Cross cultural medicine and interpreter services in Geneva, Switzerland

1
Cross cultural medicine and interpreter services
in Geneva, Switzerland

• Patricia Hudelson, PhD
• Medical Anthropologist
• Department of Community Medicine and Primary
  Care
  
• Geneva University Hospitals

2
Presentation plan

• Describe Swiss/Geneva context
• Describe service, teaching and research
  activities being developed at our hospital
  
• Illustrate integration of interpreter services
  into broader area of cross-cultural medicine
  
• Present the challenges we face
• Ask for your input, feedback and ideas!

3
The context
HUG
Europe
Switzerland
Geneva
4
Switzerland is
5
But also

• 4 distinct linguistic regions German (63.7),
  French (20.4), Italian (6.5), Romansh (0.5)
  
• 21 foreign-born population
• 46 from Italy and Ex-Yugoslavia
• 42 from other European countries
• 12 from non-European countries
• Religion Roman Catholic (41.8), Protestant
  (35.3), Muslim (4), Jewish (0.2) no religious
  affiliation (15.4)