The Birth of a New Profession: Interpreters Improve Healthcare

Imagine experiencing severe pain, but being unable to communicate it to the medical staff. Or envision watching your child suffer in a hospital bed, not understanding what the doctors are telling you about his or her condition.

Many non-English-speaking patients face these scenarios each time they seek medical care. But the development of a new profession, the medical interpreter, is making these scenarios a thing of the past.

Approximately 45 million Americans do not speak English at home. Nineteen percent of Americans cannot speak fluent English. When non-English speakers must seek medical care, they cannot communicate their symptoms or understand what their doctors say.

Some hospitals and clinics have medical interpreters on staff. But even the patients who find interpreters can receive sub-par care. Poorly trained or tested interpreters can add or miss information, or interpret information in such a way that doctors or patients become confused. These mistakes can compromise patient care, if not patients’ lives. The International Medical interpreters Association (IMIA), the largest and oldest medical interpreters association in the country, has worked with Language Line University to create strict, professional international certification program for medical interpreters. Because of the projected growth, field experts state that certified medical interpreters (CMIs) will find themselves with ample job opportunities in a rewarding field in just about any language.

“Medical interpreting is one of the most rewarding careers,” says Izabel S. Arocha, M.Ed., IMIA president. “You can make a real difference in the quality of care that patients experience.”

Even in an economic recession, people need medical care. And as the boomer population ages, the need for medical services will increase. Educational programs for medical interpreters are available at many public and private institutions. The IMIA frequently posts information about training and job opportunities through its Web site at www.imiaweb.org.

Related posts: