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MedSpanish: a language tool for the emergency department
1Vermont Initiative for Rural Health Informatics and Telemedicine, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, USA.
Proceedings. AMIA Symposium
|November 24, 1999
Summary
The MedSpanish website offers Spanish vocabulary and audio clips for emergency departments to overcome language barriers. It provides a practical alternative to professional translators when they are unavailable.
Area of Science:
- Medical Communication
- Health Informatics
Background:
- Language barriers negatively impact healthcare quality.
- The Hispanic population is the largest minority in the U.S., increasing the need for Spanish-language medical resources.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a web-based tool, MedSpanish, for emergency departments.
- To facilitate communication between healthcare professionals and Spanish-speaking patients.
Main Methods:
- Created a website with common Spanish medical vocabulary and audio clips.
- Designed content for easy conversion to pocket cards for accessibility.
- Focused on vocabulary relevant to emergency department settings.
Main Results:
- MedSpanish provides essential Spanish translations and audio for medical emergencies.
- The resource is designed for quick access, even without computer availability.
- Offers a supplementary tool to bridge communication gaps.
Conclusions:
- MedSpanish serves as a valuable resource for emergency departments facing language barriers.
- It improves access to care for Spanish-speaking patients by mitigating miscommunication.
- The tool is a practical alternative when trained translators are not accessible.
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