1. Interpreter Training
SHAC Interpreting Services

2. 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

3. 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

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

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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”

10. 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.

11. HOW TO SIGN UP
(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:
Front/Back Listserv:
Be considerate to other members, no more than 1/month if the schedule is very full.

12. 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.