Partnering For Successful Communication

Fall 2009-- The Workplace Learning Resource Center at the Kern Community College District is partnering with Kaiser Permanente to help facilitate better communication between Kaiser Permanente staff and its Spanish-speaking members. In order to improve member service and health outcomes, Kaiser Permanente is offering Basic Medical Spanish for the Kaiser Workplace to its staff to ensure they are able to communicate with their members effectively. 

The training was developed in partnership with the Kern Community College District Workplace Learning Resource Center and customized to address the types of conversations that take place in Kaiser Permanente’s medical facilities. The training is a highly interactive multimedia program with emphasis on practicing real workplace conversations. The Basic Medical Spanish for the Kaiser Workplace includes two sessions, session one focuses on basic conversational elements and session two is for those participants who wanted to continue to build their Spanish Language skills.

The training was developed as a response to a request from Kaiser Permanente project manager Margie Gonzales. About the training Margie said, “Kaiser Permanente is committed to delivering culturally responsive care. Partnering with KCCD to provide KP employees with Basic Medical Spanish is in alignment with the KP Mission. It’s been a pleasure working with you and your team. As you already know... Rocio has done a great job developing the curriculum, the classes are interactive and students can practice on their own by using the Blog to go to the Internet.”

Kaiser Permanente plans to have as many as 100 of its staff participate in the training. Kaiser Permanente staff has indicated that the training will help them to more successfully interact with members in the course of their duties. Workplace Learning Resource Center Director, Dave Teasdale commented, “The Basic Medical Spanish for the Kaiser Workplace training program is an example of how customized training, developed in partnership with the WpLRC, can have an important role in helping an organization achieve its objectives.”

To learn more about The Basic Medical Spanish program and how it may benefit your business contact David Teasdale, Kern Community College District Workplace Learning Resource Center Director at (661) 336-5011 or dteasdal@kccd.edu.
 

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