Understanding medical information from a provider can be a challenge for some patients, but imagine the difficulty for those who speak English at a less than proficient level. That’s the case for an estimated 21 million Americans. “This statistic demonstrates the vital role each of us plays as a LEAP interpreter,” said Emma Gutierrez, translation specialist and LEAP training leader for Language Services & Inclusion, during the seventh cohort graduation ceremony of LG Health’s Linguistic Employee Advancement Program (LEAP).
At LG Health, employees who provide direct medical care and demonstrate high-level bilingual skills are invited to apply to serve as a LEAP interpreter after successful completion of the linguistics program. The goal of the program is to protect patient safety and deliver healthier outcomes for patients.
The program is intensive and requires employees to progress through various educational modules to become a qualified medical interpreter. “On average, a candidate can spend 10 hours a week dedicated to their training, whether it is in class, studying for the exams or shadowing members of the Language Services Department,” explained Evelin La Paz, manager of Language Services & Inclusion.
This year, 11 LG Health employees successfully graduated from the program as Spanish, Swahili or Mandarin interpreters, bringing the total to more than 80. Luis Velez, surgical support assistant, was one.
Velez has worked at LG Health since 2017 as a transporter and now in the operating room. Currently, he is the only LEAP interpreter in the OR. Velez grew up in a bilingual home and knows first-hand the importance of having a proper interpreter. “Growing up, I would go with my grandmother to her appointments to help her,” he said. “In my role I have also observed how it can cause additional stress, for both the patient and the provider, when the patient does not speak English as their primary language.”
This drove him to apply to the program. Since receiving his certificate, Velez has assisted many patients during their time in the OR. “It is very rewarding to observe a patient feel more comfortable because I am able to interpret their plan of care.”