Language No Barrier To Volunteer Physician

From the outside it’s just an unimposing little white house. Concrete steps lead up to an age worn porch, where four cans of paint rest on the wooden planks. Inside, a collection of mismatched chairs crowd the front room, fashioning what was once a parlor into a waiting room.

Once a week the waiting room is abuzz with activity. That’s because every Tuesday night the house on Old Percival Road is open as a free health clinic. Its patients are all Hispanic immigrants, some with a limited command of the English language, others who speak no English at all.

Medical treatment is provided through the volunteer service of a dozen physicians who take turns staffing the Tuesday night clinic. Dr. Michael Reed, Medical Director, University Primary Care, found out about the clinic through another physician. “I speak a little Spanish. I thought I’d like to get some practice time with that and help some people as well,” he said.

Volunteer nurse Janice Phillips (right) explains a medication to a patient at the Tuesday night free health clinic.

The clinic is operated as a ministry of Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispana (First Spanish Baptist Church), a small church that sits next door to the white house. Its leadership is provided by the church’s pastor, the Rev. Ruben Navarrete, and his wife, Lydia. A former obstetrician/gynecologist in their native country of El Salvador, Lydia uses her medical background to serve as the clinic’s manager. One of the volunteer physicians is the medical director. “We mainly want to show how God loves people. That is the reason for the clinic,” said the Rev. Navarrete. 

When patients come to the clinic, they find compassionate staff who speak their language and befriend them in their native tongue. And while all of the physicians don’t speak Spanish, they don’t let that stand in their way. “I still rely on the translators,” said Dr. Reed, referring to volunteer nurses who are fluent in Spanish. How is the doctor/patient relationship affected by the language difference? “It’s a three way contact,” Dr. Reed said. “You make eye contact and then you make eye contact,” he said, referring to the conversations between himself, the nurse and the patient.”

One of those patients is Orvil, a 27-year-old factory worker from Mexico. Though he works full time in Columbia, his employer does not provide health insurance. Before he found out about the clinic at an English as a second language class, Orvil relied on a local emergency room when he needed health care. He appreciates the shorter wait time, personalized care, and the free medications he’s been provided by the clinic.

While the donated medicines are a great benefit for the patients, the supply does not begin to address the overwhelming need. “For patients with diabetes or hypertension, you can’t give them but one round of medicine. The second time they come back you might have to give them whatever is available. Because of this, we are very limited in treating chronic illness,” said Dr. Reed. Another challenge Dr. Reed has encountered, while making progress with his Spanish, is learning the subtle differences between the two languages. “With the translation you have to be very careful about your directions. The Spanish term for ‘once a day,’ can get misinterpreted for ‘four times a day,’ he said.

Dr. Reed plans to continue his Tuesday night service at the clinic, where he treats an average of ten patients during a shift. “I see some people that need help and use a little bit of medical Spanish,” he said.  The Rev. Navarrete is grateful for doctors like Dr. Reed who willingly donate their free time to treat patients. “There are many people out there with no insurance. We have the blessing of a very devoted group of physicians,” he said.

Physicians and/or nurses interested in volunteering with the clinic can contact the Rev. Navarrete at 479-4362 or revnararrete@msn.com.

Reprinted from Connections newsletter, October 2006.

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