TMC PULSE

t m c » p u l s e | n o v e m b e r 2 0 1 5 34 Getting Un-Lost in Translation Texas Medical Center institutions are overcoming language barriers to help international patients navigate health care in the United States B y S h a n l e y C h i e n H ouston is known for many things: barbecue, oil and gas, the Johnson Space Center, ZZ Top, Beyoncé—the list goes on. But another point of pride with many Houstonians is the city's diversity. Houston has been ranked as one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the U.S. in numerous studies, with foreign-born residents making up 28 percent of the population and more than 90 languages spoken throughout the area. On top of that, the Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau estimated over 800,000 foreign travelers visited Houston in 2013 and the Texas Medical Center saw 14,622 international patient visits last year, according to the TMC Children's Cancer Hospital five months ago meant dealing with a foreign language on top of their child's leukemia diagnosis. "At first, there was that shock of a new language. In Venezuela, we don't speak a lot of English," Avila said, through Spanish pediatric inter- preter Maria Elena Sacio. "Just getting onto the airplane, everything was in English. Right from the beginning, it's very different. And when we got here, I can only say 'hi,' 'bye,' 'up,' 'down.' That's it. "One thing we're very thankful for at MD Anderson is that there's always either a physician available or someone to translate," Avila said, adding that it's important for them to have some sort of interpretation available. Sacio, who is part of MD Anderson's Language Assistance team, which works closely with the institution's International Center, began working with Avila and Coronel upon arrival, helping them communicate more easily with the doctors and nurses who treat their son. The team employs 30 staff interpreters, who specialize in seven languages, and appoints them to assist non-English speaking patients—both international and domestic—with translating clinical documents and communicating with doctors on an as-needed basis. "The language assistance department at MD Anderson has a highly qualified team of medical interpreters and translators who strive to provide caring and compassionate language services to our patients and providers," said Cesar Palacio, director of language assistance at MD Anderson. "At the same time, we work hard on continuously improving the quality of our services and opera- tional efficiencies." Pediatric interpreter Maria Elena Sacio interprets in Spanish as nurse Hanna Stelly explains Jose Miguel's IVs to his parents. At first, there was that shock of a new language. In Venezuela, we don't speak a lot of English. Just getting onto the airplane, everything was in English. Right from the beginning, it's very dierent. CARINA CORONEL Patient Jose Miguel's Mother, through Translator Maria Elena Sacio International Affairs Advisory Council. As a result of the rich cultural diver- sity in Houston, overcoming language barriers is a common challenge in the health care industry, and focusing on just the diagnostic and treatment process can easily eclipse the intimate human element of the medical experi- ence. The stress of dealing with health issues, coupled with the anxiety of coming to a foreign country, can be an emotionally overwhelming experience for many, especially the patients and family members. For Miguel Avila and wife Carina Coronel, bringing their nine-year-old son, Jose Miguel, from Venezuela to The University of Texas MD Anderson

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