Basic Medical Spanish Course

Culturally inclusive care requires reducing language barriers to improve health outcomes and help diverse patient populations navigate the health care system. It also involves improving cultural competence among providers, staff, and learners to improve patient safety and quality. Take a moment to read "Diversity and Cultural Language Competency is Crucial for Excellent Care" by the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation. This article addresses why it is not only necessary to provide cultural and linguistic appropriate care for a growing Spanish-speaking population but also the need to offer more education and training to providers, staff and learners.

The University of Mississippi Medical Center's Translation and Interpretive Services within the Office of Patient Experience does an excellent job of bridging the gap and meeting the needs of Limited English Proficiency (LEP) patients and families cared for in our hospitals and clinics. To enhance their services, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) will offer a course this fall, "Learning Basic Medical Spanish," for anyone at UMMC interested in increasing their effectiveness in communicating with Spanish-speaking patients.

The course is provided in an online, self-paced format, including one live virtual training session. Topics include information on Hispanic culture, Spanish language, grammar, and medical terminology, and strategies for effective communication. 

The Fall 2023 course begins on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023. Registration begins on Thursday, June 1, 2023 and closes on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. Click here to register. Class size is limited and registration is required. A final exam is required at the end of the program. A passing score of 80 is required, and it can be taken several times. 

Below is quick reference tool that was created by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to be used as a resource for improving professional skills and ability to communicate with Spanish-speaking patients. Users are encouraged to read and repeat, in Spanish, commonly used medical phrases stated or asked during the medical interview. This tool has been developed for those who may come in contact with Spanish-speaking bilingual patients, who can provide their answers in English. This tool has not been developed to be used with LEP patients. Best practices for communicating with LEP patients are with the support of a certified or trained interpreter. ©2020