Discover how using professional medical interpreters improves patient safety and ensures equitable access to quality care.
Language barriers can lead to serious medical errors, compromising patient safety. Imagine facing a serious condition and having your treatment plan explained in a language you can’t understand. How would you follow the prescribed treatment for a safe recovery?
Sadly, many health care providers still resort to informal or ad hoc interpreters. In other words, having a staff member or a patient’s relative translate during medical visits. But that’s risky business. It’s easy for crucial details to get lost in translation.
Hence the need for medical interpreters. Relying on professional interpreters during doctor appointments helps patients follow their treatment plans and improves their health outcomes. Plus, it ensures everyone gets access to quality care.
In this blog post, we’ll learn more about medical interpreters’ role in health care. Let’s dive in!
Why are medical interpreters necessary?
Picture this scenario. A non-English speaking couple brings their child to a pediatrician’s office. The reason? Persistent coughing and difficulty breathing.
The pediatrician needs information on the child’s medical history: previous respiratory conditions, allergies… During the examination, the doctor will ask about the onset and frequency of symptoms, any triggers that worsen the coughing, and whether the child has experienced fever or chest pain.
Answering these questions is crucial for determining the appropriate diagnostic tests, and developing an effective treatment plan.
Now, patients may want to use a family member or friend as an interpreter. But, as a health care provider, how can you ensure the information you get is accurate and reliable?
The Joint Commission (TJC), a not-for-profit organization accrediting US health care programs and organizations, published an eye-opening report in 2021.
They found that patients with Limited English Proficiency (LEP):
- Are hospitalized longer when they don’t have professional interpreters during admission or discharge.
- Are more likely to get infections after surgery, fall, or develop pressure ulcers.
- Face surgery delays because they struggle to understand instructions.
- Have a higher chance of being readmitted for chronic conditions because they find it hard to manage their health and medications.
In other words, LEP patients face clear inequalities compared to those proficient in English. Furthermore, studies suggest that language barriers may lead to lower usage of medical services among adults with LEP.
Providing health care interpretation services – a legal obligation
As an LEP patient seeking medical care, your first thought may be to ask an English-speaking relative for help. Well, no need to. You may be entitled to have a professional interpreter free of charge.
Both in the US and in the UK, regulations state that health care institutions that receive funding from the government must offer “meaningful access” to health care services. For LEP patients, this means providing a qualified interpreter so they can make informed decisions on their treatment.
The only situations where using family or friends may be acceptable are:
- In an emergency where there’s an immediate threat to someone’s safety.
- If an LEP patient refuses language services after being made aware that an interpreter is available for free.
What are the benefits of using health care interpreters?
Using professional interpreters has plenty of benefits, including:
- Building trust between the patient and their family and their care team.
- Improving understanding of health issues and compliance with treatment plans.
- Reducing malpractice risk, which may lead to adverse outcomes and extended hospital stays.
- Lowering the cost of care.
- Improving patient satisfaction.
What are the duties and limitations of medical interpreters?
Medical interpreters help patients and health care providers communicate. They convey information faithfully, taking into account cultural nuances, context, and language variations.
Medical interpreters adhere to an ethical code of conduct whose key points are:
- Accuracy: Interpreters must convey what is said, without adding or deleting anything. To do so, they can seek clarification. And, if they feel a message may be misunderstood, they can bring it to the health care provider’s attention.
- Confidentiality: Interpreters won’t divulge any information obtained through their assignments.
- Impartiality: Interpreters will refrain from advising or projecting any personal biases. They must disclose any relationship that may be seen as a conflict of interest.
- Cultural sensitivity: Interpreters must show respect toward patients’ culture.
- Compensation: Their services are reimbursed by the medical departments, so they won’t accept any money from patients.
What does it take to become a medical interpreter?
The raw materials that make a good medical interpreter will come as no surprise:
- Proficiency in at least two languages.
- A thorough understanding of health care terminology in both working languages.
Other must-have skills are:
- Cultural knowledge: Non-verbal cues such as gestures, facial expressions, or postures are rooted in culture. Reading them is key to detecting misunderstandings that may arise due to cultural issues.
- Sensitivity: Interpreters must know how to “read the moment.” This helps them decide when to translate word-for-word and when to interpret answers or help the parties form questions.
What’s the difference between a “trained” and “certified” medical interpreter?
Trained or qualified medical interpreters participate in a formal education program. At the end of their studies, their professional skills are tested. If they pass, they’ll receive a certificate attesting to having the right training to provide their services.
Certified interpreters undergo rigorous testing by a professional organization or government entity. This sort of certification is only available for languages in reasonable demand.
What to expect when using a medical interpreter?
Interpreters are there to help patients build rapport with physicians. So, they ensure the focus remains on the conversation between them by:
- Speaking in the first person (e.g., “My chest hurts when I cough,” rather than “Her chest hurts when she coughs”).
- Standing to one side to ease eye contact between the patient and provider.
- Having the parties address one another.
- Waiting in the hall if the health care provider leaves the room.
How about if an in-person medical interpreter is not available?
Some clinics may not have the resources to offer in-person interpretation. If that’s your case, we have two options to ensure quality care for your patients: over-the-phone interpreting (OPI) and remote simultaneous interpreting (RSI).
At Montero Language Services, we connect skilled medical interpreters with your care team. Find out more about our interpretation services here.
