting with prescription refill inquiries.
- Assisting with referrals, financial counseling and billing inquiries.
- Obtaining medical records after your visits.
- Setting up a personalized online link to your medical record.
- Making sure you understand your physicians.
We also offer translation of essential documents, patient education materials and many other written communications in English, Spanish and Arabic.
If you would like an interpreter, please tell a member of your healthcare team as soon as you enter one of our facilities. If you have additional questions about our services, please call 816.404.3280.
Medical Interpreter Training Classes
Medical Interpreter Training - Winter Classes begin January 21st
Spanish Bilingual Assistant (SBA) is a sixty-hour introduction to medical interpreting course for people who speak English and Spanish. Students who take this class apply what they learn by providing bilingual service in healthcare settings. Bilingual healthcare workers enroll in the SBA and use the interpretation exercises to improve language skills so they can do their jobs better in two languages.
You will study:
- Language: Increase your medical vocabulary by reviewing each body system
- Culture: Learn techniques for helping people of different cultures communicate
- Ethical Standards: Review National Standards of Practice
- Practice: Build interpreter skills & knowledge (memory, position, role-playing, over-the-phone interpreting, video remote interpreting, and more)
Pre-requisites:
Applicants must be fluent in Spanish and English. Pre-testing interviews will be held by appointment over the phone.
Fees:
UH Employees – Free
Non UH Employees - $350.00
Manual and all related study materials will be provided.
No refunds after 10 calendar days in to the course.
Class Location:
Our virtual classroom combines live instruction with an innovative format. Students will need to attend all virtual sessions, complete all assignments and successfully pass the midterm and final exam to receive a certificate of completion.
Class Dates:
8 Saturdays
January 21 – March 18, 2023
8:00 am – 2:00 pm
(6 hours of class plus 1.5 hours of homework per week)
(no class February 18)
For more information:
Phone: 816-404-5552
E-mail: SBA@uhkc.org
Enhance your Spanish for Healthcare Settings*
In this four-week (12 hour) Spanish class students will continue their study of fundamental vocabulary and grammatical structures of the Spanish language. Students will be exposed to meaningful content while developing proficiency in Spanish. The content of the class will emphasize hospital and medical situations and settings. These authentic sources will be the primary means through which students will experience the Spanish language. A variety of activities, including written, spoken, listening, and presentational will be used. Students will also participate in and practice conversations related to various topics including common hospital situations.
You will study:
- Vocabulary
- Friends and family
- Areas and professions in a hospital
- Activities and possible injuries
- Places in the city and directions
- Grammar
- Present tense and present progressive
- Simple future and expressions with infinitives
- Past tense (preterite and imperfect)
- Direct and indirect object pronouns
Prerequisites:
Basic knowledge of Spanish (level 1 or equivalent)
Fees:
- UH Employees – Free
- Non UH Employees - $150
- Manual and all related study materials will be provided.
Class Location:
- This is a live Zoom classroom.
- Students will need to attend all virtual live sessions, complete all assignments, and successfully pass quizzes and tests to receive a certificate of successful completion.
CLASS DATES:
Thursdays 3:30-5:30
Module 1 –January 5, 12, 19, 26, 2023
Module 2 – February 2, 9, 16, 23, 2023
Module 3 – March 9, 16, 23, 30, 2023
Module 4 – April 6, 13, 20, 27, 2023
*This course is structured in four one-month modules that can be taken sequentially, as they build upon each other. Each module is 12 hours between class time and homework.
SPANISH for HOSPITALITY
Spanish for Hospitality is a four-week (16 hour) class which will give students the ability to express themselves in basic Spanish. This means that they will be able to successfully handle a variety of basic communicative tasks necessary to make someone feel comfortable in a hospital setting. More specifically, students completing the class will be able to:
LANGUAGE:
- Greet and introduce themselves to others.
- Give and request personal information, such as name, age, nationality, and profession.
- Ask questions about location and give directions.
CULTURE:
- Students will gain a deeper knowledge and understanding of the cultures of the Spanish-speaking world.
- They will be more acquainted with the places where Spanish is spoken and will explore some of the main cultural and social traits of the Hispanic world.
- Students will have a better understanding of how words, body language, rituals and social interactions influence communication.
PRE-REQUISITES:
- Applicants must be willing to learn the language.
- No previous language experience necessary.
FEES:
- UH Employees – Free
- Non UH Employees - $150
- Manual and all related study materials will be provided.
CLASS LOCATION:
- This is a live Zoom classroom.
- Students will need to attend all virtual live sessions, complete all assignments, and successfully pass quizzes and tests to receive a certificate of successful completion.
Class Dates:
Tuesday May 9, 16, 23, 30 from 3:30 pm -5:30 pm
Wednesday May 3, 10, 24, 31 from 3:30 pm -5:30 pm
Thursday May 4, 11, 18, 25 from 3:30 pm -5:30 pm
Saturday May 6, 13, 20, 27 from 10:30 am -12:30 pm
(2 hours of class plus 2 hours of homework per week)