Interpretation and translation play an integral role in many industries across the globe. While facilitating communication across language barriers may be the primary function of translation and interpretation, their role in certain industries is more critical and important than in others. An example of such an industry is the healthcare industry, where interpretation is required to ensure error-free communication and correspondence with patients. Medical interpreters are responsible for ensuring this medical interpretation is carried out effectively and efficiently to establish communication between patients and healthcare workers.
But are these medical interpreters really necessary in hospitals?
The Importance of Medical Interpreters in Hospitals
A medical interpreter is needed in hospitals when it becomes necessary to translate key medical information between two parties speaking different languages. If a patient does not speak or understand the language of the doctor treating him, language assistance is required to ensure effective patient care.
Medical interpreters are necessary for hospitals and healthcare settings due to the following reasons:
Ease of communication
The biggest advantage that medical interpreters lend to a hospital or medical facility is the ease of communication between people who do not speak the same language. Visiting a doctor for medical treatment can be a nerve-wracking experience for patients, and not speaking the same language could make it even worse. A medical interpreter acts as a bridge between a doctor and a patient, ensuring communication is established between them. From discussing the treatment plans and dietary needs of the patient to any subsequent treatment guidelines, a medical interpreter can significantly increase the chances of successful treatment.
Unbiased communication
Medical treatments and procedures often involve conveying serious news to patients. In such cases, hospitals strongly discourage the involvement of bilingual relatives to communicate the news to patients. The reason is simple–relatives may knowingly (or unknowingly) convey the wrong information to the patient due to bias. A medical interpreter is an impartial individual who correctly conveys the correct information to the patient while sticking to the facts. Having an unbiased interpreter is important, as any misinformation or biased communication could have life-threatening consequences for the patient.
Elimination of misinformation
Qualified medical interpreters possess the highest degree of language fluency and are trained to “read between the lines”. This means that they know when to be transparent and when to assist in the conversation to convey sensitive information to the patient. This reduces the risk of misinformation substantially, eliminating any misguidance, incorrect course of treatment as well as extra costs to patients and healthcare providers.
Understands cultural nuances
A qualified and professional medical interpreter has a strong understanding of the cultural nuances and sensitivities that are part of society. When interpreting sensitive information about treatment, a medical interpreter picks up non-verbal cues such as gestures and postures, communicating information accurately and without any offense. This helps the patient and the healthcare provider fully understand each other, reducing the risk of misunderstanding a diagnosis and a treatment plan.
Helps build trust
During the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, a huge number of cases came to light where medical interpreters had to convey sensitive information to patients and their relatives. A medical interpreter is important in such situations, as they eliminate any confusion between a patient and a healthcare provider. This helps to build trust between the patients and interpreters, and they start relying on him to convey sensitive information about treatment plans. Moreover, as these interpreters are trained to be impartial to any information, they correctly convey the sensitive parts of the diagnosis, thus building a bond of trust and faith between a patient and a doctor that is so necessary for a medical procedure.
Addresses patient satisfaction
In a healthcare setting, there is nothing worse than struggling with an illness and having the doctor dismiss what the patient is feeling. A professional medical interpreter addresses these patient concerns with full understanding and compassion, allowing them to feel at ease and calm during the communication of a medical diagnosis or a treatment plan. In short, an interpreter becomes a “lifeline” to be seen, heard, and fully understood by a patient.
Limitations of Medical Interpreters
Although medical interpreters facilitate unbiased, correct, and factual information between a patient and a doctor, there are certain limitations to consider. Firstly, a medical interpreter must be an expert at interpreting and have credible qualifications to fully understand and convey information. Secondly, he should preferably have specialized expertise in an area of the medical field. For example, patients seeking consultation about cardiology would prefer medical interpreters who have knowledge and experience in that field. Lastly, medical interpreters must be aware of the health regulations and laws governing their jurisdiction to ensure proper communication of medical information between patients and healthcare providers.
Key Takeaway
The medical field is a highly specialized field that requires interpretation and translation services for communication between patients and healthcare providers. This is why it is necessary to have expert medical interpreters available in every hospital and medical facility.
