Press Release

Culturesmart(TM) Breaks Language Barriers With Trained Medical Interpreters

'Train-the-Trainer' summer program offers comprehensive interpreter training course

QUINCY, Mass., May 8, 2008 -- Every day, language barriers prevent professionals who work in healthcare from communicating accurately and effectively with patients of limited English proficiency. In fact, the guesswork associated with navigating around communication roadblocks often becomes a very risky practice. Mistakes can be not only a costly liability to the healthcare industry but also life-threatening for patients. Given this, professional medical interpreters, and even those assisting in clinical situations by serving as ad-hoc interpreters, take on a very serious role for which they are generally unequipped and ill-prepared to perform.

Aiming to end the risky guesswork is Culturesmart(TM), Inc. (http://www.culturesmart.org/), which specializes in medical interpreter training. This summer, Culturesmart(TM) will offer an intensive train-the-trainer course that will teach attendees how to implement "The Essential Piece" - Culturesmart's(TM) proven, in-house 45-hour interpreter training program for bilingual healthcare staff. Taking place Aug. 18-22, 2008, this cost-effective, "Train-the-Trainer" (TTT) (http://ttt.culturesmart.org) program will draw medical trainers, interpreter trainers, interpreter agencies and other organizations.

"'The Essential Piece' course covers a range of ethical and cultural aspects relating to healthcare interpreting, including completeness and accuracy of information translated, confidentiality, the United States healthcare system and health disparities," says Gregory Figaro, Culturesmart's(TM) president and founder. "In addition, the language coaching portion of this curriculum, conducted primarily in a language other than English, reviews difficult medical vocabulary and puts interpreting skills to the test through realistic role-play exercises. This in-house training program is extremely thorough; plus it's very cost-effective."

Culturesmart's(TM) program is ideal for continuing education needs as well. This helps healthcare organizations remain in compliance with requirements and standards set by The Joint Commission and other regulatory agencies. Consequently, the licensed organizations then provide a more accurate, positive experience for those seeking medical care.

"Through TTT, Culturesmart(TM) provides the most current resources and information for conducting an in-house interpreter training," Figaro says. "Our program attendees are then able to provide professional interpreter services that are of the highest quality."

Culturesmart(TM) will hold its TTT program August 18-22, 2008, in downtown Boston at the Harvard Club. Costs include all materials, plus breakfasts and lunches:

-- $1,795: the full program, includes lead-trainer and 
   language coach training, Aug. 18-22, 2008
-- $1,495: lead-trainer training only, Aug. 18-21, 2008
-- $395: language-coach training only, Aug. 22, 2008

For more information on trainer qualifications or event details, visit http://ttt.culturesmart.org or http://www.culturesmart.org/.

About Culturesmart(TM)

Culturesmart(TM) is a privately held organization that has specialized in medical interpreter training since 1997. Between 2000 and 2007, Culturesmart's(TM) programs supported over 2,000 interpreters through its innovative in-house training program "The Essential Piece" and its "Train-the-Trainer" licensing course. With 80 years of combined medical interpreter training experience and 180 years of interpreting practice, Culturesmart's(TM) core team of top-notch trainers set themselves apart as the definitive resource for medical interpreter training.

Contact:

Gregory Figaro
President and Founder, Culturesmart(TM), Inc.
617.890.1111
greg@culturesmart.org

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