Healthcare professionals face a number of challenges while trying to provide the best they care they can. Among them is the language barrier with the large and growing spanish speaking population. There is a clever app developed at Duke to help bridge the communication gap.
Even healthcare providers who posses some spanish speaking skills often need help communicating with some Hispanic patients. The quality of the communication has a direct effect on quality of the care.
Free for both Android and iOS devices, Polyglot Med Spanish offers text and audio translation of thousands of common terms and assessment questions. The app works both ways - translating from English to Spanish and Spanish to English.
The app isn't intended to replace a trained interpreter, but when one can't be found it may be the next best thing.
The voice behind the app is Alicia Gonzalez, a psychiatric clinical nurse specialist who worked with the Duke Area Health Education Center (AHEC) during the app's creation.
You can see the app in action here:
Matthew Fortner has been at The News & Observer since 2002. He has a passion for gadgets, cutting-edge technology and all things geek.