No one can beat a well-read translator and interpreter. Reading is a tool that empowers you to beat your circumstances and cope with the challenges of daily life. Particularly when it comes to the medical text and data staying upgraded with the content they are dealing with is crucial. Translators are real heroes who bear so many hassles to make the content worthwhile and worth reading.
The medical field is a challenging and sensitive domain. Medical interpreters and translators if keep reading they can excel better in their field and can also hone their skills in a better way. Therefore, the experts always suggest they read medical texts and books. Reading medical books allows medical interpreters to relate the stories they listen to at work better. They can interpret well and can also comprehend the situation of the patient conveniently. Reading has become more favorable than ever. There are multiple mediums available that allow reading well.
What Should be Read for Better Text?
In a busy and fast-paced life, it often gets tough to take out time to read and learn through reading. However, here are the traditional as well as modern-day methods to read and enjoy a book. A few of these are:
Paper books
Though technology has taken over and printed books have gone in the background. There are admirers and readers who find nothing more tempting than the smell of a new book. It brings them satisfaction and peace. People also try reading books before their bedtime and cutting their screen time. A lot of people enjoy reading books when they are out on a picnic or sitting in the park under a tree what could be better and more aesthetic than a book? Medical translators hence can juggle between their job and leisure time and can manage to read books whenever they can manage. Books that are relevant to their field not only give them doses of information but can also quench their thirst for book reading. If you get a book that has anything to do with your field you can highlight an important phrase or term.
You can also attach the notes with these words to look up. You can further check the questions that you get while reading all this content for further discussion with your fellows. However, noting down the content is a must.
E-books
The paper books though are never gonna get out of practice or obsolete. This era belongs to e-books. There are thousands of books available on Kindle. You can buy any book of your choice and read it. Ebooks get the mileage in a way that you can have these all the time in your tab or cell phone and a kindle option is always there. It gets convenient to carry it rather than traveling with a book. It is handier to read between appointments, traveling, and commuting. You get to know new medical terminology while reading books about interpretation and can note down these to look for detailed meaning.
Audiobooks
Audiobooks are people’s favorites because you can multitask while listening to the content. You can listen to these during running errands, commuting, working out in the gym, or hiking. Also, interestingly audiobooks are perfectly fine with people who are into interpretation practice as the books from doctors require certain conversations between medical health providers and patients. Moreover, there are narrations of the medical cases and these provide a perfect opportunity to interpret longer stretches of the languages. Also, you can practice simultaneous skills by overshadowing the reader. This allows an added advantage. You get comfortable with pronunciation of the complex medical words and terminology. There are many audiobooks relevant to medical interpretation that are available on audible.com. They also have promotions and offer free trials while signing up for the first time. This source also has an amazing mobile app and you can download it to your device.
Interestingly, you can also borrow books from the audible and can add them to your local library. You can borrow and listen to these books later.
15 Amazing Book Choices for Medical Interpreters
While in the field of medical interpretation, it gets exhaustive to balance work and personal life. Reading books come after it. However, once you have ordered these or have them on your to-read list you can manage to read. Also, reading does not go in vain and it is going to polish your skills. You can follow these on amazon too and can also have a sneak peek by simply using the option look inside’.
How doctors think
This book has been written by Dr. Jeremy Groopman. While working as medical interpreters, we all get to face many challenges. Many times we need to know the physician’s perspective and stance on particular matters. This book is the perfect example to go through and read to cope with such situations. It provides insight into the decisions that doctors have to make while staying in the shoes of the physicians. The book also provides the errors, judgments, and diagnoses that physicians have to make in the face of confusing evidence. The author has used his own experiences as a doctor and patient to interview colleagues and fellow physicians.
Generally, the physicians interrupt their patients who are barely describing their symptoms and come up with a diagnosis. The doctors often decide on the diagnosis and propose the treatment right away. These diagnoses mostly go well and the patient gets better.
