UAB Synopsis, Vol. 24, No. 14, April 18, 2005
Access to medical interpreters in 160 languages
When the editors of Birmingham Magazine began their search for individuals who exemplify the Southern work ethic, their first feature (January 2005) highlighted UAB International Medical Service (IMS) Manager Maria Alonso. Born in Cuba and the wife of surgeon and University Hospital Assistant Chief of Staff Jorge Alonso, MD, Maria emigrated to Miami at age 10, just months before the Cuban missile crisis. It was 3 years before the Mexican government helped her father, a physician, and her mother obtain visas to join her.
"Those were tough times," she recalls. "Relatives placed me in school and, at first, I would constantly be asking people 'What are you trying to say to me?' It was upsetting and frustrating to be in a strange place where I didn't know the language."
Communication Comes First
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) standard RI.1.3.6 calls for all hospitals to "demonstrate respect for each patient's communication needs," as part of the overall patient rights standards.
"It is critical to use only qualified medical interpreters when communicating with nonEnglish speaking patients," explains Alonso, who joined UAB in 1993.
IMS interpreters, whether staff or contract employees, have special training in medical terminology, consecutive interpreting, and cultural nuances, all of which are imperative to achieve effective communication among speakers of different languages. A telephone "language line" can quickly help UAB interpreters and patients when a UAB staff member speaking the language cannot immediately be found.
Alonso emphasizes that IMS staff interpreters are recognized by the State of Alabama as "Certified Medical Interpreters" and are among very few in Alabama with this official recognition. She adds, "Overall, the need for translators continues to grow."
To request the assistance of a medical interpreter, call 934-2096 or page the interpreter on call, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, through UAB paging at 934-3411.