Collaborating with Interpreters to Connect with Patients Across Language & Culture
LIVE WEBINAR DATE AND TIME
Tuesday, August 25, 2026 4-5:30 pm CT
Note: If you are unable to attend the live event, you will be automatically enrolled in the on-demand version. The on-demand version will be available six weeks after the live broadcast.
INSTRUCTORS (click on the name below to read faculty bio)
Angela Cazarez
Matthew Ginsberg-Jaeckle, MA, CHI
DESCRIPTION
This webinar aims to prepare clinicians with information regarding the best practices in collaborating with trained healthcare interpreters, with an emphasis on maximizing direct patient-clinician connections that transcend linguistic and cultural difference. Some clinicians may view interpreters as a required but undervalued part of the care process. Others try to use them for functions that go beyond their role and can detract from the patient-clinician relationship. In between these extremes, interpreters can be a gift to clinicians and patients alike, as their expertise is not just around language and culture, but about effective facilitation of a relationship across linguistic and cultural divides. An ever-increasing body of literature demonstrates the importance of strong patient-clinician relationships and direct communication not just to improving patient satisfaction but also to directly improving clinical outcomes, treatment compliance and effective diagnosis. This webinar aims to equip clinicians with the tools and understanding necessary to improve their collaboration with in-person and virtual interpreters in order to connect just as well or better with patients with limited English proficiency as they do with native English speakers.
LEARNER OUTCOMES
Upon completion of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Define the clinical and social-emotional importance of a strong patient-clinician connection
- Describe how to work with healthcare interpreters to overcome linguistic and cultural divides
- Identify how to control the length and speed of utterances to enhance the accuracy of interpreting during in-person and virtual scenarios
- Summarize the key legal, regulatory and ethical frameworks with regards to healthcare interpreting
- Apply proactive communication strategies to ensure understanding as well as identify potential obstacles to that understanding
SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION
Participants will be present during the live webinar in its entirety and complete an attendance verification and feedback survey in the Academy Learning Portal within one month of the live air date.
AUDIENCE
Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapy Assistants, Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants, Social Work and Speech-Language Pathologists
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Occupational Therapists: Check back soon!
Physical Therapists: This online course has been approved by the Illinois Physical Therapy Board for 1.5 Contact Hours. Approval #216-000069
The Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is recognized by California and the New York State Education Department's State Board for Physical Therapy as an approved provider of physical therapy and physical therapist assistant continuing education for 1.5 Contact Hours on 3/25/26.
Many states accept continuing education contact hours recognized in other states, enabling professionals to use these hours to meet their licensing or certification requirements. Please consult your state regulations to see if this meets CEU requirements for your license.
Social Workers: Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is registered by the State of Illinois to sponsor continuing education programs for social workers. This program will award 1.5 Continuing Education Credit Hours. Sponsor License #159001466.
Speech-Language Pathologists:
DISCLOSURES
Course Directors and Planning Committee Members:
Julie Lenkiewicz, MS, CCC-SLP Has nothing to disclose.
Melissa Kolski, PT, OCS, Dip MDT Has nothing to disclose.
Leslie Marriott, OTR/L Has nothing to disclose.
Selah Bustamante, MSN, RN, CRRN Has nothing to disclose.
Melissa Legreid, MSN, RN, CRRN, NPD-BC Has nothing to disclose.
Speakers, Moderators and Panelists:
Angela Cazarez Has nothing to disclose.
Matthew Ginsberg-Jaeckle, MA, CHI Has nothing to disclose.
ACADEMY POLICIES
For a complete list of Academy policies and technology requirements, click here.