However, what if it is not the case and the doctor goes wrong and ill-treating the patient? This invites a crucial situation and can bring catastrophic consequences. This book also explains the thinking and approaches that make Doctors do this. Groopman further explores the doctors’ errors and mistakes. He also talks about snap judgments, embracing uncertainty, communicating effectively, and deploying other skills that may impact health. This is the first-ever book that describes these kinds of details. It also includes the warning signs and medical thinking and reveals how new technologies have been playing a negative role in the accurate diagnosis of the whole process. The doctors have to think direct, and patients often ask intelligent questions that help physicians get back on track.
The checklist manifesto: how to get things right
You might think that the title of this book is not much exciting. However, this can help you greatly in medical interpretation. It is worth reading and you won’t regret it. This book has been mentioned in the hidden brain which is a good podcast. The author of this book is Dr. Atul Gawande. He talks about the best medical inventions. He has described in detail the checklist and how it can help with the improvements in the outcomes of the medicine and avoiding disasters. Also, interestingly this is not much long and lengthy book and can be easily completed in a few sittings. Dr. Atul should be respected for explaining his own errors honestly and for writing a book that has an object which might not excite many readers. However, it is surely a good choice for medical translators and readers.
When the air hits your brain: Tales from neurosurgery
Interestingly, not many people would be interested to know the theatre room details and tales. However, it would appeal the medical students and professionals. Not to mention medical translators and interpreters can learn a lot from such books. As the medical interprets as individuals have not read the medical subject in detail and hence this way through books they can get better in their job and assumptions while proposing solutions. They can get the context of the patients and doctors easily. Frank Vertosick Jr in his book has a few cases that are quite graphic. Therefore, it is not for people with weak hearts. However, if you love reading about surgeries, go on. The insight and humor inside the books talk about the greatest challenges of his career.
He talks about a six weak old infant who had a tumor in her brain. How tough it would be to operate any such patient. He further also mentioned a case where a minister was stuck with a .22 caliber bullet in his skull. The author has shared how he struggled with his unforgiving craft. The books reflect the mysteries of the mind as well as realities that occur in the operation room.
This book is an interesting choice for translators and interpreters. It speaks a volume about the language barriers in healthcare. The author Dr. Danielle Ofri also addresses the role of the culture of the patients. She has shared his personal experience about her stay and practice in a foreign country. This book tells you a lot about dealing with language problems and interpreting for patients.
Dr. Ofri’s practice has expanded to more than two decades in Bellevue which is one of the oldest healthcare centers for the public in the country. Also, it is a crossroads for the world’s cultures. In the book, the writer also talks about the moving portraits that refer to her patients who have braved language barriers, and religious and racial criticism as well. She also includes the emotional and practical difficulties of being exiled for better and improved health care. She has spoken about the American way during the sickness and the health.
Cheating death: The physicians and medical miracles that are saving lives against all odds
Dr. Gupta is not only a celebrated Doctor but is also an amazing writer and researcher. The doctor who happens to be a neurosurgeon has spoken about chronic diseases and the unbelievable role that science has played to make these recoveries possible. He also pays his tribute to the doctors who are bold and daring enough to refuse the defeat and are only accepting the recoveries. The extended cardiac issues that talk about brain death not breathing for more than an hour and related conditions that were so fatal to talk about are no longer lethal now. The revolutionary inventions are now challenging the traditional diseases that brought death to the people.
Mentioning his real-life stories and using unprecedented access to the latest happenings and research Dr. Gupta comes forward with his opinion about how physicians and researchers are working to change our traditional concept of the human body functions. He spoke about the sensitive cases and quoted the patients who would have died otherwise if not treated well. This book is such a treat if you want to upgrade your knowledge about scientific inventions and how doctors are putting their efforts to contribute to the betterment of health.
