ADHA Access April 2012 : Page 25

hope to continue to broaden my career opportunities in the future with the use of my bilingual skills.” Amy Soss, RDH, is a part-time clinical instructor at New York University College of Dentistry. She helped one of her students overcome a lan-guage barrier by using a free app on her smartphone. The patient who presented spoke only Italian, and there were no Italian-speaking doctors RUVWXGHQWVRQWKHFOLQLFÀRRU at the time. “I decided to sit with my student and use my iPhone Google Translate app,” Soss explained. “You speak into the phone, and it Screen shot of translation app used translates into the language by Amy Soss, RDH of your choice. The app will actually speak back what you said in the other language, as well as spell it out. There are a multitude of language options. I found that this method of communication was extremely helpful in this situation.” Soss said she has actually worked with an [interpreter] in the SDVW&#0f;EXWVKHZDVQHYHUFRQ¿GHQWWKDWWKH>LQWHUSUHWHU@ZDVFRPPX -nicating what she was trying to say. “With the [app], I was speak-ing into the phone and communicating exactly what I intended. The patient appeared to completely understand what I was getting across to him as a health care provider,” Soss said. “I truly believe my student and I would not have understood what type of pain and sensitivity the patient was suffering without the help of the phone. It turned out he was having hot and cold sensitivity and needed root canal therapy on that tooth.” Since then, Soss has applied the same communication technique LQKHUSULYDWHSUDFWLFHSHULRGRQWDORI¿FH&#0f;ZKLFKVHHVSUHGRPLQDQWO\ 5XVVLDQ
VSHDNLQJSDWLHQWV5HFHQWO\&#0f;VKHKDGGLI¿FXOW\FRPPXQL -cating home care instructions. “Then I remembered I have Google Translate! I was able to explain how to use soft picks for implant care and proxy brushes for interdental spaces, as well as recom-mend that the patient purchase an electric toothbrush for better plaque control,” she said. Typically, Soss would have had to wait for the Russian-speaking dentist to explain this to the patient, but with the her app, she could do it herself. “It made the patient more FRQ¿GHQWLQPHDVDFOLQLFLDQ&#0f;DV,ZDVQRZWKHRQHH[SODLQLQJWR them what they should be doing to improve their oral health, rather than the dentist.” She believes the app immediately made the patients more com-fortable. “In both cases, I could sense frustration that they could not communicate as they wished to and, as the health care provider, I also felt frustration that I could not communicate with the patient as I normally can. Once I brought out the device, in both situations, the patients smiled and felt comfortable communicating this way. It even lightened up the mood of the appointment as it was fun using the phone during treatment,” Soss said. “Now, it was not just about getting their teeth cleaned by someone who didn’t speak their lan-guage, but rather it opened up the opportunity for both the health FDUHSURYLGHUDQGWKHSDWLHQWWRIHHOFRQ¿GHQWDQGFRPIRUWDEOHZKHQ they needed to express something.” Laura DeHennis, RDH, PHDHP, vice president of the Pennsylvania 'HQWDO+\JLHQLVWV¶$VVRFLDWLRQ&#0f;¿UVWH[SHULHQFHGZRUNLQJZLWKDQ interpreter at a free clinic where she volunteers. “I have been with this clinic for over 10 years, and I enjoy being able to help people who [recognize] the need for dental care, have now found a way to attain it, and appreciate my effort to help them,” DeHennis said. The patients must meet eligibility requirements to be seen, and clinic rules specify that patients must present with an interpreter. If not, they must reschedule their appointments. “If there are patients speaking another language, they need to come with someone that understands English,” DeHennis said, add-ing that communication through an interpreter was not a problem since many aspects of dental hygiene can be demonstrated. “Now we have a Spanish-speaking dental hygienist on staff … so there are no problems with making sure the patients are aware of what to expect during and after treatment. It is great to work together with her.” In conclusion, the dental hygienists interviewed for this article suggested some tips for working with interpreters: ‡ 6SHDNFOHDUO\DQGVORZO\ ‡ 5HTXHVWWKHLQWHUSUHWHUXVH\RXUZRUGVDVSUHFLVHO\DVSRV -sible, without paraphrasing or improvising. ‡ 'RQ¶WIRUJHWWRLQWURGXFH\RXUVHOIWRWKHSDWLHQW ‡ 3RVLWLRQWKHLQWHUSUHWHUEHVLGH\RX&#0f;IDFLQJWKHSDWLHQW ‡ 0DLQWDLQH\HFRQWDFWZLWK&#0f;DQGDGGUHVVUHPDUNVWR&#0f;\RXUSD -tients/audience and counterparts, not the interpreter. ‡ 3DXVHDIWHUDERXW
VHFRQGV&#0f;DIWHUDWKRXJKWLVFRPSOHWH&#0f;RU after major points have been made. ‡ :DWFK\RXULQWHUSUHWHUWREHVXUHKHVKHLVNHHSLQJXSZLWK you. ‡ $YRLGORQJ&#0f;FRPSOH[VHQWHQFHV&#0f;DQGGRQRWXVHVODQJ&#0f;MDUJRQ or colloquial expressions. Keep your language basic, using words the interpreter understands. ‡ $YRLGMRNHVDQGKXPRURXVVWRULHV+XPRUGRHVQRWWUDYHOZHOO in most cases. ‡ $OORZWKHSDWLHQWWRDVNTXHVWLRQVDV\RXJR ‡ 8QGHUVWDQGLQJWKHFXOWXUHVLQZKLFK\RXGREXVLQHVVLVGH¿ -nitely a plus and very helpful when working with interpreters. Reference 1. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Available at: www.bls.gov/oco/ocos175.htm. Mariam Pera is Access ’ editorial and graphics assistant. ■ Attendee Spotlight What excites you the most about the 2012 meeting in Phoenix? Angie Kelly, RDH, BS: “ Changing locations always adds excitement to a new meeting. What will they do next? What classes will they offer? Will I see old friends that I met in years prior, and how many new ones will I meet? I am excited already!” access APR 2012 25

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