Bridging the gap with medical interpreting

More than 63 million Americans speak a language other than English in the home, according to a recent report from the United States Census.  As our nation becomes more diverse, there is a growing need for health care providers to be more competent in supporting patients with distinct cultural and linguistic needs.

In an effort to provide high-quality care to all patients, Augusta University will host Bridging the Gap medical interpreters training from March 25 through March 29. Workshops include a rigorous curriculum covering an array of topics, including cultural competency, the guide to common medications and interpreting logistics.

“Augusta University values the uniqueness of all individuals, and this training was developed to train bilingual individuals to become qualified medical interpreters for health care facilities to meet the needs of patients with various cultures and linguistic needs,” said Vivian Rice, manager of Interpreters and Translation Services at Augusta University.

The training is open to the public, and participants must attend each session and pass a written final written exam to earn a certificate. The course fee is $800 which includes the cost of course materials, tuition and the nonrefundable language assessment fee.

Augusta University’s Bridging the Gap medical interpreters training is licensed by the Cross Cultural Health Care Program, a nationally recognized nonprofit medical interpreter training program.  For more information, call 706-721-6929 or contact Vivian Rice