| The United States as a melting pot of cultures is a | | | | patient-doctor relationship. There are some colleges |
| tired but true metaphor. As the population of | | | | and universities that offer certification programs for |
| non-English-speaking residents has increased in recent | | | | medical interpreters. These are not required for the job, |
| years, the need for medical interpreters in hospitals has | | | | but some employers feel more comfortable if they |
| likewise grown. Medical interpreters act as language | | | | see that the potential employee has put in the effort to |
| conduits, translating between doctor and patient and | | | | receive some professional training in the field. There |
| thus overcoming the language barrier between them. | | | | are also interpreter agencies, which some hospitals |
| This is an incredibly crucial task, as it enables | | | | prefer because it takes care of the interviewing |
| physicians to do their job without having to worry | | | | process for them. |
| about possible mis-communications that might result in | | | | The main thing to look for in an medical interpreter, |
| medical mistakes. Utilizing a medical translator makes it | | | | however, is once again whether or not they can think |
| easier for hospitals to attract and properly care for a | | | | quickly and creatively to convey complex ideas and |
| wider range of international patients. | | | | messages as accurately as possible, as they'll be |
| What Hospitals Should Look For | | | | acting as the voice of both the physician and the |
| A lot of great interpreters working in the field today do | | | | patient. |
| not have a college degree. The main thing that | | | | The Job |
| hospitals should look for when hiring an interpreter is | | | | As the title implies, a medical interpreter does not |
| not their level of education but whether or not they | | | | simply translate the words spoken by a doctor or |
| can speak and write both English and the foreign | | | | patient. An interpreter must be able to find the right |
| language(s) fluently. They must be able to translate | | | | way of conveying the meaning, or the essence of |
| clearly both simple and complex ideas from one | | | | what the patient or doctor is trying to get across to |
| language to the other. Much of this ability comes simply | | | | the other party. |
| from experience and can only be measured properly | | | | An interpreter is there in the exam room with the |
| through the interview process. | | | | patient. He helps the physician understand the personal |
| Good medical interpreters must have a good | | | | and medical history of a patient as it becomes |
| knowledge of medical terminology and must be | | | | relevant, and he helps the patient understand the |
| acquainted with the dynamics inherent in the | | | | technical details that the physician is trying to convey. |