September 2005

DCs write 'Spanish Terminology for Chiropractic Care'

The language barrier between chiropractors and their Spanish‑speaking patients is beginning to come down, aided by Thomas Bergmann, DC, a professor at Northwestern Health Sciences University, and Thomas Davis, DC, a retired Northwestern faculty member. The Minnesota doctors recently wrote "Spanish Terminology for Chiropractic Care," their third book together. The book is intended to aid DCs in communicating with their patients.

"It's so difficult to deal with health issues through an interpreter," said Dr. Bergmann. "People really appreciate you making the effort to speak their language."

Bergmann said he and Dr. Davis began the book about two years ago after Davis was approached at a chiropractic convention by a representative from Elsevier, a publisher that puts out similar translation books for other health care providers. They thought a book would help communication between Spanish‑speaking patients and their chiropractors as well.

Reaching out to the Spanish‑speaking population is nothing new for Davis who works with a Costa Rican clinic where Northwestern students go every year to practice chiropractic in a different environment. Bergmann said there are interpreters to help students communicate with Spanish‑speaking patients at the clinic, and the book will be an additional resource.

Yet, Bergmann hopes that clinic won't be the only place chiropractors will use the new book. He said since Spanish is one of the most common languages in the United States, DCs will find it helpful to know some key terms no matter where they practice.

"I tried to learn conversational Spanish, but it didn't have a lot to do with my work; they don't teach you words like spine, subluxation or adjustments," he said. "It's so beneficial for chiropractors to know little terms, even just how to say 'turn over' on the table."

"Spanish Terminology for Chiropractic Care" teaches those types of phrases. Davis and Bergmann created a list of words and phrases in English that are commonly used during a chiropractic appointment, from the greeting to the checkup to any administrative work. The phrases were then translated into Spanish by professionals.

The book progresses chronologically in the order of a typical exam. Bergmann said it also features special sections, like terms useful for working with children and words to describe certain health conditions and there are single word translations listed in the appendix. The book is available for $29.95 in Northwestern's bookstore.