Bilingual Medical Interpreter Training

Since February 2006, the Division of Policy and Performance (DPP) has provided both Spanish and Navajo bilingual medical interpreter training to Department of Health staff and providers of community-based services. The goal of these trainings is to increase access to health care for minority populations by decreasing cultural and linguistic barriers to care.

The Spanish interpreter training is provided by two different consultants on contract with DPP. Both Spanish interpreter training classes provide approximately 32 hours of classroom training and include sections on medical terminology, physiology, anatomy, cultural competence, traditional Hispanic medicine, Cultural and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) standards Cultural and Linguistically Appropriate Service (CLAS)and role-playing health care scenarios designed to address the needs of racial, ethnic and linguistic population groups that experience unequal access to health services.

The Navajo training provides 32 hours of classroom training and includes a review of the Navajo clan system, regional Navajo language idioms, roles of the interpreter/translator, CLAS Standards, anatomy, verbal descriptions of pain utilized by Navajo patients, common illnesses and diseases, role playing and death and dying for Navajos.

If you are interested in registering for these classes, contact Paul Romero at Paul.Romero1@state.nm.us or (505) 827-2056.