Your medical mind: How to decide what is right for you
This book not only talks about the medical content but also addresses your needs as an occasional healthcare receiver. Making medical decisions is one tough ordeal. It is never easy for doctors. There is a lot of information in it including doctors’ recommendations, dissenting experts, and testimonials on the internet. Interestingly the authors Dr. Groppman and Hartzband tell us that all of us are having more or less a medical mind. They talk about a mind of an individual who is weighing the risks and benefits of the treatments. It also depends if you come from the minimalist or maximalist thought of mind. Are you a believer or a doubter? Do you find natural healing more appealing or rely on the latest technology? The authors have contributed immensely by giving the narratives of real patients with insights from recent research to show how the medical mind is empowered.
In the land of invisible women: A female doctor’s journey in the Saudi Kingdom
If you are a medical interpreter and always looking for an interesting book to read about the medical culture in a different land, this is another fascinating book for you. It is more about the culture than medicine but an interesting read for sure.
Dr. Qanta Ahmed who is a British Muslim doctor when denied a US visa had to accept an interesting offer in Saudia Arabia. She talks about her feelings, her emotions, and how she felt she belonged to that language and culture.
She talks about her uncertain adventures. The writer also tells how she was rejected where she thought she should be embraced the most. There is humor, honesty, love joy, and loyalty in the book. She more than anything took it as a land of opportunity. She took it as a place where she discovered herself as a woman more than a physician. This book was written back in 2008. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has all new adventures and a revolutionized culture to entertain us now.
The immortal life of Henrietta Lacks
This book came as another reference that they mention in the podcasts. Also, you might like the idea that there is a movie based on this book. Henrietta is fondly called HeLa by researchers. She comes from the black tobacco former clan. Her cells were taken without her knowledge and consent in 1951. They became quite popular with the most important tools in medicine and are also vital for working on the polio vaccine, cloning gene mapping, and a lot more. The cells of Henrietta were bought and sold by the billions, however, ironically she remained unknown and her family could not even afford health insurance. Interestingly, this book does not only talk about medicine and medical cases but also tells the war on ethics, race, and medical facilities. The scientific discovery and the question of a daughter about her mother she never knew are something to know and mention.
When death becomes life: Notes from a transplant surgeon
This is the book that allows you to peek into the operation room while a transplant surgery is being performed. The author Dr. Joshua Mezrich talks about the history and its connection with transplants. He also talks about integrating modern-day practices and talks about his own journey that brought him to where is he now.
As a medical interpreter, you might also find this book thrilling that how science works to make new discoveries and the journey to improve human lives. Mezrich also examines the medical breakthroughs and connects the book with a few inspiring and other heartbreaking stories of his transplant patients.
When breath becomes air
This book is disturbing, and inspiring as well as gives you the courage to battle your problems in a positive way. The author Paul Kalanithi while on the verge of completing his training got diagnosis with stage IV lung cancer. He had to live two lives, where he was a doctor one day treating his patients who were dying and other days he had to struggle himself as a patient. All these struggles made him write a book and he and his wife worked on ‘when breath becomes air’. He mentions his journey from being a naïve medical student to a neurosurgeon working at Stanford in the brain.
Counting backward: A doctor’s notes on anesthesia
Dr. Henry Jay who happens to be the author of this book is a pediatric anesthesiologist having more than thirty years of experience. He shares his experience contains the unforgettable amount of procedures that he has performed over the years and also the fundamental mysteries. Dr. Jay has supervised the anesthesia more than 30,000 times and yet erasing the consciousness, denying memory, immobilizing the body, and then reversing all of these effects on the infants and newborn babies can be horrific. He further talks about the screaming toddlers, teenagers, and a gorilla too. This book can give you an insight into the children’s problems and how they are handled. You could clear many problems clear with this during your career in interpretation. You can also get help from this book while offering your services as an interpretation for patients who are children.
Heart: a history
The human heart is one of the major and complex organs of the human body. Doctors and researchers have spent years and years spending to understand it. Sandeep Jauhar who is an incredible cardiologist talks about the heart in his book. Until recent years the age-old taboos devised and transformative procedures also changes the way we live and take heart issues. Dr. Sandeep Jauhar talks about the colorful and little stories that made Doctors risk their careers and also mentioned his parents who risked their lives to know and heal the most important organ.
