How to Find Hospital Interpreters
Hospital interpreters work efficiently, effectively and precisely with patients and their healthcare providers as communicators in saving lives. Locally they become the voice of the non-English speaking patient and globally they are the voice of the language that the patient speaks when the patient does not speak the language of the country they are in.
There are ethical, legal and safety reasons why hospital interpreters are such an important part of taking care of patients with a language barrier. Their intervention in the communicating process helps to provide better patient outcomes.
Hospital interpreters:
Interpret patient care consents and other medical documents.
They communicate information between the patient and the healthcare providers.
They provide explanations of procedures and treatments from the healthcare provider to the patient.
Hospital interpreters should be reliable and accurate in their interpretation.
The inflections of the voice, pauses and non-verbal information and any sense of urgency is important to conveying the message to be interpreted exactly as it is delivered.
They should be an experienced expert in their field.
They must know and use the correct medical vocabulary and terminology.
They should be trained in the language and the culture that they interpret.
Usually an interpreter is able to do interpretations in person or by telephone.
In 2004, the National Code of Ethics for Interpreters in Health Care, (NCIHC) in the United States published the NCIHC Code. There are 32 standards that are grouped in nine categories as follows:
Accuracy: To enable other parties to know precisely what each speaker has said.
Confidentiality: To honor the private and personal nature of the health care interaction and maintain trust among all parties.
Impartiality: To eliminate the effect of interpreter bias or preference.
Respect: To acknowledge the inherent dignity of all parties in the interpreted encounter.
Cultural Awareness: To facilitate communication across cultural differences.
Role Boundaries: To clarify the scope and limits of the interpreting role, in order to avoid conflicts of interest.
Professionalism: Top uphold the public's trust in the interpreting profession.
Professional Development: To attain the highest possible level of competence and service.
Advocacy: To prevent harm to parties whom the interpreter serves.
These guidelines and the 32 standards governs the performance of interpreters in the United States.
So How Do you Get Top Notch Hospital Interpreters?
See the following Listings:
American Translator Association (ATA)
This association was founded in 1959. It's the largest professional association in the United States. It has 10,000 members in more than 90 countries. There are translators
and interpreters including hospitals, universities and government agencies.
Contact information:
225 Reinekers Lane
Suite 590
Alexandria
VA 222314
Telephone: 703-683-6100
Fax: 703-683-6122
Interpreting Services
Founded in 1970, they are available nationwide and world-wide providing services to various organizations including medical and industrial. They have 6000 worldwide experts and provide services in 130 languages.
Contact information:
71305 Rancho Bernardo Road
Suite 101-102
San Diego
California 92127
Telephone: 1-800-566-7492
Fax: 1-800-726-9822
The Big Word Group
This company provides qualified, experienced expertise in various fields including the medical field. Their service is reliable, efficient and professional.
Contact information
USA 212-918-4557
UK 44-(0)870-748-8044
To Find Sign Languages Interpreters for the Deaf in the United States. Consult State Vocational Rehabilitation Offices or Department for the Deaf. Sign language is crucial in communication between the deaf and health care workers.
In May 1999, the head of the Interpreting Services at a major hospital said,
"Interpreters are the most powerful people in a medical conversation."
News-Medical. Net
National Standards for Medical Interpreters
Published by Norma Chew
I am a retired registered nurse with many interests. I enjoy writing, race walking, reading, and out doors activities like hiking. I am also a Toastmaster and I am a member of The Theatrical group called t... View profile
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