Interpreter Training SHAC Interpreting Services

ABOUT SHAC INTERPRETING SERVICES OUR MISSION DIRECTORS To provide consistent and reliable interpreting services for the patients of the student-run volunteer clinic, SHAC. SHAC offers free health care every Wednesday evening at the Carrboro Community Health Center, a division of Piedmont Health Services, Inc. SHAC Interpreting Services also provides interpreting and bilingual health education services at community health fairs, including La Fiesta del Pueblo, St. Thomas Moore and El Centro Hispano, among others. Molly Crenshaw, MS2 CONTACT salsa_leaders@listserv.med.unc.edu

ORGANIZATION Recognized with UNC Student Union studentlife.unc.edu – search for SALSA Medical School Student Organizations UNC Med student organizations (click for link) Volunteers are: Undergraduates Professional School Students Community Members

SPONSORED EVENTS SHAC Ophthalmology Physical Therapy, Public Health, Social Work Well Child Clinic Health Fairs Saint Thomas More La Fiesta del Pueblo

INTERPRETING AT SHAC Clinic Front/Back 5 interpreters per night 5:30/6:00 - close Clinical Encounters Health Fairs Front/Back 1 interpreter per night 5:30-8:00PM Patient Intake Vitals Pharmacy

YOUR ROLE AS AN INTERPRETER Priority 1: Facilitate communication between patient and provider If you don’t understand something on either side, ask to repeat or clarify. If a provider asks a question that seems inappropriate and you are uncomfortable translating, don’t be afraid to ask them if it could be worded differently If you are unsure of how to best translate a sentence or idea, don’t be afraid to ask questions and use workarounds. Try to avoid summarizing. Remember, the goal is to make sure that the provider and patient understand one another. If you are uncomfortable during a particular conversation, ask to be excused and seek help from the coordinator.

YOUR ROLE AS AN INTERPRETER “Fly on the wall” Speak in first person Maintain integrity of ideas expressed by patient and provider. Make sure that your efforts enhance the provider/patient relationship; be sensitive to the fact that you will often be the only person in the room that understands all sides of the conversation. Confidentiality! Always be sure that the patient can trust you. Stick with the same patient throughout the visit. Patient advocate You will often be the only person who sees the patient all the way through. This will give you a unique insight on what the visit is like for a patient.

YOUR ROLE AS AN INTERPRETER Continue to improve your language skills! The better your vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation are, the more effective you will be as an interpreter. Everyone has to get creative at times when they don’t know how to say something, but use this as a learning opportunity. Dictionaries, your phone, and your fellow interpreters (particularly the native speakers) will be valuable resources. Work on speaking clearly and loudly.

SENSITIVITY WITH PERSONAL TOPICS Public Health Contraception, STDs and sexual activity Social Work Abuse and safety in sexual relationships HIV Counseling “XYZ” Sexual behavior and orientation, protection, STDs Language “Poker Face”

DEALING WITH SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES Family interpreters Use your judgment Conflict of interests Stay in the room “Bilingual” Providers You may allow providers to speak as much as they can Begin to interpret when you sense there is a possible misunderstanding or if the flow of the interview is greatly interrupted. This can also apply to patients who speak some English. Ask them if they want you there. Even if they speak English, they may still feel more comfortable speaking in their language.

HOW TO SIGN UP http://www.med.unc.edu/salsa/schedule (In our website under Schedule) Write your name in the desired spot. Signing up is binding. It is your responsibility to find a replacement if you cannot make it. Clinic Listserv: salsaclinic@listserv.med.unc.edu Front/Back Listserv: salsafrontback@listserv.med.unc.edu Be considerate to other members, no more than 1/month if the schedule is very full.

WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT SHAC Sign a Confidentiality Form (available at the nurses station) Sign in on the laptop next to the nurses station (press tab once all fields are filled out. This is how you keep track of the number of the number of hours you have volunteered for future reference. Go to the break room in the back and let the coordinator know that you have arrived. Front/Back people will go up front, Clinic people will remain in the back room until called. Always try to remember the room number of the patient that you have been assigned.