Course Description
- Faculty: Francisco Saavedra, M.D., Course Chair
- Course Description: SHP (or FAMED 556) is an elective, one-credit, intensive Spanish language course, devoted to the study of medical Spanish and the cultural issues related to successful interactions with the Spanish-speaking patient in the clinical encounter, regardless of one’s current level of Spanish comprehension.
- Objectives:
- Vocabulary and Basics of Grammar:
Medical, common and colloquial, sentence construction/ questions, and verb tenses.
- The Clinical History in Spanish:
Spoken Spanish —the clinical encounter— asking questions, providing commands and instructions, and farewell; oral case presentations and written clinical history/ notes (Identifying Data—ID; Chief Complaint—CC; History of Present Illness—HPI; Standard Medical Database: Past Medical History—PMH, Family History—FH, Social History—SH & Review of Systems—ROS; and Heath Maintenance and Functional Status).
- Evaluating Patients in Spanish:
Comprehensive physical examination, laboratory workup and diagnostic evaluation. - Explaining Diagnoses in Spanish:
Diagnoses and their explanations and rationale. - Managing Treatment Decisions in Spanish:
Implementing, explaining treatment regimens and options and the use of the familiar “prescription” notes for patients. - Cultural Sensitivity:
Provides essential tools to improve students’ cultural and linguistic competence and communicate in a specialized and culturally-sensitive manner with Spanish-speaking patients. Awareness of the differences in the perceptions of physicians, medicine and treatment; this also includes learning how to be assertive, while demonstrating the appropriate skills and cultural sensitivity, approaching Spanish-speaking patients. These skills could then be applied when dealing with Latino patients in the U.S. and abroad.
- Set a foundation for further learning of Spanish.
Develop of a sense of awareness and continuity in improving the medical Spanish for professional use.
- Background and Rationale: Why Spanish for Health Professionals? Important Points to Consider:
- After English, Spanish is the most important spoken language in the U.S.
- Hispanics are the fastest growing minority in the U.S. As of July 2003, the Hispanic population stood at 39.9 million.
- The clinical encounter with non-English-speaking Hispanics or those with limited English skills is a frequent situation in clinical settings throughout the U.S.
- There are important cultural considerations regarding Hispanics: they feel much more comfortable if a health care provider can communicate with them in Spanish, even with basic Spanish. This in itself could be the key element to opening an effective professional relationship.
- Relying on untrained/impromptu translators for the collection of clinical data can create problems/liabilities during diagnosis, management and follow up.
- The Federal Government will support the legalization of transitional workers in the U.S. from Mexico, which will increase the open exposure of this population to mainstream medical care.
- To know another language, especially Spanish, gives one a strong cultural base to support professional activities and credibility in society.
- Bilingual (Spanish) physicians have a strong advantage in the marketplace, are able to get better international clinical experience, and be more accessible in global medicine initiatives and programs.
- Class format:
- Culture discussion (when article is assigned)
- Vocabulary/Grammar review from previous class and Quiz
- Grammar explanation (based on assigned reading)
- Vocabulary and dialogue pre-view
- Case scenario dialogue practice
- Methodology—Hands On:
- Skill-based: students are divided into small groups based on their initial language level, and are given different tasks and evaluations.
- Interactive: two-way, constant communication emphasizing pronunciation and essential vocabulary and key grammatical construction.
- Practical: use of basic high-frequency expressions in the clinical encounters as you would use it in a professional setting.
- Fun!—¡Divertido!
- Syllabus: Duration, Schedule and Place:
- Total Duration: 16 hours, eight sessions, which includes a middle practice and the final exam both with standardized Spanish-speaking patients.
- Where: WSU Morrill 124 and UI EP 214
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