Language means understanding. And when it comes to health care, the ability for patients and families to fully understand their providers and vice versa can profoundly affect wellness and quality of life.

That’s why Prowers Medical Center offers complimentary language access services for all patients whose first language is not English or who are deaf. Through a program called Language Line, interpretation services are available in 140 languages around the clock.   For the deaf and hard of hearing, telecommunication TTY/TTD devices are available as well as video-remote American Sign Language interpretation.

Elia Trujillo is the Language Coordinator for Prowers Medical Center. A former English Language Learner teacher in Kansas, Trujillo herself is a Spanish-English Medical Interpreter. She helps native Spanish-speaking patients and family members navigate the healthcare system and communicate with doctors and other providers. But in her role as Language Coordinator, she is also responsible for making sure that all patients and families whose first language is anything other than English are provided the interpretation services they need.

Medical Interpreters accompany patients and families throughout their visit, often from the time they arrive at the clinic until they depart. For hospitalized patients, interpretation services are provided as needed during their stay. Medical Interpreters typically also follow up with patients after they’ve returned home to ensure they have a good understanding of treatment plans and next steps.

Trujillo is one of five trained Spanish-English Medical Interpreters at Prowers Medical Center. The other four are staff members who work throughout the hospital and clinic, in positions ranging from Physical Therapy to the Business Office. Bilingual staff are also helpful in delivering basic care support, but Medical Interpreters have received supplemental training and passed a rigorous certification test with both written and oral components. The test not only measures language fluency but also medical knowledge, ethics, regulatory issues, and cultural awareness.

“Language access services are really important,” Trujillo said. “I want our community to know that we are here for them.”

If You Need Language Interpretation

In-person Spanish-English Language Interpreter Services are available at Prowers Medical Center Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Language Line services in all languages are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

To learn more about or arrange Language Access Services at Prowers Medical Center, call 719-336-7150 or visit prowersmedical.com.

“Interpreters help the providers understand the patient and family’s cultural background,” Trujillo said. “There are a lot of cultural beliefs, practices and home remedies that they bring with them to their visit.”

The Prowers County population is about 35% Hispanic, representing a number of countries of origin and cultures, according to Trujillo. Spanish-speaking families at Prowers Medical Center may be immigrants from Honduras, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, or El Salvador. Each brings with them their own customs and beliefs.

After a Honduran gives birth, for example, the mother may put cotton in her ears and cover her head with a towel. The newborn is typically dressed in red. The mother may also tie a piece of red cloth or string around the baby’s belly or wrist. All of these measures are thought to protect the baby from evil spirits. When the mother brings the baby to a healthcare visit, the medical interpreter can help educate the provider about such customs to ensure understanding and mutual respect.

Prowers Medical Center also often provides care to families of Asian descent, and Trujillo has arranged Language Line services for families in Mandarin, Cantonese and Thai.

“Language access services are really important,” Trujillo said. “I want our community to know that we are here for them.”