CHAMPS offers medical Spanish language training for clinicians and clinical support staff at Region VIII health centers each April.

These trainings are intensive, conversational, and medical Spanish workshops consisting of medical dialogues, role-plays, visual aids, cross-cultural discussions, and daily practice. The course curriculum provides an experience of immersion learning, an approach that is highly suitable for those with limited time, and who must use their new language skills immediately with their Spanish-speaking patients. All Spanish Language for Healthcare Professionals courses are held via Zoom.

Details about each course can be found below:

FOUR-DAY MEDICAL SPANISH LANGUAGE FOR PROVIDERS

Dates/Times: Four half-days: Thursday, April 10, Friday, April 11, Thursday, April 17, and Friday, April 18, 2025. Class will be held online from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM MT / 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM CT each day with optional tutoring/extra practice offered each afternoon.

Location: This course is only available online.

Target Audience: The course is intended for physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and other medical personnel with beginner to intermediate Spanish language skills. Other healthcare professionals are welcome to attend; however, it is important to note that only a limited amount of time is spent on terminology for other disciplines such as oral and behavioral health. These providers are invited to tutoring sessions to focus on specialized vocabulary.

Course Description: This four-day course is an intensive conversational and medical Spanish workshop consisting of medical dialogues, role-plays, visual aids, cross-cultural discussions, and daily practice. The course curriculum provides an experience of immersion learning. This approach is highly suitable for those with limited time who must use their new language skills immediately with their Spanish-speaking patients.

Beginner and intermediate skill levels will be offered, with separate classes for each level. Ríos Associates will determine which skill level is appropriate for applicants based on participants’ completed self-assessment forms. A beginner level and an intermediate level will be offered and the levels will be set depending on the skill levels of the participants who register. Although quite rare, if it is not possible to offer the needed skill level for an individual, full tuition will be refunded.

Course Objectives: Participants who complete this course will:

  1. Acquire/strengthen the ability to interview patients in Spanish, take a medical history, conduct a physical exam, give prescriptions and instructions, and intervene in medical emergencies.
  2. Be exposed to a Spanish vocabulary of at least 1,500 general and medical words.
  3. Develop a good flow of speech in present, future, and past tenses, and command forms.
  4. Develop an awareness of differences in attitudes between Latinos and other Americans concerning time, space, clothing, foods, health, and medical care.
  5. Develop skills to continue language acquisition through daily practice and experience.
  6. Intermediate students will be able to do all the above, in addition to using more idioms as well as complex tenses and moods (conditional, present and past progressive, present and past perfect tenses, plus subjunctive mood and its tenses).

CME: Continuing medical education (CME) is available for the four-day course as follows:

  • At least 16 hours of Category 1 CME from the American Medical Association (AMA), plus the opportunity to earn additional CME total through self-study modules at no additional charge for interested participants.

Course Fees: The four-day course fee is $649 for CHAMPS Members and $799 for Non-Members. Please click here to see a listing of CHAMPS Organizational Members.

  • The registration fee includes four half-days of online Spanish language instruction, tutoring, a course book, and CME.
  • Full payment of the registration fee is due in advance. Refunds will not be provided, however, if necessary, another individual may substitute for a registrant.

Registration: Registration for the 2025 Medical Spanish Language for Providers Course will open in early January 2025.

TWO-DAY SPANISH LANGUAGE FOR ORAL HEALTH PROVIDERS

Dates/Times: Two half-days: Monday, April 7, and Tuesday, April 8, 2025. Class will be held online from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM MT / 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM CT each day with optional practice offered each afternoon.

Location: This course is only available online.

Target Audience: The course is intended for dentists, orthodontists, dental hygienists, and other clinical dental personnel with beginner Spanish language skills.

Course Description: This two-day course is an intensive conversational and oral medical Spanish workshop consisting of dental dialogues, role-plays, visual aids, cross-cultural discussions, and daily practice. The course curriculum provides an experience of immersion learning. This approach is highly suitable for those with limited time who must use their new language skills immediately with their Spanish-speaking patients.

This two-day intensive will offer a single class for oral health providers. Complete beginner speakers and those with some Spanish language skills may attend this course. Speakers may be separated by skill level for small group work. Ríos Associates will determine whether this course is appropriate for applicants based on participants’ completed self-assessment forms. Oral health professionals with intermediate and advanced Spanish language skills are invited to attend the four-day intermediate or two-day advanced skills course.

