Healthcare interpreters verbally translate medical information for non-English speaking patients and families, with most working on an as-needed basis. Interpreters must be aware of cultural customs and legal issues, and fluency in at least two languages is required. Certification is available through the National Certification Board for Medical Interpreters. Commonly translated languages include Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Russian. Political events can influence the need for interpreters as new immigrants settle into communities.
A healthcare interpreter verbally translates medical interviews, information about medical procedures, and discharge instructions for language-limited or non-English speaking patients and their families. Most of this work takes place in acute care hospitals, and a health interpreter is more likely to be found in a metropolitan medical center than a small town hospital. Interpreters generally do not work full-time and many are not on hospital staff. Instead, they often work or volunteer on an as-needed basis, depending on the language or languages they speak. How easy it is for a hospital to locate a health interpreter depends on how the facility structures the service, the need for the service, and the foreign-speaking population of the community.
Most healthcare interpreters in the US translate for deaf people in American Sign Language (ASL) or for Spanish-speaking patients and families. Other languages that commonly require the services of a translator include Vietnamese, Chinese and Russian. World political events directly influence this field. When conflicts and uprisings arise, foreign nationals can escape to more peaceful Western countries. As these new immigrants settle into communities, medical emergencies or accidents inevitably occur, requiring the services of a health interpreter. In these situations, the only interpreter available is often a member of the immigrant’s sponsoring agency until the hospital can locate an experienced health interpreter.
In their role as an intermediary between a patient and a physician, nurse or discharge planner, a healthcare interpreter has a great deal of responsibility. Not only must he translate questions and answers, but he must also be aware of cultural customs that may influence full disclosure of a patient’s or family’s information. Legal issues are also at stake. To meet legal requirements for informed consent, a patient or family member must fully understand the purpose and risks of any medical procedure before signing the consent form. In this situation, a healthcare interpreter must alternate between translating a written document and interpreting verbal communication between the healthcare professional and the patient.
The requirements for working as a healthcare interpreter are in flux. Obviously, an interpreter needs to be fluent in at least two languages. Ideally, he should also have some form of healthcare experience or familiarity with medical terminology. A professional group, the National Certification Board for Medical Interpreters, was recently formed in the US and offers exam certification to interested interpreters with at least one year of documented experience in the field and a 40-hour approved degree in person or online program. Both the educational program and testing are very expensive, particularly for a new field with few full-time careers available.
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