What do you think?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
What do you think?
9
Fri, 11-10-2006 - 2:37pm

This morning Michael came home (he worked all night) and asked me if I wanted to volunteer for the hospital where he works. He said they're compiling a Language Bank of people who speak a second language (any second language fluently) to translate for the patients who come in and don't speak English, and the doctors, PAs and nurses who can't communicate with these patients. They're trying to get people who speak all different languages to do this.

I speak Greek. It was actually my first language. However, I don't know medical and anatomical terms in Greek. I know basic body parts, and some symptoms, etc. from what I picked up growing up, but I couldn't tell you what the more technical medical terms are.

I imagine it will be a very rare occasion when someone comes in to the ER or hospital who speaks Greek and no English. There just aren't that many recent Greek immigrants.

What this would mean would be that I would have to be available by phone presumably 24/7 (unless they have someone else who speaks Greek to split the time with me), and if a patient *did* come in who spoke Greek and needed a translator, the doctor, or someone, would call me and put me on speaker phone and I'd translate the History and Physical, and whatever the patient and doctor said. If I wanted, I could come in and translate also, it wouldn't have to be by phone.

Michael was really excited about this for me. He thought it would be good for me to do something different besides just "Mommying", and the girls are almost ready to go to preschool. He knows I love to help people out. They were all briefed during rounds about it from human resources and patient relations and volunteer services. He had to speak up right away and say that his wife speaks Greek, LOL! So they sent home some information for me, and I've been looking it over.

What do you all think? What if I get a call when I'm dealing with the kids, or at a friend's for a playdate, or doing something with the kids, or in the grocery store? I asked Michael all that, and he said unless it's a life and death situation that demands immediate medical consent, I could always call back in a little bit, and that Registration is supposed to call me when the patient checks in, before the doctor sees them, so I can get ready and have some warning. But still, in an emergency situation, I might be caught off guard.

I think it will be pretty rare that they would ever need a Greek translator, though, so I imagine I won't be used much and it wouldn't be a problem.

Should I do it?

Sofia




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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-31-2006
Fri, 11-10-2006 - 2:43pm

Sure, if you want to. Don't feel obligated, though, just because Michael's already mentioned you. And I think that even if you don't know Greek medical terminology, you could learn it pretty quickly. And docs don't use that much medical jargon with patients anyway.

Erin

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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-13-2003
Fri, 11-10-2006 - 2:43pm

I would do it Sofia. It sounds like it could be very interesting. And, as you said, chances of being used are probably slim.


Go for it! If you do get called a few times, and its too inconvienent for you, I'm sure you could always have them remove your name from the list.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 11-10-2006 - 2:52pm

No, I don't feel obligated at all, that's why I'm asking your advice. He mentioned my name, but he would never commit me to anything like that!

And I didn't mean the really technical medical terms. I know patients don't need to know those, LOL! I mean--I don't even know the more obscure medical terms in Greek, like "CT Scan" or "appendicitis." And I don't know the more obscure anatomical terms, like "gall bladder" and "spleen" either! But I guess I could learn them pretty quickly, you're right. . .

Sofia




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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-12-2006
Fri, 11-10-2006 - 4:21pm
magnetiki tomographia, cat scan(magnetic tomography)
splina, spleen
hollee cysti, gall blader
appendics escapes me right now, cause it is late, i will remember it in the morning. I think that people need more of a friendly face that is there for them, and they know the terminology because a lot of it is the same in english, cause the english medical terms are mostly greek or latin.
cardiologico-cardio
lemphatic, lemphadenes
hemo-hema, blood
endocrino-greek
limoxi-infection
and many more you will pick it up fast.
spasimo-break
ragisma-fracture
enhirisi-operation
this might do you good to brush up on your greek, becaus if you learn more greek you will learn more english. look at the work enhirisi. En means, (in,during) hirisi (operate, utilize)
you learn to think more about the etimology of language, and you realize that you can learn a lot about any language really.
Much of the english language has greek in it. You probably know all of this.
anyway good luck with what ever you choose to do.
arie
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2004
Fri, 11-10-2006 - 5:51pm

I think it sounds wonderful, but I would not do it if you think it would not work out.
Maybe you can try it and see how it goes.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-11-2006
Fri, 11-10-2006 - 6:49pm

I personally would not like that.

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Registered: 09-19-2005
Fri, 11-10-2006 - 10:14pm
It SOUNDS like it would be a great thing, but I have a girlfriend who translates sign lang. at hospitals and in court rooms. Find out all the legalities involved with this type of translation before you agree to do it. You'd be AMAZED at what YOU are liable for if something isn't translated exactly how it should be. If you're comfortable with that part of it, I'd say to go for it!

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Thanks Kelly for the AWESOME siggies!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 11-11-2006 - 5:13pm

Efcharisto, Arie!! :)

I've printed this up. Very helpful! I knew some of them, like "hema", "cardio" and "enhirisi," but not all of them. And yeah, you're right, so many of the words in English come from Greek, especially the medical words!!

BTW, I found out from my dad that "appendicitis" is "skolikoiditis" :)

Sofia




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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 11-11-2006 - 5:23pm

Thanks, everyone, for your input and advice. I'm still thinking this over. I will research it very carefully before making a decision, but I'm leaning towards trying it out. I need something to do with myself besides wife & Mommy! :) BTW, I don't have to be at home all day, as long as they can reach me on my cell phone, and it looks like the liability issue is covered by the hospital under something similar to The Good Samaritan Act. They need to give me a Greek proficiency test before they sign me on, to cover their butts.

I'll let you know what I decide.

Sofia




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