Course Objectives: Participants who complete this course will:

  1. Acquire/strengthen the ability to interview patients in Spanish, take a medical history, conduct an oral exam, give prescriptions and instructions, and intervene in dental/oral emergencies.
  2. Be exposed to a Spanish vocabulary of at least 1,500 general and medical words.
  3. Develop a good flow of speech in present, future, some simple past tenses, and command forms.
  4. Develop an awareness of differences in attitudes between Latinos and other Americans concerning time, space, foods, health, and dental/oral care.
  5. Develop skills to continue language acquisition through daily practice and experience.

CME: Continuing medical education (CME) is available for the two-day course as follows:

  • At least 8 hours of Category 1 CME from the American Medical Association (AMA), plus the opportunity to earn additional CME total through self-study modules at no additional charge for interested participants.

Course Fees: The two-day course fee is $349 for CHAMPS Members and $429 for Non-Members. Please click here to see a listing of CHAMPS Organizational Members.

  • The registration fee includes two half-days of online Spanish language instruction, tutoring/extra practice, a course book, and CME.
  • Full payment of the registration fee is due in advance. Refunds will not be provided, however, if necessary, another individual may substitute for a registrant.

Registration: Registration for the 2025 Medical Spanish Language for Oral Health Providers Course will open in early January 2025.

TWO-DAY SPANISH LANGUAGE FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROVIDERS

Dates/Times: Two half-days: Monday, April 14, and Tuesday, April 15, 2025. Class will be held online from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM MT / 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM CT each day with optional practice offered each afternoon.

Location: This course is only available online.

Target Audience: The course is intended for psychologists, psychiatrists, mental health counselors, social workers, addiction counselors, and other behavioral health personnel with intermediate to advanced Spanish language skills. Additionally, this course is good for medical providers with intermediate to advanced Spanish skills who would like to learn behavioral health terminology.

Course Description: This two-day course is an intensive conversational and Behavioral Health Spanish workshop consisting of medical dialogues, role-plays, cross-cultural discussions, and practice. The course curriculum provides an experience of immersion learning. This approach is highly suitable for those with limited time who must use their new language skills immediately with their Spanish-speaking patients.

Intermediate to advanced skill levels may participate in this combined classroom. Ríos Associates will determine whether this course is appropriate for applicants based on participants’ completed self-assessment forms. Behavioral Health Providers with beginner Spanish language skills are invited to attend the traditional four-day course.

Course Objectives: Participants who complete this course will:

  1. Acquire/strengthen the ability to interview patients in Spanish, take a medical history, address abuse, anxiety, substance abuse, sleep problems, conduct a mini mental, PHQ-9, GAD-7, ACE, MoCA, etc. screening/exam, give prescriptions and follow-up instructions, and intervene in Behavioral Health emergencies. As the group is small, we will focus on specialty Behavioral Health topics and tailor role-plays and practice sessions to each individual’s needs.
  2. Be exposed to a Spanish vocabulary of at least 2,500 general and medical words.
  3. Develop a good flow of speech in present, future, past tenses, and command form, in addition to using more idioms as well as complex tenses and moods (conditional, present and past progressive, present and past perfect tenses, plus subjunctive mood and all its tenses).
  4. Develop an awareness of differences in attitudes between Latinos and other Americans concerning time, space, clothing, foods, health, and behavioral medical care.
  5. Develop skills to continue language acquisition through daily practice and experience.

CME: Continuing medical education (CME) is available for the two-day course as follows:

  • At least 8 hours of Category 1 CME from the American Medical Association (AMA), plus the opportunity to earn additional CME total through self-study modules at no additional charge for interested participants.

Course Fees: The two-day course fee is $349 for CHAMPS Members and $429 for Non-Members. Please click here to see a listing of CHAMPS Organizational Members.

  • The registration fee includes two half-days of online Spanish language instruction, tutoring, a course book, and CME.
  • Full payment of the registration fee is due in advance. Refunds will not be provided, however, if necessary, another individual may substitute for a registrant.

Registration: Registration for the 2025 Medical Spanish Language for Behavioral Health Providers Course will open in early January 2025.

TWO-DAY MEDICAL SPANISH LANGUAGE FOR ADVANCED SPEAKERS

Dates/Times: Two half-days: Monday, April 21, and Tuesday, April 22, 2025. Class will be held online from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM MT / 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM CT each day with optional practice offered each afternoon.

Location: This course is only available online.

Target Audience: The course is intended for physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and other clinical personnel with advanced Spanish language skills.

Course Description: This two-day course is an intensive conversational and medical Spanish workshop consisting of medical dialogues, role-plays, visual aids, cross-cultural discussions, and daily practice. The course curriculum provides an experience of immersion learning. This approach is highly suitable for those with limited time who must use their new language skills immediately with their Spanish-speaking patients.

This two-day intensive will offer only the advanced skill level. Ríos Associates will determine whether this course is appropriate for applicants based on participants’ completed self-assessment forms. Medical professionals with beginner and intermediate Spanish language skills are invited to attend the traditional four-day course.

