Department Spotlight: Interpreter Services: Lifting Language Barriers

When it comes to medical care, clear understanding between patients and caregivers is crucial. Medical interpreters across Beacon provide compassionate and accurate communication for patients with limited English proficiency.

“To me, a good interpreter must be inquisitive, have nerves of steel, be a good listener and adapt to cultural languages, be an excellent communicator and be able to read clues,” explains Leonora Oates De Battani, Manager of Language Services at Memorial Hospital. “Most of the interpreters pursue the profession because they want to help their community, so compassion and the need to serve are great assets to have as an interpreter.”

Having patience, a firm knowledge of medical terms and fluency of the language for which they are interpreting are just a few of the key qualities medical interpreters should have, says Daisy Ledesma, CMA, Beacon Medical Group Southeast Neighborhood Health Center.

“I think having interpreters at our clinics is important because it helps the patients feel more at ease when it comes to the care they are getting,” Daisy says. “I like to interpret for our patients because I feel like I am helping them get better care and their needs are actually being understood and not misinterpreted.”

“It is very enjoyable to see the patient’s reaction when the interpretation is complete and the patient expresses understanding,” says Omar Rodriguez, MA, Beacon Medical Group Central Neighborhood Health Center. “It is very enjoyable to know you were the bridge of communication that made that patient feel like he or she was talking to a provider in their own native tongue.”

Beacon is fortunate to have a team of these talented, trained and certified medical interpreters at locations across the system, including:

Beacon Medical Group interpreters:
BMG Centennial Neighborhood Health Center: Laura Ivy, Arasely Navarro, Carina Oliva
BMG Central Neighborhood Health Center: Lydia Pedraza and Omar Rodriguez
BMG Midwifery Centered Care: Juana Vanessa Ontiveros and Maria Ruiz
BMG Southeast Neighborhood Health Center: Daisy Ledesma

Epworth Center and Hospital and Memorial Hospital Language Resource Services: Pictured Above Left Front row, seated (L-R): Laura Pimienta, Vicky Gaeta, Maria Perry
Back row (L-R): Safa Albaba, Amada Rivero, Amelia Tamez, Leonora Oates De Battani, Terri Skaggs (Information Resource Coordinator), Samuel Garcia, Josue Tlahuel, Israa Al Arman

Not pictured: Michelle Alban, Ilse Luna Lara, Yareli Garibay Ramos, Cynthia Retzloff, Carlos Uzcategui

Elkhart General Hospital Cultural Linguistic Services:
Pictured Above Right (L-R): Rosy Almonte and Evangelina Mares