Spanish for Health Professionals
FAMED 556
Course Instructor: Eva Galvez, M.D.
Offered: Spring Qtr 2009
Contact: Felicity Abeyta, 206-685-2489, fabeyta@u.washington.edu

Course Description: This Spanish medical course introduces students to intermediate medical Spanish vocabulary and medical Spanish scripts that are commonly used in patient encounters. Specific objectives of the course include learning the essential skills to be more prepared to communicate with Spanish-speaking patients, conduct patient medical history interviews in Spanish, understand basic orientation regarding important cultural considerations, and set a foundation for further learning of Spanish. At the end of the 10 weeks students will engage in the rewarding, hands-on clinical experience of taking personal histories from Spanish-speaking patients.

  Learning Objectives - after participating in this course, the learner will be able to:

• Understand important cultural considerations;
• Conduct patient social history interviews in Spanish;
•  Learn essential vocabulary needed to identify symptoms and chief complaint;
• Set a foundation for further learning of Spanish.

1. Spanish is the second most important spoken language in the U.S.
2. Hispanics are the fastest growing minority in the U.S. As of July 2006, the Hispanic population stood at 44.3 million.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Relying on untrained/impromptu translators for the collection of clinical data can create problems/liabilities during diagnosis, management and follow up.
6. The Federal Government will support the legalization of transitional workers in the U.S.Mexico, which will increase the open exposure of this population to mainstream medical care.
7. To know another language, especially Spanish, gives one a strong cultural base to support professional activities and credibility in society.
8. 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.

Materials:     

Saavedra FJ., Komlos, BZ, Villanueva D. WWAMI Spanish for Health Professionals Course Reader, 2008. A pdf version of the material that will be used in class will be provided.

   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 preview
• Case scenario dialogue practice

Methodology:

1. Skill-based: students are divided into small groups based on their initial language level, and are given different tasks and evaluations.
2.  Interactive: two-way, constant communication emphasizing pronunciation and essential vocabulary and key grammatical construction.
3.  Practical: use of basic high-frequency expressions used in clinical encounters.
4.  Fun - ¡Divertido!

  
Lecture Topics & Learning Objective: Pending

Class	Subject	Date	Time & Place	Packet Sections
1	Introduction
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10                                         EXAM

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For more information on this course, please contact Felicity Abeyta, Program Coordinator at 206-685-2489, or at fabeyta@u.washington.edu.

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