When admitting a patient to the hospital, understanding their level of independence is crucial. Can they dress themselves, cook for themselves, and get around safely? Do they drive? This information helps us understand the events that led up to a patient's presentation and whether they'll need extra support once they return home. In this beginner-friendly lesson, we're covering how to ask about independence, getting around, and driving in Spanish.

LEVEL – BEGINNER

00:00 - Introduction
01:44 - Independence
09:27 - Getting Around
12:10 - Driving
14:16 - Closing

Read the full lesson on our blog:
https://docmolly.com/activities-of-daily-living-in-spanish-for-healthcare/

Watch the video version of this lesson on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/WvVjCNcro-I?si=Km9xvzqky6nHVyqp

Already a member? Access this lesson, Activities of Daily Living in Spanish for Healthcare, in the Social History module of our History and Exam course.
https://docmolly.com/course/bb20-activities-of-daily-living-lesson

Not a member yet? ¡Hazte miembro!
https://docmolly.com/#membership

Gracias a Luis Almeida por su ayuda con esta lección.
https://docmolly.com/about/#team

Gracias por estudiar español médico con nosotros.

This episode was suggested by two listeners who wrote in asking for vocabulary related to foot care. It turns out this topic is richer than it might first appear — the vocabulary comes up regularly in podiatry, primary care, wound care, and beyond. Recorded with medical Spanish teacher Daniela Grave, from Mexico.

Already a member? Access this lesson, Common Foot Conditions, in the Podiatry Module of our Spanish for Primary Care Course.

Not a member yet? ¡Hazte miembro!

LEVEL – INTERMEDIATE

00:00 - Introduction
01:29 - Toenails and skin
08:04 - Common foot conditions

Gracias a Daniela Grave por su ayuda con esta lección.

Gracias por estudiar español médico con nosotros.

Read the full lesson and get more Medical Spanish practice: Foot Conditions in Spanish for Medical Professionals

This is the fifth and final lesson in la historia de Ingrid. Follow a Guatemalan family through the last days of a leukemia battle in this Medical Spanish end-of-life patient interview. Luis González describes alarming lab results, a doctor's shocking words about Ingrid's white blood cell count, and the urgent return to the hospital on a Saturday afternoon — where Ingrid walked in on her own power despite critical lab values.

Already a member? Access this lesson, End of Life and Grief, within the Leukemia – Ingrid's Story module of our Spanish for Cancer Care course.

Not a member yet? ¡Hazte miembro!

LEVEL – UPPER INTERMEDIATE

00:00 - Intro
02:01 - The last visit to the hospital
04:21 - Vocab and Notes
11:12 - Sepsis 

Gracias a Luis González (de la Cultural Spanish School) por compartir su historia con nosotros.

Gracias por estudiar español médico con nosotros.

Read the full lesson and get more Medical Spanish practice: Medical Spanish for End-of-Life Care: A Story from Guatemala

This is the fourth lesson in la historia de Ingrid. In this episode, we follow Luis González as he describes Ingrid's prolonged hospitalization, his role as a messenger, the transfusions, and the start of outpatient chemotherapy. We also explore the emotional shock Ingrid felt when she experienced hair loss, the most feared side effect of chemotherapy.

Already a member? Access this lesson, Chemotherapy, Hair Loss and Daily Life with Leukemia, within the Leukemia – Ingrid's Story module of our Spanish for Cancer Care course.

Not a member yet? ¡Hazte miembro!

LEVEL – UPPER INTERMEDIATE

02:41 - Hospitalization in Xela, family's role, initial treatments
08:43 - Vocabulary and notes
18:35 - Discharge from hospital, starting outpatient chemotherapy

Gracias a Luis González (de la Cultural Spanish School) por compartir su historia con nosotros.

Gracias por estudiar español médico con nosotros.

Read the full lesson and get more Medical Spanish practice: Leukemia Hospitalization | Medical Spanish from Guatemala

This is the third lesson in la historia de Ingrid. Follow a Guatemalan family through a leukemia diagnosis, an AMA discharge, and critical life-or-death decisions. Luis González describes Ingrid's fear in a public hospital in Guatemala City, the decision to sign a voluntary discharge form against medical advice, and their journey to Quetzaltenango (Xela), where a hematologist confirms the diagnosis and recommends immediate hospitalization.

Already a member? Access this lesson, Facing Leukemia | Leaving the Hospital AMA, within the Leukemia – Ingrid's Story module of our Spanish for Cancer Care course.

Not a member yet? ¡Hazte miembro!

