Vol. 10, No. 1
March, 2000
Women's Gastrointestinal Health Center
Hernia Surgery: A New Look...A Speedier Recovery
Legislative Grant Supports Specialized Endoscopy Equipment
Pulmonary Rehabilitation Gives Patient a Starring Role in His Daughter's Wedding
An Update on Childhood Immunizations
Children Get a Dose of TLC with Winthrop's
‘Positions for Comfort' Program
Winthrop's Pediatric Health Immunization Program is a Statewide Model
Hearing Screening Performed on All Newborns
Spanish Language Course for Pediatric Residents
Psychological Support Adds Compassion to Pediatric
Care and Training
Long Island Regional Poison Control Center at Winthrop Warns:
‘Children Act Fast - So Do Poisons'
Bereavement Support Helps Parents Cope with
"Hidden Loss"
Nursing Informatics Enhances Patient Care
Reverend Winfried R. Hess Appointed
Director of Pastoral Care and Education
Auxiliary Receives HANYS Advocacy Award
John F. Aloia, MD and Joan Cox Elected to Winthrop's Board of Directors
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Winthrop Pediatric residents have trained in basic Spanish language skills, which are invaluable in patient interviews with Spanish-speaking patients. Erica Dayan, MD (R) speaks Spanish with Jose Maldonado (L), father of patient Diana Abigail (C), age nine and one-half months. Mr. Maldonado and his wife, Silvia (not shown) are originally from Honduras.
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 inthrop's Spanish-speaking pediatric patients may now receive care from a greater number of physicians who are conversant in Spanish -- thanks to the insight and efforts of the Department of Pediatrics, chaired by Warren Rosenfeld, MD, who offered Spanish language training to the pediatric residents. The courses, provided through the Language Institute of the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University, are carefully crafted to meet physicians' practical needs. Interviewing skills in Spanish are emphasized, as are methods through which to elicit succinct, accurate patient responses.
As interviews with pediatric patients often include discussions with parents or caregivers, clinicians trained in Spanish have a greater opportunity to obtain the most factual information.
"A large number of Spanish-speaking patients receive healthcare services at Winthrop," said Dr. Rosenfeld, "and pediatric residents had expressed concerns about communicating with them.
"The Department of Pediatrics expects residents to engage in 'continuity training' - that is, providing ongoing care to the same patients over a stipulated period of time. Nine residents are involved in continuity training at Hempstead Medport, a primary care center at which the majority of the patients speak Spanish. Winthrop's Department of Pediatrics has provided pediatric services at Medport for the past 18 months, and all pediatric residents rotate there," explained Dr. Rosenfeld.
Interviewing patients in their native language helps put them at ease.
Several residents, faculty attending physicians, and one pediatric social worker are native Spanish speakers, which is very helpful to patients - and to residents who wish to practice their newly-acquired language skills.
The eight-session evening Spanish language course was held at Winthrop for two hours per week, and was coordinated by Elliot Glass, PhD, Director, Language Institute, C.W. Post Campus, L.I.U.
"The Spanish language course has generated a great undercurrent of interest among residents," said Dr. Rosenfeld, who is greatly encouraged by the results. "Winthrop's pediatric residents do a lot better in communicating in Spanish than they think they do," he concluded.
For further information, call the Department of Pediatrics at 1-877-559-KIDS.
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