Course Objectives: Participants who complete this course will:

  1. Acquire/strengthen the ability to interview patients in Spanish, take a medical history, conduct a physical exam, give prescriptions and instructions, and intervene in medical emergencies.
  2. Be exposed to a Spanish vocabulary of at least 2,500 general and medical words.
  3. Develop a good flow of speech in present, future, past tenses, and command form, in addition to using more idioms as well as complex tenses and moods (conditional, present and past progressive, present and past perfect tenses, plus subjunctive mood and all its tenses).
  4. Develop an awareness of differences in attitudes between Latinos and other Americans concerning time, space, clothing, foods, health, and medical care.
  5. Develop skills to continue language acquisition through daily practice and experience.

CME: Continuing medical education (CME) is available for the two-day course as follows:

  • At least 8 hours of Category 1 CME from the American Medical Association (AMA), plus the opportunity to earn additional CME total through self-study modules at no additional charge for interested participants.

Course Fees: The two-day course fee is $349 for CHAMPS Members and $429 for Non-Members. Please click here to see a listing of CHAMPS Organizational Members.

  • The registration fee includes two half-days of online Spanish language instruction, tutoring, a course book, and CME.
  • Full payment of the registration fee is due in advance. Refunds will not be provided, however, if necessary, another individual may substitute for a registrant.

Registration: Registration for the 2025 Medical Spanish Language for Advanced Speakers Course will open in early January 2025.

TWO-DAY MEDICAL SPANISH LANGUAGE FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANTS

Dates/Times: Two half-days: Thursday, April 24, and Friday, April 25, 2025. Class will be held online from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM MT / 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM CT each day with optional practice offered each afternoon.

Location: This course is only available online.

Target Audience: This course is designed for Medical Assistants and other clinical support personnel with beginner Spanish Language skills. Medical Assistants with advanced Spanish language skills are invited to apply to attend the Medical Spanish Language for Advanced Speakers course.

Course Description: This two-day course is a beginner-level intensive conversational medical Spanish workshop that includes medical dialogues, role-plays, visual aids, cross-cultural discussions, and daily practice. 

This immersion learning experience is particularly beneficial for those with limited time who need to apply their new language skills immediately with their Spanish-speaking patients.

The intensive format offers a single class designed specifically for medical assistants and related clinical support roles. The course will walk participants through the following aspects of a clinical visit:

  • Pre-Visit and Follow-Up: This topic will include command forms (Ud.), effective in-person and phone communication skills, and promoting available resources for new patients.
  • A Warm Welcome (Investing in the Beginning – Build Rapport and Trust):  This topic will address culturally appropriate greetings and introductions, welcoming family members, and relevant vocabulary for taking vital signs.
  • Reason for Visit:  Participants will learn vocabulary for parts of the body, phrases to elicit the reason for a patient’s visit, expressions for conveying empathy, and an introduction to culture-bound syndromes.
  • Other Rooming Tasks: This topic will focus on utilizing rooming tools, conducting effective history-taking, using command forms and simplified/polite command forms (Favor de + infinitive), and strategies for arranging for interpreters as needed.
  • Closing and Goodbyes (Investing in the End): Participants will learn about culturally appropriate goodbyes, expressing well wishes for patients and their families, and vocabulary related to after-visit summaries and follow-up communication.

Course Objectives: Participants who complete this course will:

  1. Acquire or strengthen the ability in Spanish to greet patients in a culturally sensitive manner, interview patients, offer resources, and provide after-visit summary information, and follow-up instructions.
  2. Be exposed to 1,500 general and medical terms relevant to their practice.
  3. Gain fluency in using present, future, and simple past tenses, along with command forms.
  4. Understand cultural differences between Latino and other American perspectives regarding time, space, food, health, and medical care
  5. Develop skills to continue language acquisition through daily practice and real-life experiences.

CME: Continuing medical education (CME) is available for the two-day course as follows:

  • At least 8 hours of Category 1 CME from the American Medical Association (AMA), plus the opportunity to earn additional CME total through self-study modules at no additional charge for interested participants.

Course Fees: The two-day course fee is $349 for CHAMPS Members and $429 for Non-Members. Please click here to see a listing of CHAMPS Organizational Members.

  • The registration fee includes two half-days of online Spanish language instruction, tutoring, a course book, and CME.
  • Full payment of the registration fee is due in advance. Refunds will not be provided, however, if necessary, another individual may substitute for a registrant.

Registration: Registration for the 2025 Medical Spanish Language for Medical Assistants will open in early January 2025.

If you have any questions, please contact the CHAMPS Clinical Quality Improvement Director.