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Medical Spanish

Medical Interpreter Certification

by Tara Peris

With increasing frequency, U.S. hospitals are relying on the services of medical interpreters. As the general patient population becomes ever more diverse, doctors are confronted with a growing number of patients who cannot communicate their needs in English. Thus, they rely on skilled medical interpreters to translate throughout the assessment and intervention process. It's a job that comes with tremendous responsibility and one that requires formal certification and training.

Lost in Translation

A medical interpreter must be able to listen to patient complaints and translate them to doctors and nurses. In addition, he or she must be able to convey the practitioner's message back to the patient in meaningful terms. Often, this requires both creativity and cultural sensitivity, as certain words, phrases, and experiences do not translate easily from one language to the next.

At the same time, the interpreter must remain committed to an accurate translation of medical information. If you've ever seen this process in action, you know that it is much more difficult than it looks, and it involves a good deal more than the ability to speak the foreign language at hand. Indeed, it requires specialty training in medical terminology, crisis care, and ethical and legal issues related to translating.

Most medical interpreter certification follows an apprentice model wherein trainees shadow an experienced interpreter in the field. This allows them to gain a real-world perspective on all aspects of the translator role. Many foreign medical colleges specialize in teaching U.S. students how best to translate the medical needs of diverse patient populations.

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