How to Be Medical Interpreter - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

Oct 13, 2022 / 5 Minutes Read / By Albert

How to Become

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The lack of medical interpreters in healthcare settings can have a significant impact on patient care. Without proper communication between patients and healthcare providers, diagnosis and treatment can be delayed, which can lead to poorer patient outcomes. Additionally, the lack of medical interpreters can lead to higher costs for healthcare organizations as a result of increased hospital visits and longer hospital stays. Furthermore, a lack of medical interpreters can cause frustration for both patients and healthcare providers, which can create a negative experience that can discourage patients from seeking necessary medical care in the future.

Steps How to Become

Earn a Bachelor's Degree. Many medical interpreters have earned bachelor's degrees in fields such as healthcare administration, linguistics, or a foreign language.
Take an Interpreting Course. Take a course in medical interpreting. Courses are available both online and in person, and may cover topics such as medical terminology, ethics and cultural competency.
Get Certified. Get certified by a professional organization dedicated to medical interpreting, such as the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (NBCMI). This certification demonstrates your knowledge and expertise and is often required for employment.
Gain Experience. Gain experience by volunteering at a hospital or clinic. This will give you an opportunity to practice your skills and establish contacts in the field.
Look for Employment. Look for employment opportunities by searching job boards, contacting hospitals or clinics, or working with a staffing agency that specializes in medical interpreting.

Becoming a reliable and competent medical interpreter requires extensive training and ongoing professional development. Understanding and maintaining professional ethics is essential in this role, as it establishes trust and builds relationships between patients, healthcare professionals, and interpreters. To become a reliable medical interpreter, one must have an excellent command of both the source language and the target language, have strong cultural competency, and be familiar with medical terminology.

In addition, an interpreter must possess excellent communication skills and must remain objective and impartial when interpreting. Professional development can help interpreters stay up to date on the latest medical terminology and technology and help them maintain the highest level of accuracy and understanding. continuing education can help interpreters understand the different cultures present in the healthcare setting, and help them bridge any cultural gaps that may exist.

Finally, staying connected to other interpreters and healthcare professionals allows interpreters to stay informed of changes in the field, which is essential to remain reliable and competent.

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Job Description

Provide accurate and timely interpretation of spoken and written medical information in both English and the target language.
Facilitate communication between patients, healthcare providers, and other staff members.
Maintain confidentiality of all patient information.
Interpret medical terminology and concepts accurately.
Monitor the flow of conversations to ensure accuracy.
Stay current on changes in medical terminology, techniques, and treatments.
Monitor patient safety by ensuring accuracy of medical translations.
Translate documents such as medical records, consent forms, and discharge summaries accurately and efficiently.
Provide education to patients on medical topics as needed.
Collaborate with healthcare providers to ensure effective communication.

Skills and Competencies to Have

Fluency in at least two languages, with a strong knowledge of both written and oral communication.
Knowledge of medical terminology in both languages.
Understanding of cultural differences and sensitivity to cultural issues.
Ability to interpret accurately and precisely, conveying complex medical information.
Ability to remain calm under pressure and maintain a professional demeanor.
Excellent listening and communication skills.
Excellent note-taking and organization skills.
Ability to establish rapport with patients, families and medical personnel.
Ability to follow instructions and ask questions when needed.
Flexibility in working hours and ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

Having a strong ability to interpret medical terminology is essential for medical interpreters. This skill enables them to accurately understand and convey the meaning of medical terms and concepts. There are various elements of medical interpretation, such as the ability to accurately interpret medical terminology and concepts in two or more languages, understanding of medical terminology and the ability to provide accurate translations of medical documents.

Without these skills, medical interpreters risk making errors that can be dangerous to patients. The ability to accurately interpret medical language is essential for patient safety. Furthermore, having a deep understanding of cultural contexts is also important for medical interpreters, in order to ensure that messages are accurately conveyed to both the patient and the healthcare provider.

By possessing strong language and cultural skills, medical interpreters can help bridge the communication gap between patients and healthcare providers, enabling better outcomes for everyone involved.

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Frequent Interview Questions

What experience do you have in medical interpreting?
How have you handled challenging situations with patients and medical staff?
What methods do you use to ensure accuracy when interpreting?
How have you handled conflicts between patients and medical staff?
What do you think are the most important qualities of a successful medical interpreter?
How do you stay up to date on medical terminology and industry developments?
Describe a time when you had to communicate complex medical information to a patient or family member.
How do you handle stress or pressure when interpreting in a medical setting?
Do you have any experience in medical translation or transcription?
How do you handle sensitive topics, such as mental health, terminal illness or death?

Common Tools in Industry

Translation Memory Software. This software stores translated documents and helps to ensure consistent use of language for future translations. (eg: SDL Trados Studio)
Interpretation/Translation App. This app offers a variety of language support for instant interpretation and translation. (eg: Google Translate)
Digital Recorder. A digital recorder is used to record interpreter sessions for later review and quality assurance. (eg: Sony ICD-PX370)
Conference Call Equipment. This equipment is used to facilitate remote interpreting sessions in multiple languages. (eg: Polycom SoundStation2 Conference Phone)
Video-Conferencing Equipment. This equipment allows medical interpreters to provide remote interpreting services in multiple languages. (eg: Zoom)
Interpreter Terminology Database. This database contains specialized medical terminology used by interpreters. (eg: TermWiki)

Professional Organizations to Know

National Council on Interpreting in Health Care (NCIHC)
American Translators Association (ATA)
National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators (NAJIT)
International Medical Interpreters Association (IMIA)
National Council of Language Access Coordinators (NCLAC)
International Federation of Translators (IFT)
International Association of Conference Interpreters (AIIC)
Medical Interpreters Network (MIN)
International Association of Professional Translators and Interpreters (IAPTI)
National Institute for Certification of Medical Interpreters (NICMI)

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Common Important Terms

Medical Terminology. The language of medical science used by healthcare professionals to accurately describe the human body, its processes, and illnesses.
Cultural Competency. The ability to understand and appreciate the cultural differences between patient and provider, and to adjust health care practices accordingly.
Bilingualism. The ability to understand, read, and speak two languages.
Intercultural Communication. The ability to effectively communicate across different cultures.
Code-Switching. The ability to switch between two languages in a conversation.
Nonverbal Communication. The use of body language and gestures to communicate without using words.
Translation Services. Services provided by a professional translator to convert written text from one language to another.
Interpretation Services. Services provided by a professional interpreter to convert spoken words from one language to another.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Medical Interpreter?

A Medical Interpreter is a professional who specializes in providing language interpretation services in a healthcare setting, helping to bridge the language gap between patients and healthcare providers.

What qualifications are needed to become a Medical Interpreter?

To become a Medical Interpreter, an individual typically needs to have an understanding of medical terminology and the cultural background of the language they are interpreting, as well as a certification or degree in interpretation or translation.

What types of services does a Medical Interpreter provide?

A Medical Interpreter provides language interpretation services for healthcare providers, such as translating verbal conversations, written documents and medical records. They also provide cultural mediation services to ensure that both parties understand each other.

How much does a Medical Interpreter earn?

The salary for a Medical Interpreter varies depending on the location and type of work they are doing. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for Medical Interpreters in the United States was $46,170 in May 2019.

What organizations provide training and certification for Medical Interpreters?

Organizations such as the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (NBCMI) and the International Medical Interpreters Association (IMIA) offer training and certification for Medical Interpreters.