Medical Terminology: Gaining a Clearer Understanding to Improve Interpretations
Workshop Description:
To INTERPRET there must first be UNDERSTANDING. Medical Terminology is complex and constantly evolving, although there are deep roots and lots of resources for gaining further understanding. Learning how to break down suffixes / prefixes, latin roots, eponyms, and many other aspects of medical terminology further supports an interpreter’s work in the medical field. For example, being able to easily sign the difference between a laporOSCOPY and a laprOTOMY can make your work much simpler, more effective and clearer. While one should NOT expect a significant amount of dense terminology in the office and with patient interactions on a regular basis, some terminology slips through. The prepared interpreter will be better able to manage interactions between providers and patients with a strong foundation in medical terminology. Cultural and linguistic competency can be more effectively built with a solid background in the terminologies specific to the context in which an interpreter works. Medical terminology borders on research and scientific lingo as well, making this a perfect jumping off point for those wanting to expand their interpreting to include Deaf professionals and Deaf students in scientific fields of study.
Workshop Objectives:
As a result of attending this workshop, participants will be able to:
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Identify five common prefixes/suffixes and how they change the meaning of the root.
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Outline five specialty eponyms and their corollary generic terminology
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Describe the importance of clarification and how to address dense terminology for patient understanding.
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Elaborate on five common medical-ese jargon terms and their applications in interpretation.
Presenter Bio:
Kim Kelstone, DNP, CNM, CI, CT is a Nurse-Midwife (board certified and New York licensed), who focuses on all aspects healthcare for women and people assigned female at birth, providing full-scope health care to patients throughout their lifespan: including sexual health, reproductive care, STI prevention, pregnancy, birth, and menopause. Prior to Midwifery, she provided ASL/English interpretation for a wide variety of settings for over 30 years. Specializing in medical settings, Kimberly was involved in establishing the Interpreters in Healthcare member section of RID and has interpreted for countless Deaf patients & their families as well as Deaf medical residents, researchers, doctors, and other professionals in various healthcare related fields. She received her AAS (Interpreting) from the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, her first Bachelor’s (ASL studies) through Empire State College and second Bachelor’s (Nursing) through the University of Rochester. Kimberly completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice in Midwifery education at Stony Brook University. She had the good fortune to also receive training through the CATIE center specific to their Medical Immersion program. She has worked closely in the past with NTID on their Medical Interpreting certificate, as well as the Master’s Degree in Medical Interpreting. She has presented locally, regionally and nationally on medical interpreting topics, and always enjoys having the opportunity to support students’ knowledge base expansion and deepening their interpreting “tool kit.”