Diving into the World of a Medical Interpreter

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Medical interpretation plays a critical role in the healthcare industry. Not only does the healthcare professional need to effectively communicate with the patient, but the patient deserves to have a voice, and that’s where a medical interpreter comes in. They are an advocate for patients who experience communication barriers and they work to bridge that gap, ensuring patients receive the care they’re entitled to. A lack of communication in the healthcare industry can lead to mistakes and potential harm for the patient, making medical translation so vital.

What Healthcare Translation Services Look Like

Medical interpretation can be used in a wide variety of settings such as nursing homes, hospitals, clinics, and doctor’s offices. Whichever setting you choose to work in, the overall role is primarily the same, ensuring that the patient understands their care. When it comes to the health of an individual, serious or sensitive situations can arise, so assistance in communication becomes even more necessary.

While translation is a key asset in breaking down those communication barriers, medical interpretation is a bit different. An interpreter is physically present to translate between a patient and a doctor, taking notes of visual and vocal cues so that they can better understand the patient’s concerns, symptoms, or medical history to convey to the doctor.

If you’re a medical interpreter, a typical day may include:

Translating diagnosis and treatment options – For patients who speak a language other than English, interpreters will be present during conversations between them and their doctors. Interpreters will then explain any diagnoses and the treatment options available to ensure there is a mutual understanding.
Facilitating patient follow-up care – Interpreters may provide translations for follow-up phone calls with doctors and nurses, remind the patient of appointment times or locations, and may arrive with them to their appointments.
Translating texts and documents – With medical interpretation, it’s important to also translate any documents or brochures that are provided to the patient. Additionally, this also includes translating medical forms, legal documents, and any billing-related forms as well.

In addition to these responsibilities, understand that a typical day in healthcare translation services varies widely. The patients that you’ll be assisting will be dealing with different situations, so know that there is a lot of variation in this career.

If you’re wondering if this career is suited for you, here are a few traits that aid medical interpreters in their roles:

Being in control of their emotions
Professionalism
Punctuality
Empathy
Being open to new ideas
Inquisitiveness
Ability to multitask
Ability to work in stressful situations
Active listening
Levelheadedness

Choose 91�ֿ� to Help Prepare for Your Medical Interpreter Certification

If you are looking to further your language career, understand that 91�ֿ� offers the ideal M.A. in Translation program. Provided in both online and in-person options, our program allows students to gain a firm foundation in the principles and practices of translation so that they can succeed in their future professional roles.

Our program allows you to select from various focuses including French, Arabic, German, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish. By choosing 91�ֿ� to jumpstart your career in healthcare translation services, you’ll reap benefits such as:

Courses designed by industry experts
Graduation rates higher than 90%
Part-time and full-time education options available
Access to outstanding networks that can lead to employment opportunities
Personalized instruction
Guidance from an expert faculty

If you already have a degree in translation, but are wanting to gain your medical interpreter certification, you can go through either of the following two certification organizations.

The Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI)

In order to apply for this national certification, you’ll want to make sure that you match these requirements:

Possess linguistic proficiency in English and your chosen language for certification
Be 18 years or older
Complete at least 40 hours of medical interpreting training, in an academic or non-academic program
Have a minimum of a U.S. high school diploma or GED, or an equivalent from another country
Pass the CoreCHI exam, featuring 100 multiple-choice questions – those with a target language of Arabic, Mandarin, or Spanish, require an oral exam as well

The National Board for Certified Medical Interpreters

Those interested in applying for this national certificate must:

Be 18 years or older
Have a minimum of a U.S. high school diploma or GED
Complete at least 40 hours of medical interpreting training
Demonstrate oral proficiency in English via a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, Ph.D., or a passing score in TOEFL, ELPT, MELAB, ECPE, FCE, CAW, CPE, or IELTS

For this medical interpreter certification, language options include Spanish, Russian, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, and Vietnamese. Other language concentrations are covered by the previously mentioned CCHI certification.

Apply to Start Your Medical Interpretation Career

If you’re ready to make a difference in the world and start your translation journey, be sure to apply today!

Looking to learn more about healthcare translation services? Contact us! We are more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

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