Medical Interpreting: The Importance of Communication

As if medical jargon is not difficult enough to understand imagine if you spoke a different language than your doctor. That is the problem for many new immigrants to this country or those that were born deaf. They can receive the physical care that they need but they don’t necessarily understand what is going on during an appointment or what they need to do post visit. Though there are those health care professionals that understand another language (most speak Spanish) it is hard to find someone who speaks the less common languages.

Some health care professionals know enough to get through a basic conversation with the patient but without a good understanding of the patient’s culture communication can just add further confusion. To have an effective conversation with the patient the healthcare professional should understand their culture and how it affects their language and also how to directly translate meaning not just words.

Health care professionals can get assistance with issue like these through medical interpreters. Medical interpreters are specially trained in their target language and culture and also in medical terminology and procedure. They also must pass either certification or skills assessment tests before they can begin working.

Training

Many community college and even medical schools have some type of medical interpreting program. There are also different associations, both medical and language related that provide training. The programs vary in length and intensity depending on the school itself and where it is located . Some programs require that you already be a certified interpreter before you enter and others only require that you have a sound understanding of the language.

The level of education and certification required to work varies from state to state. Some states don’t even require certification but they do usually require some sort of skills test to make sure that those applying are qualified. Usually training includes going over medical terminology and training for the different situations that will be encountered in the work place. Those that take the course will also become familiar with the regulations and ethics involved with the medical field. Medical interpreters must follow the HIPAA standards and other patient confidentiality practices.

Salary

Though there are some interpreters who will work for free most require a salary for the time they spend working with the patients. Usually it is the physicians that hire the interpreter which leaves them responsible for payment. Patients may decide to hire a personal interpreter depending on their income and need. Hospitals may also have interpreters on their staff. These interpreters are given a regular paycheck just like any other staff member.

The median salary for a medical interpreter is $35,601 a year but it fluctuates depending on who you are working for (patient, an individual doctor or a hospital). Sometimes those that work at hospitals also have another job in the hospital, they are then able to benefit from two jobs salaries. Interpreters can also work for an organization that hires them out to different health care facilities; this also gives them a steady income.

Job Description

There is more to medical interpreting than just simply repeating what the physician has said in another language. Medical interpreters must keep their patients feelings in mind as much as their physical problems. Medical interpreters are also responsible to ask questions for the patient and make sure that they understand everything thing that is being discussed. Interpreters help with the paperwork that has to be filled out prior to the procedure as well. They are supposed to help the patient during the appointment and with anything post appointment matters as well.

There are both free-lance interpreters and those that work for hospitals/health care facilities or organization. Those who work for hospitals will have more consistent hours and a more stable pay but sometimes don’t get paid as much. Free-lance interpreters are essentially constantly on call so they must be available at a moments notice, though they generally do get paid more.

Heather Edden is a Client Account Specialist at 10x Marketing who intends on becoming a medical interpreter for American Sign Language along with pursuing a career as a Dietitian. For your medical interpreting needs contact the Big Word translation services company.