This is a pilot program that will help train employees to gain a comprehensive understanding of how employees can be culturally competent in linguistics and utilize appropriate techniques in Spanish medical interpretation for the non-English speaking patient via the INTERPRET™ MODULE and BELIEF™ INSTRUMENT .

The goal of this program is to increase cultural and linguistic skills; encouraging positive change in attitudes; skills and practices that will continue within UTHSCSA.

Participants will:

• Develop skills in appropriate interpretation methodology by utilizing the INTERPRET™ MODULE
• Gain knowledge of the racial, ethnic and cultural composition of the San Antonio community.
• Elicit the patient's alternate health beliefs by utilizing the BELIEF™ INSTRUMENT.

As the United States population becomes increasingly heterogeneous and multicultural, even bilingual clinicians will increasingly encounter patients whose language, culture, and health beliefs they do not understand. These language and cultural barriers may seriously impair communication and adversely affect the provider-patient relationship. Failure to elicit the patient's cultural health beliefs before planning, explaining and negotiating the treatment plan may result in 'non compliance' and adversely affect clinical outcomes. All these factors are barriers to efficient, culturally competent; cost effective care of all patients, but in particular those who speak limited or no English (Limited English Proficient or LEP).

This Cross-Cultural Communications Skills Course is sponsored by the Medical Hispanic Center of Excellence at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. The MHCOE is funded through the Health Resources and Services Administration Bureau of Health Professions, Diversity Division, of the Department of Health and Human Services.