Could you answer the clinic phone in Spanish? Learn to answer the phone, obtain basic patient information and transfer a call in Spanish. In this podcast, a patient calls the clinic and speaks with the receptionist and then is transferred to the nurse line to leave a message.

This lesson is part of the Clinic Telephone Encounter module in our Spanish for Primary Care Course.

LEVEL - INTERMEDIATE

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R = Receptionist P = Paciente BV = Buzón de Voz

R: Buenos días, habla a la clínica de St. Mary’s. Soy Molly. ¿Cómo le puedo ayudar?
P: Tengo un problema y necesito ver a la doctora Anderson.
R: Cómo no. ¿Cuál es su nombre?
P: Me llamo Daniel Ortiz.
R: Daniel Ortiz. ¿Podría deletrear su apellido por favor?
P: O-R-T-I-Z
R: Gracias. 

In Latin America, people often have two first names (similar to our first and middle names) and two surnames. The first surname is typically from their father, and the second is from their mother. When women marry, they usually replace their maternal surname with their husband’s paternal surname.

In casual settings, people might introduce themselves using one of their first names (whichever they prefer) and their paternal surname. In formal contexts, like a clinic, they might use all four names.

For example, my teacher’s name is Ana Daniela Grave Aragón. She prefers her second name, so she introduces herself as Daniela Grave. Her first name is Ana, her paternal surname is Grave, and her maternal surname is Aragón.

If you want to ask for someone’s full name, say “nombre completo.” Typically, if they give four names, the last two are surnames: the first from their father, the second from their mother (or husband’s if married).

Finally, in Mexico, there’s a shift where the mother’s paternal surname can sometimes come first.

Learn more: Names from the Spanish-Speaking World and Hispanic Last Names: Why Two of them? 

Now, back to the dialogue!

Date of Birth06:03

R: ¿Y cuál es su fecha de nacimiento?
P: El 5 de mayo de 1970.
R: Aquí lo veo. Muy bien.

Address06:12

R:Y me gustaría confirmar su dirección. Tenemos: 1300 3rd Street SW en Minneapolis, con el código postal 55-418. ¿Es correcto?
P: No es correcto. Me he mudado a 1459 Hennepin Ave.
R: ¿El 1459 Hennepin Avenue?
P: Así es.
R: ¿Y cuál es el código postal?
P: Es 55419
R: ¿55419?
P: Correcto.

To ask for someone’s address, you can use: ¿Cuál es su dirección? / ¿Cuál es su domicilio?

Phone Number07:08

R ¿Y cuál es el mejor número de teléfono para comunicarnos con usted?
P: Es mejor llamarme a mi móvil. El número es 608-555-0183
R: Otra vez y más despacio por favor.
P: 608-555-0183
R: Muy bien. 

Transferring Call07:37

R: Por favor, espere un momento. Voy a intentar pasarle a la enfermera de la doctora Anderson. ….Lo siento pero la extensión de la enfermera de la doctora Anderson está ocupada. ¿Quisiera dejar un recado en su buzón de voz? Ella le regresará su llamada dentro de poco tiempo.
P: Sí, está bien.
R: Le pasaré a su buzón de voz para que usted deje un recado.
P: Gracias.
R: No hay de qué. Que tenga un buen día.
BV: Estás en el buzón de voz de Kelly, la enfermera de la doctora Anderson. Por favor deje su recado con la siguiente información y le regresaré su llamada lo más antes posible. Después del tono, por favor deje su nombre, su fecha de nacimiento, su número de telefono y su pregunta. Gracias, y que tenga un buen día.

Vocabulary08:21

deletrear – to spell

el apellido – last name

la fecha de nacimiento – date of birth

la dirección – address

el domicilio – home address

el código postal – zip code

mudarse – to move to another address

el número de teléfono – telephone number

comunicarse con alguien – to get in touch with someone

el móvil – mobile phone

la extensión – extension

pasarle a otra extensión – to transfer someone to another extension

La línea está ocupada. – The line is busy.

el recado, el mensaje – message

el buzón de voz – voicemail, voice box

la llamada – call

regresar la llamada – to call back

Want to learn more?

Listen to  Telephone Spanish – Nurse Line. The nurse and Daniel play a little phone tag leaving messages, before Daniel reaches Nurse Kristy to discuss his concern and make an appointment with his doctor.

Become a member at docmolly.com. In the Clinic Telephone Encounter module, we practice interpreting the clinical encounters from English to Spanish. We also practice common telephone exchanges and the vocabulary and key phrases related to Daniel's concern of dizziness after starting a new medication for blood pressure.

Gracias por escuchar. The lessons offered at docmolly.com are a fun way to practice Spanish. They are not intended to provide medical advice.

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