U of R Medical Students Launch Monthly La Noche de Español

 Students at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry are launching Spanish Night at UR Well.  The student-run health clinic provides acute care to Rochester’s uninsured and homeless.  Beginning June 18, UR Well will have Spanish-speaking translators available every third Tuesday of the month from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.

“We occasionally get Spanish-speaking patients, but translation issues make it hard to give them the best care,” says medical student and UR Well volunteer Katherine Allen.  "And we suspect more would come if they knew translation was available."

Without translation, providers caring for Spanish-speaking patients could miss patient concerns that are critical to proper diagnosis and treatment.  Patients might misunderstand instructions regarding care, including prescription dosage and diet recommendations.  In addition, some Spanish-speaking patients rely on their children to provide translation.  This sometimes exposes young family members to sensitive or age-inappropriate information about patients.

UR Well is hosting Spanish Night at Asbury First United Methodist Church, 1040 East Avenue.  Native Spanish-speaking medical students will provide translation, along with physicians and nurses.  The program is supported by URMC’s Center for Advocacy, Community Health, Education and Diversity, which encourages hands-on experiences beyond the classroom to broaden student understanding of underserved populations.  For more information, visit urwell.org.