More hospitals going multilingual

Anne Geggis:

Between her husband's limited English and the hospital nurses' grasp of a little Spanish, Rosalba Hernandez of DeLand was able to get the message earlier this month: "Empuje" or "Push."

Six-pound, 9-ounce Daniel Melendez was born at 11:30 p.m. Aug. 2 and now the push is on at Florida Hospital West Volusia Division to increase the focus on diversity at the division's two hospitals, Florida Hospital DeLand -- where Daniel was born-- and Florida Hospital Fish Memorial in Orange City.

For the first time, the hospitals' 1,600 employees are being offered free, formal Spanish lessons that focus on medical terminology. And videotape illustrating medical scenarios in which culture plays a role has been shown to all current employees and to all new employees in the last six months.

It's all part of a multipronged effort to address a reality that's becoming more apparent around Flagler and Volusia counties: Increasingly patients are less likely to be native speakers of English.

Clinics and hospitals are concerned they could be overwhelmed with people needing translation services -- which can present a financial burden for those managing their operations on a string. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 says medical facilities receiving federal funds must provide interpreter services.

Another case of the natives being forced to assimilate to the culture of the immigrants.