Interpreter Training

Bridging the Gap (BTG) is the nation's leading medical interpreter training program

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Program Information

How to enroll in a BTG course?

What if I need to cancel my enrollment?

What about financial assistance or job placement assistance?

Will you accept a payment plan?

Do you teach Medical Terminology and Spanish or other languages?

Will I be a Certified Medical Interpreter when I finish the program?

General Course Information

Training schedule

Training Location

Contact Information

Bridging the Gap Medical Interpreter Training Program

The Rural and Urban Access to Health (RUAH) department at St.Vincent Health proudly offers the Bridging the Gap (BTG) program to its associates and community members. The BTG program was developed by the Cross Cultural Health Care Program (CCHCP) in Seattle, Washington. It is one of the nation’s leading medical interpreter training programs. With this national recognition, the certificate of completion for BTG is accepted in most states and is recognized by several national hospital systems.

The RUAH Language Access Program coordinates and operates this training program. RUAH/St.Vincent Health is licensed with CCHCP and have established certain guidelines for all participants in the program. We encourage you to read the registration information below very carefully, as it contains important program information.

Open registration for the public will begin on February 2, 2009. All registration forms are processed on a first come first serve basis. However, first priority is given to St.Vincent Health Associates who wish to participate in the program.

Bridging the Gap (BTG): A Basic Training for Medical Interpreters

The BTG course is a 40-hour professional development program that prepares bilingual individuals to work as medical interpreters in various healthcare environments.

The course covers:

• Basic interpreter skills: Roles, ethics, conduit and clarifier interpreting, and managing the flow of the session.
• Information on health care: Introduction to the health care system, anatomy, and basic medical procedures.
• Culture in interpreting: Self-awareness, basic characteristics of specific cultures, traditional health care in specific communities, and culture brokering.
• Communication skills for advocacy: Listening skills, communication styles, how doctors think, and appropriate advocacy.
• Professional development: Effective communication, professional conduct, self-care, and resources for professional growth.

Course activities: All participants will participate in role play activities, practice using interpreter skills in small group settings, complete hands-on interactive activities, and take a final exam at the end of the program. In addition, a passing score of 70% or higher on the final exam is required to pass the BTG course. The final exam is administered in English.

What if I don't pass the final exam?

You will be given one month to retake the exam at the RUAH office, but you must score 75% or higher to pass the make-up exam.

Tuition

US $350 (Includes the non-refundable fee of US $25 for processing fee and course materials)

Each participant needs to print and complete the two-page registration form which includes a course agreement that must be signed by the participant (see below).

Mail the signed completed forms with payment of US $25 non-refundable deposit to cover the processing fee. Make check or money order payable to St.Vincent Health. If you wish to pay by credit card, fill-in and sign the authorization form at the bottom of the registration form. We only accept Visa and MasterCard.

Mail to:

St.Vincent Health – RUAH, BTG Program

10330 N. Meridian Street, Suite 415,

Indianapolis, IN  46290

When we receive your completed registration form with the non-refundable deposit of US $25, we will send you an acceptance letter (via email or mail) asking you to confirm your attendance to a selected BTG course.

You will receive an acceptance email message or letter, asking you to confirm your attendance to the BTG course selected. Confirm your attendance and pay the balance of US $325 for the tuition by mail.  Each applicant will have 15 business days to submit their confirmation and full payment. Note: All fees must be paid in full 5 days prior to course start date. You will receive a confirmation letter and receipt for payment from the RUAH office.

If you must cancel your enrollment in the BTG training program, you will receive a credit of all fees paid to date up to the US $325 to use toward a future course date. If you do not want a credit and wish to request a refund of all fees up to the US $325, you may request a refund in writing. All written request for refunds should be sent directly to the RUAH office at 10330 N. Meridian Street, Suite 415, Indianapolis, IN 46290. Please allow 2-3 weeks for processing.

RUAH does not offer financial assistance or sponsorship assistance at this time. You will need to check with local centers to see if you can acquire sponsorship for the training through their programs or from your employer.

RUAH does not offer job placement assistance. Each participant interested in working for a specific hospital or clinic would need to contact the Human Resources office to receive information on how to apply for a position within their system.

A payment plan may be arranged on a case by case basis pending approval from the RUAH office.  We can accept 2 payments of US $162.50. However, all course fees must be paid in full 5 days prior to the course start date.

The BTG course does not teach detailed medical terminology. During the course you will receive one day of instruction around medical terminology that is a basic review of anatomy.  In addition, you will receive a bilingual medical glossary for English and one other language as a reference tool.

The BTG course is not a language course.  It is expected that all BTG participants are proficient in reading, writing, and speaking a minimum of two languages, one of which is English.  We do not offer language instruction courses.

If you feel that you will need language assistance or a course on medical terminology, you may wish to pursue those courses before you take the BTG program.

There is no Indiana State certification for Medical Interpreters at this time. Indiana only certifies Court Interpreters.  You will be given a certificate of completion that is accepted by area healthcare systems.

All classes are a total of 40 hours of training and are taught in English.

Weekend and weekday courses are from 8 am to 5 pm each day.

The evening courses are from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm each evening as scheduled, and include two hours of assignments to be completed outside of class. Also, the evening course requires that you attend one Saturday from 8 am to 5 pm for medical review day.
Attendance to all classes as scheduled per course is required in order to complete the 40 hour program.

The course is limited to a maximum of 25 candidates per class.

Weekend courses are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (1st weekend), and Saturday and Sunday (2nd weekend), unless stated otherwise.

A "Certificate of Attendance" will be awarded to participants who score 70% on the final exam on the last day of class.

The "Certificate of Completion" will be mailed to participants directly from the RUAH office after all course requirements have been completed and verified.

All BTG training Instructors are CCHCP trained and approved.

All of our communication is primarily by email, so please make sure your email address is working. We cannot be responsible for non-receipt of important information due to you e-mail’s undependability. If you have not heard from us in a reasonable amount of time, please contact the RUAH office at 317-583-3219.

Weekend Courses: August 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 (Saturdays only); October 2-4, 10, 11; October 23-25, 31 and November 1; November 6-8, 14, 15; December 4-6, 12, 13, 2009; and January 15-17, 23, 24, 2010.

Evening Courses: September 14 - October 6 (Mondays and Tuesdays, and Saturday, September 26)   Note: All evening programs are held for four (4) weeks, two evenings per week from 5:30 pm – 9 pm.

From 465:

I-465 North to US-31 (Meridian Street) Exit

North on Meridian Street (US 31) to 103rd Street

Turn Left (West) on 103rd Street

St.Vincent Health is located on the right (North) side

Turn right at the first drive leading to the front visitor parking area. The main entry faces Meridian Street and is accessible to all visitors during normal business hours.

From US 31 North:

South on US-31 / Meridian Street to 103rd Street

Turn Right (West) on 103rd Street

St.Vincent Health is located on the right (North) side

Turn right at the first drive leading to the front visitor parking area. The main entry faces Meridian Street and is accessible to all visitors during normal business hours.