September 3, 2010
St. Mary’s has certified medical interpreter
Guillermo Guevara has become a certified medical interpreter, according to a release from St. Mary’s Health System. Guevara is a Health Access Advocate in St. Mary’s Community Outreach Department, serving families living in Vanderburgh County.
Guevara will facilitate St. Mary’s medical interpreter service to non-English speaking clients, with specific focus on the Spanish-speaking population. The goal of this service is to ensure that patients are able to fully participate in their medical plan of care.
“It is important for St. Mary’s to cover the existing need of not just the growing Spanish population in Evansville, but all ethnic groups currently residing in our area,” Guevara said.
To earn his certification, Guevara attended an intensive 40 hour training program at St.Vincent Health in Indianapolis this past July. The course is called “Bridging the Gap” and was developed by the Cross Cultural Health Care Program in Seattle, Wash.
The “Bridging the Gap” program covers basic interpreter skills, information on health care, culture in interpreting, communications skills for advocacy, and professional development.
St. Mary’s, in conjunction with St. Vincent’s Health, will host a 40 hour Medical Interpreter Course — the first of its kind in Southern Indiana — on Sept. 17, 18 and 19. and again on Oct. 9 and 10.
A group of St. Mary’s employees, in addition to participants from other organizations in the community, has already registered for the course.