Sick girl
Amy Silverstein was a typical law student who is a smart driven and highly competitive individual. She is the one who is full of life. The author also mentioned the budding romance and nothing could slow her down. She also mentioned how she became the victim of the misdiagnosis and got an astonishing and good recovery later. She has also spoken about her romantic ties and courtship with her future husband. As Amy had experienced the misdiagnosis so she had trust issues with her doctors and explained a narrative of a patient. This narrative could work as an eye-opener and be controversial. Amy’s shocking honesty and the humor that might seem irrelevant in many places allow the readers to live and experience how painful it would have been for her to go through all this. Reading about such experiences also allows you to analyze things differently as an interpreter.
Sometimes amazing things happen: Heartbreak and Hope in the Bellevue hospital psychiatric prison ward
The author of this book Elizabeth Ford went through medical school and she was unsure of her roots and origin. It was until she decided to become a psychiatrist. She believed this profession was calling her. This book includes a thought-provoking account of the life of mental patients.
She decided to spare herself for the vulnerable population of mentally ill people. These included inmates of New York’s jails, including Rikers island who were so sick that they used to send to the Bellevue hospital prison ward for extreme care.
These were the people who felt they are unloved, broken, and without any support or resources. They may get violent and unpredictable but they were the ones who could be tender and needy too. They are also human after all just with life’s depression and sorrows. Her parents surely made Elizabeth a great person and a great doctor who volunteered herself to be the psychic patient. She kept on learning, doctoring, and nurturing her patients about love and care. She did not feel cringe and was always there for them.
Cancer land: A medical memoir
Cancer is such an absurd and distasteful word that it only brings negativity and disappointment. How does it feel having it and to enter a world that seems hopeful at one moment and offers loss and despair in the next? David Scadden, the writer of this book has closely observed the feelings. His childhood friend’s mother got diagnosed with cancer and he happened to witness it all at a young and tender age. He worked on this memoir by having a connection with classmates, researchers, friends, and a doctor as well as neighbors. Dr. David also pens down his personal memories of cancer. He also mentioned about his visit that he used to pay his sick neighbor and classmate who quit school to never come back. All these memories of his childhood and young age made Dr. David Scadden writes his memoir.
He is the co-founder of the Harvard stem cell and is also an expert on immunology and oncology. He has also shared his personal achievements, triumphs, and regrets as a doctor. Reading this book can make it easy for the interpreters to interpret a cancer patient and describe his feelings. The interpreter often gets to struggle while stating the patient’s condition and symptoms, a relevant reading can make it convenient for them.
Conclusion
Book reading can never get out of fashion and is always in trend. The ardent book readers somehow manage to find the time every now and then to buy a new book and read these. A well-read person can conquer the world. Medical translators and interpreters should also try to read books to polish their skills and excel in their field. Reading medical books can enable them to relate to certain medical scenarios and situations and put in better effort for the betterment of patients.
Medical terminology is a tough one to understand and one that is not easy to comprehend by everyone. Although this terminology is difficult to understand by English speakers residing in the USA, it is even more difficult to comprehend by non-English speakers belonging to other nationalities and languages. Owing to the critical need of providing medical interpretation services, we have come up with a list of medical interpreter services in the USA that ensure all communication related to the medical field is clear for all stakeholders.
If you own any type of medical practice services in the USA, and your patients belong to a diverse set of language communities, you can benefit highly from hiring healthcare or medical interpretation services. Doing so will prove that you are culturally sensitive and accept patients belonging to all languages and walks of life. Furthermore, by hiring a medical interpretation service in the USA, you will start to see more patients who are likely to choose your healthcare facility over competitors, thus increasing your ROI in the global market.
Top Medical Interpretation Services Provider in the USA
Whether it is a patient form or complex medical research comprising lengthy content, providing accurate and professional medical interpretation services is a must in this age. As new medical phenomenons surface and healthcare sciences gain advancements, it is mandatory for medical companies to avail professional medical interpretation services for all their needs and content, including patient files, pharmaceutical content, and research papers–just to name a few.
