Interpreter

INTERPRETER COORDINATOR

Bonnie Lassen

blassen@cox.net

Interpreting volunteers:

First, welcome and thank you for your interest in volunteering as an interpreter  with the Flying Samaritans. Your position as an interpreter is very valuable and important to the Flying Samaritans due to the communication barrier between the non-Spanish speaking providers and the local Mexican patients. You are the communication link between the provider and the local patients; the provider is unlikely to use big words that you don’t understand because the patient won’t understand either. Having a good working knowledge of Spanish is necessary. It is helpful to have an app on your phone for those moments of forgetfulness or when a new medical term might be used. The medical providers often understand when patients refer to medications with which you might not be familar.