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Medical Spanish

Medical Spanish Immersion

by Tara Peris

A growing number of doctors are studying Spanish in order to improve the quality of their medical care. With an increasing number of Latino patients entering the health care system each year, these language skills are not only useful, they are necessary. The real issue pertains not to whether one should seek Spanish skills, but rather, to how best to obtain them. For many medical students and physicians, the most effective method is full immersion in a Spanish-speaking medical center setting.

Speaking the Language

Most medical students recognize the importance of being able to speak Spanish. Clear, open, and ongoing communication is central to quality patient care. In many cases, this means being able to speak to patients in a language other than English. Although universal sign language and pocket dictionaries can help in crisis situations, they are not the tools on which you want to rely.

Ask any first year resident and he or she will likely tell you that the first year out of medical school serves as its own language immersion course. Whether you work in the ER or the radiology lab, the pediatrics department or oncology, you are likely to be bombarded with patients who speak limited English. You could try to learn medical Spanish on the job (in truth, you will have to), but it is an added stress amidst the chaos of other residency requirements.

A better way to do it is to look into medical Spanish immersion classes. Whether you practice abroad for course work or take it at a local language center, these classes are bound to prove invaluable. They will increase your competence on the job and improve your ability to administer quality medical care to diverse patient populations.

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