Here are some of the top medical interpretation services in the USA:
1. Life Science Translation
Life Science Translation is a renowned name in the medical interpretation and translation industry. Founded in 2012, the localization and translation company has been providing professional interpretation and localization solutions for over a decade.
It is among the most reliable interpreting service providers in the USA, providing seamless language solutions in an efficient manner. With a pool of native and industry-specific interpreters, the company provides flawless services and a hassle-free experience. It facilitates clients to enable smooth communications in all situations. Whether you need remote interpretation or onsite, it covers everything.
LanguageLine Solutions is a translation and interpretation service based in Monterey, California. Founded in 1982, LanguageLine Solutions provides language interpretation solutions as well as document translation services globally for law enforcement organizations, healthcare, legal courts, academic businesses, and more in over 240 languages. Considered by many the largest interpretation service providers in the USA, LanguageLine Solutions has a global workforce of over 9,000 interpreters who can handle more than 36 million calls each year.
Interpretation services are not the only type of services provided by LanguageLine Solutions. The company also offers video, remote, and onsite interpretation services, translation and localization services, and language proficiency testing and training services.
Website: https://www.languageline.com/
Industry: Localization and Interpretation
Type: Privately held
Headquartered in: Monterey, California,
Founded: 1982
3. The Language Doctors Inc.
The Language Doctors (TLD) is amongst the leading medical interpretation services in the USA. Founded in 1994, the company holds a leading position in document translation, website localization, and medical interpretation services worldwide. The company operates on six continents and its interpreters are fluent in over 300 global languages. Other than this, they have an experience of 25 years and continue to grow with a growth outlook for the future.
To provide unparalleled medical interpretation services, the company has over 5000 expert translators and interpreters who can interpret and translate in over 200 language pairs. With a specialization in healthcare interpretation, TLD has a comprehensive screening process that assigns only certified linguists to each project based on their interpretation experience, education, and specialization. The extent of skills of these interpreters can be estimated from the fact that the specializations of TLD language experts have enabled them to serve the USA Department of Justice as well as the USA Department of Health and Human Services.
Website: https://thelanguagedoctors.org/
Industry: Localization and Interpretation
Type: Privately held
Headquartered in: Landover, Maryland
Founded: 1994
4. Cyracom Language Solutions
Another leading medical interpretation and translation service is Cyracom Language Solutions. Founded in 1995, the company boasts of serving thousands of clients since its inception. The company supports more than 100 language pairs and its interpreters are skilled at delivering interpretation services that are a class apart. In addition, the company also provides various interpretation services such as phone interpretation, video, and onsite interpretation.
The skilled interpreters at CyraCom Interpreters take approximately 120 hours of comprehensive healthcare training, which is approximately three times more extensive than the competing interpretation services. Consequently, according to a poll, over 95% of customers refer to CyraCom as one of the best interpretation service providers.
Due to its professional interpretation solutions, CyraCom has audited and gained multiple ISO certifications and is well-reputed to provide help to hospitals regarding communication with their patients. CyraCom works in collaboration with its clients to determine the various needs of clients–including language needs, type of appointment, and frequency of usage.
Moreover, CyraCom has over 500 healthcare providers residing in hospitals and insurance companies. Due to the untiring efforts of its medical interpreters, CyraCom has been awarded the Gold Best in Biz Awards for Company of the Year Award and Website of the Year Reward.
Website: http://interpret.cyracom.com
Industry: Localization and Interpretation
Type: Privately held
Headquartered in: Tucson, Arizona
Founded: 1995
5. Morningside Translations
Morningside Translations is another name in the interpretation marketplace, known for providing world-class interpretation and localization services to a large variety of industries worldwide.
Founded in 2000 and headquartered in New York, Morningside Translations equips the leading organizations of the world with their end-to-end translations and medical localization solutions in more than 200 languages. The company has over 4,000 clients in 55 countries and is well-recognized for subject matter expertise in regulated industries such as legal services, corporate compliance, medical interpretation, and healthcare sciences.
