EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU) — A local community medical center has taken communicating with its patients to the next level.
The Wright Center for Community Health now has two medical assistants who are fluent in Spanish and can interpret for patients who speak the language.
They say the need for interpreting continues to grow by the day in northeastern Pennsylvania.
Anthony Beltran is looking to give his Hispanic and Latino patients a true voice.
He and Lida Kiefer grew up speaking Spanish, and are now bringing their first language to the halls of Scranton's Wright Center for Community Health.
But, there's a big difference between being bilingual and being a certified medical interpreter.
"We already speak the language, so why not get certified and be able to do it the correct way?" said Kiefer.
Hispanic Heritage MonthThe pair underwent 40 hours of training, allowing them to physically be in the room with Spanish-speaking patients and to interpret all of their medical needs.
"I've worked for the Wright Center for 11 years and I love what I do. I love my patients, so having this extra ability to help them it's just amazing," stated Keifer.
Those at the center say that the need for interpreters in the area is at an all-time high.
But the patients aren't just at the center.
Beltran is a site coordinator for their Driving Better Health Clinic and says he helps even more Spanish-speaking patients while on the road.
"We've been going to Luzerne County, Lackawanna, Wayne, and Monroe, and mostly when we went to Hazleton we saw a huge demographic of Hispanics and Latinos there and that's when we noticed that there's a huge need," explained Beltran.
Whether interpreting in the exam room or in the center's van, the medical assistants say those who they help are grateful for what they do.
"I see the relief on their faces. Every single time they're like, "Oh my god, finally there's someone there that can speak Spanish." we try to give them the right access to health care and get somebody who's actually certified and able to interpret everything," stated Beltran.
Especially when the clarification has everything to do with their health and well-being.
"We have to make sure that when they leave here they're understanding completely, what they doctor said, what the doctor tried to explain to them, and what is going on with their health," says Keifer.
Both medical assistants are excited to continue to help Spanish-speaking patients as the need grows.
For more information on the Wright Center and their services visit their website.