×

News publications and other organizations are encouraged to reuse Direct Relief-published content for free under a Creative Commons License (Attribution-Non-Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 International), given the republisher complies with the requirements identified below.

When republishing:

  • Include a byline with the reporter’s name and Direct Relief in the following format: "Author Name, Direct Relief." If attribution in that format is not possible, include the following language at the top of the story: "This story was originally published by Direct Relief."
  • If publishing online, please link to the original URL of the story.
  • Maintain any tagline at the bottom of the story.
  • With Direct Relief's permission, news publications can make changes such as localizing the content for a particular area, using a different headline, or shortening story text. To confirm edits are acceptable, please check with Direct Relief by clicking this link.
  • If new content is added to the original story — for example, a comment from a local official — a note with language to the effect of the following must be included: "Additional reporting by [reporter and organization]."
  • If republished stories are shared on social media, Direct Relief appreciates being tagged in the posts:
    • Twitter (@DirectRelief)
    • Facebook (@DirectRelief)
    • Instagram (@DirectRelief)

Republishing Images:

Unless stated otherwise, images shot by Direct Relief may be republished for non-commercial purposes with proper attribution, given the republisher complies with the requirements identified below.

  • Maintain correct caption information.
  • Credit the photographer and Direct Relief in the caption. For example: "First and Last Name / Direct Relief."
  • Do not digitally alter images.

Direct Relief often contracts with freelance photographers who usually, but not always, allow their work to be published by Direct Relief’s media partners. Contact Direct Relief for permission to use images in which Direct Relief is not credited in the caption by clicking here.

Other Requirements:

  • Do not state or imply that donations to any third-party organization support Direct Relief's work.
  • Republishers may not sell Direct Relief's content.
  • Direct Relief's work is prohibited from populating web pages designed to improve rankings on search engines or solely to gain revenue from network-based advertisements.
  • Advance permission is required to translate Direct Relief's stories into a language different from the original language of publication. To inquire, contact us here.
  • If Direct Relief requests a change to or removal of republished Direct Relief content from a site or on-air, the republisher must comply.

For any additional questions about republishing Direct Relief content, please email the team here.

Medical Interpreters Improving Health for Patients, One Conversation at a Time

News

Health Equity

Medical interpreters are trained at Centro Hispano in Knoxville, Tennessee. They serve as a bridge between patients and doctors for better health. (Image by Olly Riley-Smith for Direct Relief)
By Martha Lee

During a medical visit, communicating the symptoms and state of one’s health is essential to receiving sound treatment and a diagnosis. For patients communicating in a language different than that of their medical provider, medical interpreters can help bridge the language gap, as well as advocate for their patients.

That’s exactly what a group of young interpreters with Centro Hispano de East Tennessee are accomplishing. The nonprofit, located in Knoxville, Tennessee, has supported the growing Latino population in the area for the past 16 years through its workforce development program, youth and family engagement, and through its community resource department connecting clients to services such as legal counsel, health care and housing.

They’ve expanded to include medical interpretation, one of the most requested services by both the Latino community, as well as the medical facilities in the area. Centro Hispano received $186,000 from Direct Relief’s Fund for Health Equity, via Eli Lilly and Company, to develop a pilot program of medical Interpreters that will address current inequities by recruiting and training a group of multi-lingual youth seeking to learn new skills, join the healthcare workforce and serve their community.

This pilot program graduated ten individuals and supported them through their training and certification programs, which enabled the Knoxville metro area’s Latino population to gain greater access to Spanish/English interpreting in healthcare settings, empowering the community in health-related decision-making.

It also opened a new post-secondary career path for Latino youth in the area, leveraging their bilingualism to earn a living wage, elevating their economic ceiling, and supporting the area health care system by providing competent and accurate interpreting services. At the end of the pilot, the organization secured additional funding from area sponsors to have two additional interpreting cohorts go through the training.

These interpreters, working to connect patient and doctor, are focused on better health outcomes, one conversation at a time.

Filed Under: , , ,

Giving is Good Medicine

You don't have to donate. That's why it's so extraordinary if you do.