Having so many translators and interpreters gives Morningside Translations an edge over its competitors, which means that many healthcare organizations seek the help of Morningside Translations for their medical interpretation tasks.
Along with providing end-to-end intellectual property and language solutions, Morningside Translations is globally recognized for its technology innovation in regulated markets such as IT, legal services, life sciences, and interpretation for medical content.
Website: http://www.morningtrans.com
Industry: Localization and Interpretation
Type: Privately held
Headquartered in: New York, NY
Founded: 2000
6. United Language Group
Renowned for providing localization and interpretation solutions in over 200 global languages, United Language Group is another name in the list of medical and healthcare interpreters. The company delivers various interpreting services for its clients, including over-the-phone, simultaneous, video remote, and in-person interpretation services. In addition, the company has the ability to adapt to new and latest interpretation technology and expertise.
Founded in 2015, United Language Group delivers a wide range of interpretation and localization solutions to various industries such as government and healthcare services, as well as legal and insurance services.
To ensure better service consistency and business continuity, the company relies on its over-the-phone contact services that are spread throughout the world. This is the reason why these interpreters receive millions of calls per year.
The medical interpreters at United Language Solutions know and understand the nuances of vertical markets from healthcare to finance. This allows them to speak to customers in ways they can understand. Moreover, the company has dealt with many medical interpretation projects in the past and continues to do so with a professional approach in perspective.
Website: http://unitedlanguagegroup.com
Industry: Localization and Interpretation
Type: Privately held
Headquartered in: Minneapolis, USA
Founded: 2015
7. Interpreters Unlimited Inc.
Interpreters Unlimited Inc. is one of the oldest and most well-known interpretation companies and localization services based in the USA. With an experience of 70 years, Interpreters Unlimited has delivered thousands of interpretation services since its inception. The company delivers interpreter services in more than 200 different languages, including some of the hardest languages such as Spanish, Mandarin, Hmong, German, French, and Italian.
Interpreters Unlimited’s unique edge that sets it apart from its competitors is the different mediums it uses for its interpretation services such as telephone, video, and on-site interpretation. Due to its unwavering professionalism, the company has gained over 9000 contracted interpreters which aid it in assigning the best interpreters for all its projects. Moreover, these interpreters are trained under the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) rules and regulations and have achieved numerous awards such as San Diego Business Journal Fastest-Growing Private Companies 2020, Common Sense Advisory Top 100 Language Service Providers Worldwide 2020 and Nimdzi Top 20 Global Interpreting Leaders Award.
Website: http://www.interpreters.com
Industry: Localization and Interpretation
Type: Privately held
Headquartered in: San Diego, CA
Founded: 1970
8. GTS Translation
GTS Translation is an internationally and globally recognized translation and interpretation industry. It specializes in providing document translation services, localization, and interpretation services for various industries. Founded in 2001, the company is a well-known name in the delivery of medical and healthcare interpretation services that are a class apart.
A competitive edge that GTS Translation has is its commitment to upholding quality in all its interpretation and translation services. The GTS Quality Management System (QMS) is compliant with the ISO 17100:2015 standard and is audited annually by an international certification body. Furthermore, the interpretation and translation projects that the company executes are reviewed thoroughly before delivery in order to ensure high quality in translation.
In addition to providing accurate and professional localization and translation solutions for medical devices and healthcare documents, the company also specializes in medical interpretation services.
Website: http://www.gts-translation.com
Industry: Localization and Interpretation
Type: Privately held
Headquartered in: Miami, Florida
Founded: 2001
9. Sorenson Communications
One of the leading names in localization and interpretation services, Sorenson Communications is well-known for its quality services. The company delivers accessible communications for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing people as well as interpretation services. The company combines patented technology with human-centric services in order to connect spoken and signed languages.
Founded in 2003, Sorenson Communications is one of the best localization and interpretation services in North America. The company operates more than 100 interpreter centers in North America and offers caption and video relay services, video and in-person sign language interpretation, and post-production language services.
