Irritated about making an appt.

kids · Feb 27, 2003

In WA Medical Assistants can perform certain duties in certain clinical situations.

Just because MAs are practicing outside their scope of practice (in AZ) and hospitals are not providing translatators "all of the time" doesn't make it right, and it doesn't make it legal. Personally I believe that any nurse who observes the activities happening has an obligation to report them. I certainly wouldn't put my license on the line by failing to report illegal activities.

kittyw · Feb 27, 2003

Originally posted by hogan4736
kitty, with all due respect, if you read a previous post of mine from page 4, I mentioned the language line...I also stated, in my experience, most would rather use housekeeping, or muddle through...that's just reality...I never said it was right or wrong, just that's what's happening...There's a lot of resentment against Spanish speakers (only) in the hospitals here. That's a reality. And I have seen an occasional memo asking the docs to cut down on the use of (Spanish) AT&T lines, as "they are expensive, and there are in house people to use"

sean

My disbelief is not that you are lying, but I can't believe that the entire city allows this practice.... maybe disbelief isn't the right word to get across my meaning. Surely this concept is understandable. :confused: Let's say you tell me you just inherited 50 million dollars - I would be in disbelief... yes it may be true but just hard to believe. Make sense? Maybe I just live in an area that a) has been fined to death previously so they are willing to pay the price or b) just is a wonderful place to work or c) is going to be bankrupt in 5 years. :chuckle

As for your hospitals use of janitors to translate - that's just not good practice as kids-r-fun said.

Anyways - this really isn't the original intent of this thread, but an interesting discussion nonetheless.

ShandyLynnRN, BSN, RN · Feb 27, 2003

I also have worked in hospitals that used ancillary staff, such as dietary, to translate. In my experience, the patients appreciated the face to face translation, vs. the language line. IMHO, the language line is very awkward. I too agree, that non-english speaking patients really do need to bring a translator with them if one is available at all.... they surely have to know that they are coming to a place where it is most likely that noone speaks their language.

Yes, I know we can't really expect this, as they too, probably know their rights, and are counting on a translator being provided for them.

Ohh, if we only lived in a perfect world!

KRVRN, BSN, RN · Feb 28, 2003

The window peon line caused all this?! Good lord, I've heard the "phone ho" line before and wanted something comparable for the person behind the window and that's the first thing I thought of...

*a little amazed at how quick fires start around here...*

kittyw · Mar 1, 2003

Originally posted by henryguy79
spam has been edited by the moderator.

Thank you! :)

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Mar 1, 2003

Originally posted by kids-r-fun
Sorry but I feel your clinic is doing a huge disservice to the patients it serves. I feel your clinic has a duty to the community is serves to employ medical staff who speak the language. Given the high percentage of non-English speaking members in the community how can it be that none of them have any medical training.

Uh........there is something called a nursing shortage......

Recently, while reviewing my travel assignment options, I inquired about Atlanta. Interesting, hospital that paid the least (less than Florida - which says much) was a much detested inner city facility that required all travelors to speak fluent Spanish. Can we say that someone in staffing needs a serious reality check.

It would be nice if all health care workers were fluent in Spanish, and French...and Russian.... and Arabic....and Yiddish.....and Creole (Haitian).... and Latin.....and Vietnamese......and Italian.... and Rap.....and Teenagese.....and Navaho.....and Chinese .....and Japanese.............

It would also be cool if we all had Masters, perfect IV skills, were ACLS, and Chemo Certified and Med-Surg certified and ICU certified and Tele certified - guess what, at our pay skills and work load and work conditions - it isn't bloody well going to happen.

As a "native" Floridian, you can learn all the book Spanish that you want, in Miami - you have Cubans, Puerto Ricans, Mexicans, Haitians, Columbians, Salvadorans all speaking different dialects.

I love the translation line - I live for the language line.

And as a note: I have a very specific autoimmune dysfunction that frequently requires very specific titrations of meds. And I am a travel nurse - in case of emergency - my MD has given me his home phone - I don't use it often - if I call the office to get an appt. - they fit me in immediately - I never call unless it's major.

kids · Mar 1, 2003

Originally posted by caroladybelle
Uh........there is something called a nursing shortage...

I agree BUT is there also a shortage of qualified translators? Ideally a clinic/hospital would employ bi or multi-lingual staff, if that is not possible they need to at least access the telephone translators...using housekeeping or dietary staff is NOT appropriate.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Mar 1, 2003

Originally posted by kids-r-fun
Given the high percentage of non-English speaking members in the community how can it be that none of them have any medical training.

You know that's a really good point. Can anyone out there that is fluent in a 'local' foreign language and also medical training and English please answer?

(or are they all at jobs that pay more or have better conditions than nursing) .

politically incorrect answers do come to mind but staying so far off those moderators toes before they have a collective heart attack.

Penelope · Mar 7, 2003

I agree with KittyW you need to tell everyonr your medical history in my opion it's no one's business but you and your doctor that is why it is called DOCTOR PATIENT CONFIDENTIALITY

RN2B2005 · Mar 7, 2003

Wow, this whole thread has travelled WAY off course since I read it last.

The original poster was venting about having to give the receptionist (or scheduler) at her doctor's office a reason for the exam at the time of scheduling. How did that original post devolve into an argument about whether or not housekeeping staff should translate for medical staff?

Someone mentioned that I'm a MA. I'm not. Someone mentioned that I triage. I don't. We have specific, written guidelines at the front desk (I work in a referral-only clinic, not a primary care practise), and if you or your doctor think you should be seen that day, I will do everything I can to get you seen--including asking other patients to reschedule if necessary. In our practise, only the medical director has the authority to turn away a patient requesting same-day care--but I will be the one approaching the MD to OK overriding the schedule. If you refuse to give me any information, your doctor will have to call me directly, and then talk to the MD about why we should inconvenience several other patients in order to accomodate your uncooperative self.

For those who think only doctors and RN's should see your medical chart, I say this:

Fine. I'm not going to change your mind. Go ahead and withhold or falsify information, I really don't care. If you have to come back because I didn't schedule enough time for your exam, that's your prerogative. Sure, it takes valuable time out of your beloved doctor's schedule, but hey, it's not your worry, right? And when your insurance won't pay my clinic a thin dime for your care because you provided false information or asked your doctor to not chart something or other, that's not my problem. I'm sure you understand. After all, I don't care who pays my clinic, as long as someone does....and if I have to send your account to collection to get paid, I will.

Personally, I realise that in this insurance-oriented environment, nothing

is private. Should it be that way? I don't know, but it is. Delude yourself if you want, but at the end of the day, everyone knows what hurts and why. If I had a doctor whose staff--everyone, down to the "window peon"--I didn't trust to keep basic confidentiality, I'd wonder about the professional ability of the doctor, and find a new one posthaste.

And that's all I have to say about that.

:rolleyes: