27 Sep Medicine translation and chiropody facing feet pathologies and pains

When patient and medical provider have a limited ability to interconnect in the same language, administering effective medical services can be very difficult.  This can happen when providing chiropodist healthcare services, as well as while dealing with patients in any other medical specialty.

Chiropody treatments for foreigners or limited language speaking patients

Chiropody treatments consist in the elimination of calluses and alterations in the toenails, in order to avoid and prevent possible discomfort caused by the use of inappropriate footwear.

They are directed to avoid pain and to avoid future injuries, such as painful ulcerations that can prevent walking. Sometimes feet problems can converge with other types of diseases, as systemic ones, like diabetes.

Interventions include, cleaning calluses caused by the rubbing of the footwear or by some form of alteration of the footprint. The calluses arise as a reaction of the body to external aggressions, generating creatine and creating layers of thicker skin. Cutting ingrown nails, to avoid discomfort, inflammation and infections. Cutting and milling of therapeutic nails with traumatic or systemic origin. Delamination of hyperkeratosis. Heel milling. Heloma treatment… even hydration and relaxing massage.

Medical translators and interpreters can work in hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centres, nursing homes or other medical areas. The specialized skills can reach the different medical specialties. A medical translator focuses in translating written documents, as medical legal documents, patient records, clinical trials… Medical interpreters are hired to facilitate verbal communication in each step of the health care process.

Medical translation is very broad and sometimes complex. Most skilled medical translators also are doctors, nurses or other medically qualified personnel.  Medical translation services usually require medical or healthcare qualifications. Of course medical translators and interpreters cannot lear all at once. Continuous study is essential and experience helps them to improve their medical translation or interpretation skills.

A periodic control of our feet is the best prevention against possible ailments or pathologies

Chiropody sessions allow the podiatrist to review possible dermatological diseases such as papillomas or fungi. Early detection of any alteration at feet or nails level is always better, since it can prevent more serious problems in the future. There is no specific age or time of the year to book them. Although they are usually more common among adults, this service is increasingly been used by younger people, especially athletes, or in summertime.

Specialists recommend, at least, a session per year. It is important to bear in mind that chiropody is a medical treatment performed by a podiatrist that aims to treat and cure diseases or alterations of the feet, pathologies and pains that prevent us from walking normally, and that it should not be confused with pedicure.

Feet pathologies can also affect other parts of the patient’s body. For example, translate into a pain in the knees, the hip or the back. Chiropody sessions allows the podiatrist to detect other possible ailments such as diabetic foot, plantar fasciitis, tendinitis, claw fingers etc … And, apply local anesthesia, in case the treatment may cause pain.

Getting into medical translation by simply accepting projects and just learn through experience is not the best option. Training is also important and the need of accuracy makes this approach especially risky. After all, medical translators are responsible for their work. Certification programs and a medical background are the best tools to start. Mastery will come with practice though.

Starting with less demanding duties, as medical research surveys or medical products marketing materials, will be easier, as there is generally less jargon involved. In any case, reading, studying and researching are great ways to improve. No matter how many certifications or degrees you have, the world is constantly changing, as are medical laws and regulations, medical technologies and devices. And keeping up with them is the only way to maintain a position in the medical translation field. A continuous study and research, attending relevant conferences and perseverance are some of the keys to being able to provide the best medical translation services.