7/28/2019 Romo Translations- Bridging the Language Divide
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Bridging the (Language) Gap
Due to the advances in medical science peoplecan now survive
horrific accidents andvirulent illnesses. The one area which
isstill causing a massive hurdle it that oflanguage; doctors,
nurses and emergencypersonnel often struggle to treat a
patienteffectively if they cant understand each
other.
The Herbrew, English, Arabic, Amharic Divide
Over the past few years thousands of Russians and Ethiopians
have immigratedto Israel many of whom speak Hebrew or English as a
second language or, notat all. Predictably this has lead to
frustration for both the medical personnel aswell as their
patients, not to mention the fact that these language gaps
couldprove dangerous.
In an effort to improve matters the Health Ministry has now
launched a pilotmedical translation project. According to The
Jerusalem Post the project will be
running at selected departments at the Wolfson Medical Center in
Holon,Western Galilee Hospital in Nahariya and Barzilai Medical
Center in Ashkelon, insome units of Kupat Holim Meuhedet and in a
number of the Health Ministrysfamily health centers (tipot halav)
in Ramle.
How it Works
Essentially the system works as follows; should a patient not
speak Hebrew orEnglish fluently enough to have a medical
consultation the hospital staff memberpresent will call the
designated translation service. All translators at thecompany have
undergone a special course in order to offer medical
translationservices and been provided with medical dictionaries in
their native languages.
These translators will then act as a go-between for personnel
and patients.
A Continent Removed
On the other side of the world RTT Mobile, based in Chaska,
Minnesota, NorthAmerica, has developed a translation tool which is
making the lives ofemergency workers like firemen and paramedics
much easier: ELSA (EnablingLanguage Service Anywhere) is
essentially a device which enables emergencypersonnel to conduct a
three way conversation between themselves, theirpatient and a
translator.
ELSA is more or less the size of an index card with three
buttons, built-in
speakers and a microphone, encased in a tough exoskeleton to
weather all kindsof conditions. Sgt. Jason Burke, a training
officer for the St. Cloud Police
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