No Habla Espaniol...

Categories: uncategorized

Date: 04 March 2008 07:15:12

I work in a pediatric clinic. The majority of our patients are using Medicaid, although many do have private insurance and several pay cash.

We lost our only Spanish-speaking employee a while back, so it was only a matter of time until a young mother called us about her child, having no one around to help her communicate in English. That happened today.

Fortunately, she had a few words of English, I have a few words of Spanish, we got the problem taken care of. At least she seemed to understand what I told her and seemed content with the information I provided.

Like an idiot, I stumbled along that way, instead of zipping over to Babelfish or another good translation website! How dumb is that?!?!?

Well, my excuse is this: there are very very very tight restrictions on 'Net usage at my workplace, so I hardly ever poke around online. It just didn't occur to me...

At least I made the attempt! None of the other girls will even try. They all speak slowly and loudly into the phone when a Spanish-speaker calls, telling him (in English) no one there speaks Spanish, and that he needs to go get someone who speaks English to help him.

So, anyway, just off the top of my head, below are the phrases I use on the telephone all blinking day long every day. It's too much to hope that the other girls might actually try to use it... But at least I'll have it.

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USEFUL SPANISH PHRASES:

Medicaid Card
Tarjeta De Medicaid

Medical insurance
Seguro médico

Linked here to us / Linked to another doctor
Ligado aquí a nosotros / se ligó a otro doctor

Usted llama Medicaid.
You call Medicaid.

The telephone number is on the Medicaid card.
El número de teléfono está en la tarjeta de Medicaid.

Tell them you need to change to Doctor Sal Giuseppi.
Dígalesle necesidad de cambiar al Doctor Sal Giuseppi.

You call the previous doctor.
Usted llama a doctor anterior.

Tell the previous doctor the child needs a referral to see us here.
Diga a doctor anterior las necesidades del niño una remisión de vernos aquí.

Is the child ill?
¿Es el niño enfermo?

My name is ___________. What is your name?
¿Mi nombre es ___________. Cuál es su nombre?

What is your child's name?
¿Cuál es nombre de su niño?
Are you the parent?
¿Es usted el padre / madre?

Does the child have fever?
¿El niño tiene fiebre?

Do you need an appointment time to see the doctor?
¿Usted necesita un rato de la cita de ver al doctor?

How old is the child?
¿Cómo viejo es el niño?

Does the child need vaccinations? Innoculations?
¿El niño necesita vacunaciones? ¿Innoculations?

Does the child need shots for school?
¿El niño necesita los tiros para la escuela?

Your son / my son
Su hijo/mi hijo

Your daughter / my daughter
Su hija/mi hija

Your baby / my baby
Su bebé/mi bebé

I'm sorry, I don't speak Spanish.
Estoy apesadumbrado, yo no hablo español.

You must find someone who speaks English to help you call us.
Usted debe encontrar a alguien que hable Inglés para ayudarle a llamarnos.

Fever
Fiebre

Coughing
El toser

Sneezing
Estornudo

Dripping nose
Nariz del goteo

El vomitar

Diarrea

Burn, from fire
Quemadura, del fuego

Burn, from the Sun
Quemadura, del Sol

Burning / stinging / pain during urination
El quemarse/picadura/dolor durante el urination

Bite / Sting from an insect
Erupción Mordedura/picadura de un insecto

Bite from a dog / cat / animal
Muerda de un perro/de un gato/de un animal

Wound
Herida

Injury
Lesión
Bleeding
Sangría

Pain
Dolor

Body parts:
Piezas de cuerpo:

Head
Cabeza

Eyes
Ojos

Ears
Oídos
Nose
Nariz

Mouth
Boca

Lips
Labios

Teeth
Dientes

Gums
Gomas

Tongue
Lengüeta

Throat
Garganta

Tonsils
Amígdalas Pecho/Pecho Parte posteriora

Chest / Breast
Hombro / Brazo

Back
Codo

Piezas femeninas/exterior: labias, vulva
Piezas femeninas/interior: vagina, útero/matriz, cerviz, ovario

Piezas masculinas: pene, escroto, testes

Lungs
Pulmones

Abdomen

Estómago

Intestinos

Digestión

Recto

Anus

Thigh / leg
Muslo / pierna

Knee
Rodilla

calf of the leg
Becerro de la pierna

Ankle
Tobillo

foot
Pie

heel
Talón

toe
Dedo del pie

Dizzy
Mareado

Asma

Respiración de la dificultad

Muy importante

Urgente

Emergencia

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If you spot any problems -- If I used an archaic word, for example -- please reply & let me know. Thanks!