About the Program
Connecting to Care was designed for experienced medical interpreters to enhance their daily work with patients and the treatment team. This advanced 24-hour course expands the interpreter’s knowledge and skills to support the patient beyond the interpreted session with the health care provider. A patient guide also goes beyond the traditional patient navigator role by working with the patient throughout the care process as the patient’s treatment moves from one specific hospital or health care department to other health care delivery settings.
Upon successful completion of the course, participants receive a certificate of completion. Connecting to Care: Patient Guide Training is accredited by the International Medical Interpreters Association (IMIA) and provides the opportunity to earn 2.4 IMIA continuing education units (CEUs). You will receive a CTC textbook as part of the course.
What You Learn
During the training, participants will learn about how concepts like Patient Education, Patient Guidance, and Patient Centered Care affect the interpreter’s role and how skills like Advanced Cultural Brokering and Patient Guidance can help navigate delicate situations more effectively. You will learn how to help educate patients about accessing health care delivery systems and hospital support services – always working together with the patient’s treatment team.
The core curriculum includes:
- Professional Skills and Ethics
- Working with Vulnerable Populations
- Cultural Competency
- Communication Skills
- System Education and Coaching: skills and information to teach patients about the health care system and promote the patient’s autonomy.
- The US Health Care System
Who Should Apply
Patient Navigators
Patient navigators who speak two languages and work on-staff at a hospital or clinic can enhance their skills through formal training in an interactive classroom environment.
Experienced Medical Interpreters
On-staff medical interpreters can expand their role by learning how to support patients outside of the interpreted session with the medical providers.
Community Advocates
Bilingual professionals at community organizations that advocate for improved health care access can gain skills to serve their clients more effectively.
Requirements
- Applicants must be able to attend all 24 hours of training. Upon successful completion, participants receive a Connecting to Care: Patient Guide certificate.
- Applicants must have one of the following:
- A certificate of successful completion from CCHCP’s Bridging the Gap medical interpreter training or CCHCP-approved 40-hour training OR
- At least one year of experience working as a medical interpreter, community health worker, patient navigator, a paraprofessional in health care, or patient advocate.
For questions about course requirements and the application process, please email us at connectingtocare@xculture.org or call 206.860.0329, ext. 1236.
Waitlist
There are 15 spots available in each class. When a class becomes full, it will be indicated on the class event below. If you want to be added to the waitlist for a particular class, please submit an application. If a spot becomes available in the class, CCHCP will contact you via email and you will be asked to confirm your attendance and complete the remaining enrollment steps. You will need to communicate with CCHCP staff via email in a timely manner to complete the enrollment process.