LEVEL – UPPER INTERMEDIATE

02:07 - An AMA discharge
07:00 - Vocabulary and notes
14:41 - Facing leukemia in Xela
15:36 - Closing

Gracias a Luis González (de la Cultural Spanish School) por compartir su historia con nosotros.

Gracias por estudiar español médico con nosotros.

Read the full lesson and get more Medical Spanish practice: Facing Leukemia | An AMA Discharge in Spanish – A Patient’s Journey 

This is the second lesson in la historia de Ingrid. Follow a family from Guatemala through a difficult diagnosis, and learn the vocabulary and phrases for diagnosing leukemia in Spanish. Luis takes Ingrid to a hospital in Santiago, where blood work, X-rays, and other studies are performed over a couple of days. A visiting hematologist reviews the results and delivers the diagnosis directly, and the family is referred urgently to the Hospital Nacional in Guatemala City.

Already a member? Access this lesson, Diagnosis and Shock, within the Leukemia – Ingrid's Story module of our Spanish for Cancer Care course.

Not a member yet? ¡Hazte miembro!

LEVEL – UPPER INTERMEDIATE

02:30 - The tests at the Santiago hospital
04:55 - Vocabulary and notes
08:47 - The diagnosis

Gracias a Luis González (de la Cultural Spanish School) por compartir su historia con nosotros.

Gracias por estudiar español médico con nosotros.

Read the full lesson and get more Medical Spanish practice: Diagnosing Leukemia in Spanish – A Story from Guatemala 

Today we're starting a brand new series — one of the most meaningful things Doc Molly has made for this podcast. On a recent trip to Guatemala, she sat down with Luis González, one of the directors of the Cultural Spanish School in San Pedro La Laguna, who shared the story of his late wife, Ingrid, diagnosed with leukemia in 2018. Over this series, we'll follow her story from the very first symptoms through diagnosis, treatment, and her passing — learning the Spanish to talk about all of it along the way.

Already a member? Access this lesson, The First Signs, within the Leukemia – Ingrid's Story module of our Spanish for Cancer Care course.

Not a member yet? ¡Hazte miembro!

LEVEL – UPPER INTERMEDIATE

00:00 - Intro
02:03 - The purple mark and the cellulitis
05:55 - Vocabulary

Gracias a Luis González (de la Cultural Spanish School) por compartir su historia con nosotros.

Gracias por estudiar español médico con nosotros.

Read the full lesson and get more Medical Spanish practice: Symptoms of Leukemia in Spanish – A Story from Guatemala 

In this episode, we practice how to start a clinical conversation about drug use in Spanish. We focus on asking clear, professional, and respectful questions to use in the hospital, clinic, or emergency room.

Already a member? Access this lesson, Asking About Drug Use, within the Substance Use module of our Spanish for Mental Health course.

Not a member yet? ¡Hazte miembro!

LEVEL – UPPER INTERMEDIATE

00:00 - Intro
01:27 - Introducing the topic
02:53 - What types of drugs?
05:38 - How do you use it?
08:51 - Pattern of use
10:56 - Asking about consequences

Gracias a Luis Almeida por su ayuda con el español de esta lección.

Gracias por estudiar español médico con nosotros.

Read the full lesson and get more Medical Spanish practice: Medical Spanish for Asking About Substance Use

Learn medical Spanish to assess eczema in children, including how to talk about flares, itching, and topical steroid use, using patient-friendly language.

 Watch the video lesson on YouTube!

Already a member? Access Assessing Eczema in Children within our Spanish for Primary Care course.

Not a member yet? ¡Hazte miembro!

LEVEL – UPPER INTERMEDIATE

00:00 - Intro
01:43 - Dialogue
02:26 - Frequency of flares
03:58 - Always itching
05:37 - Topical steroid use
08:36 - Clearing up the eczema
12:14 - Closing

Gracias a Daniela Grave por su ayuda con el español de esta lección.

Gracias por estudiar español médico con nosotros.

Read the full lesson and get more Medical Spanish practice: Medical Spanish for Assessing Eczema in Children

Do you know how to say Happy Holidays in Spanish? In this episode, we practice saying Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and more in Spanish.

 Watch the video version of this lesson on YouTube.

 Become a member! Membership gives you access to over 500 interactive medical Spanish lessons, organized into easy-to-follow courses.

LEVEL – BEGINNER

00:00 - Intro
00:55 - Happy holidays
01:25 - Merry Christmas
01:36 - Happy New Year
02:33 - Happy 2026

Gracias a Elizabeth Cortez de Español Sin Límite por su ayuda con esta lección.

Gracias por estudiar español médico con nosotros.

Read the full lesson: Say Happy Holidays in Spanish!