Within hospitals, doctor’s offices , and health care clinics in the USA there is a role that is an important part of the health care team. That of a Medical Interpreter.
Our ever increasing diversity has meant that we will often have patients and families that find themselves with increased anxiety related to their illness as well as limited communication or language barriers.
In the year of 2002 a law ” Emergency Room Interpreter Bill ” requires that all hospitals must use competent interpreter services. Hospitals must set up systems according to the need and diversity of the population they serve. There are also provisions requiring that state payers for medical care {Medicaid} must reimburse hospitals for reasonable interpreter costs.
Any person who is denied appropriate health care because the hospital failed to provide appropriate services of an interpreter. May sue for a court order and/ damages ,attorneys fee; and given power by the Attorney General to bring action against the hospital. for failing to comply.
In some languages there are limits in the vocabulary that can mean that information related to a medical diagnosis is at risk for poor translation in the patient’s language. The role of an interpreter in the area of medicine has specific requirements . It is important that the interpreter has been confirmed to be competent in the interpretation of the language as well as the ability to understand the medical information that is being communicated .
For the medical professional there should also be an acute awareness that there is a risk related to interpretation , especially when it is related to the pediatric patient. All efforts to be accurate at all times is essential to a positive outcome in patient care.
There are many programs for educating the Medical Interpreter. It is necessary to support the availability of such services within our communities..
Multi-Lingual Interpreter Resources Inc. has been providing multilingual services since 1986. .They have been providing services for seventy five different languages since 1986.
Mission statement
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*We strive to increase understanding of diverse cultural/linguistic minority groups.
*Enhance practical skills of the novice interpreters.
*Broaden skills of seasoned medical interpreters.
*Assist health care administrators in the effective provision of interpreter services.
*Promote awareness among health care providers and the communities on the value of interpreter services.
*Foster the highest level of ethical and professional standards of medical interpreting and translation in the United states.
*Advocate on behalf of and promote the interest of interpreting and translation profession across the U.S.
The National Council on Interpreting in Health Care is planning to establish ethical guidelines for professional medical interpreters. As medical staff relates to the patients who are in their care. They can expect that medical interpreters will exhibit these appropriate behaviors.
The medical interpreter must always arrive on the scheduled time or as needed , dressed in a professional manner. Their background should include a broad knowledge of medical terminology in both the target and the source language. The interpreter must have the ability to understand what is being said in a clear and understandable manner,. With the ability to speak slowly and enunciate clearly. The medical interpreter should conduct self in a professional manner showing respect for cultural diversity. With the ability to acknowledge limitations and request appropriate clarification when needed..
Medical Interpreters must keep the patients information confidential. And is expected to be respectful of all persons involved in the interpreting situation.
As we become more diverse in our population, the role of the medical Interpreter will be of even greater value. All health care facilities should have access to an interpreter when needed.
It is expected that they should be included in situations where the patient needs to be educated in self care after the diagnosis of an illness or an injury. In the future the medical Interpreter may be essential to teaching self care to the chronically ill , and to help educate families in optimum health maintenance.
Http://www.mir-associates.com/medical.
http://healthcareers.about.com/od/healthcareerprofiles/p/MedInterpreters.htm