Sorenson Communications is the pioneer of videophone, which has enabled communications with the deaf. In addition, Sorenson is the first company to start the emergency call system popularly known as 999. In addition, the company is a leader in American sign language providers.
Website: http://www.sorenson.com
Industry: Localization and Interpretation
Type: Privately held
Headquartered in: Salt Lake City, UT
Founded: 2003
10. Stepes
Stepes is undoubtedly the largest and most well-known translation company that specializes in delivering modern translation services and solutions. Founded in 2015 in San Francisco, California, the company is a pioneer in chat-based mobile translation technology. The company delivers interpretation services for corporate, medical, legal, and government sectors in over 100 languages.
Stepes revolutionized the language interpretation business by providing on-demand and just-in-time interpretation solutions over the mobile phone or on-site for global companies. Stepes’ mobile-powered interpretation technology services are designed for keeping ahead of the competition in this digital age. With medical interpretation services, a healthcare business’ medical staff can easily schedule on-site, and in-person interpretation solutions from all devices–be it iPhone, IPad, or any Android device.
The platform operated by Stepes is powered by an AI-enabled Translation Management System that has cloud-based translation memory searches and continuous terminology management along with workflow automation. Additionally, the company can work with various content formats such as videos, software, and websites,
Website: https://www.stepes.com/
Industry: Localization and Interpretation
Type: Privately held
Headquartered in: San Francisco, California
Founded: 2015
11. AMN Language Services
AMN Language services, previously known as Stratus Video, is a localization company. It offers comprehensive language services such as remote video interpretation (VRI), over-the-phone interpretation, and error-free communication with local onsite interpreters.
Founded in 2012, AMN Language Services is the most extensive and fastest-growing video remote interpretation company. It offers over 200 audio languages and serves over 1900 hospitals across the US to aid providers to increase patient access to quality language solutions.
AMN health care is the parent company of Stratus Video, a specialized healthcare interpreter service. It serves people with limited English proficiency as well as deaf or Hard-of-Hearing patients. In addition, the company works in over 200 languages across the world. It also offers other available sources such as audio interpreting, on-site interpretation, video interpretation, and call centers. Moreover, the company has over 3000 qualified interpreters and is currently leveraging more than 65,000 devices in the USA.
A Crimson Interactive Company, Ulatus is a well-reputed company offering “ready-to-publish” translation and localization solutions. These solutions, which are unique in themselves, use the best advancements in the market to support customer growth and progress.
Founded in 2005, Ulatus has been offering specialized business and translation solutions to supply and support organizations, digital specialists, medical researchers, and other stakeholders worldwide. The company uses 1st multilingual solutions in over 50 languages and 125 local dialects.
Ulatus delivers a unique and competitive edge over its competitors by being multifaceted Its unique and in-country “liguists team” delivers state-of-the-art technology as well as Quality Control Processes that deliver a global perspective to customers.
Due to its professional translation and localization solutions, Ulatus is becoming one of the fastest-growing global transformation solutions. The company strives and aims at delivering professional interpretation solutions to its customers. It operates in more than 200 global languages and has offices in the USA, Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Turkey.
Website: https://www.ulatus.com/
Industry: Translation and Localization
Type: Privately held
Headquartered in: New York
Founded: 2005
13. Day Translations
When it comes to translation and localization solutions, Day Translations is amongst the leading companies to provide these services. Day Translations provides localization and translation services in more than 116 global languages. Among the many services that it provides, medical and healthcare interpretation services are just to name a few.
Day Translations has a vast and extended team of 10,000 linguists and language service providers present throughout the world. Working remotely, they deliver professional and unwavering translation and interpretation services. The company delivers extensive and professional interpretation services for the medical industry through various methods, such as in-person, video, and over-the-phone services. Additionally, the certified linguists of Day Translations deliver 100% human translations that are accurate and highly precise. Moreover, the company possesses a five-step quality assessment process involving meticulous proofreading, precision editing, and project management reviews.
Website: https://www.daytranslations.com
Industry: Translation and Localization
Type: Privately held
Headquartered in: Tampa, Florida
Founded: 2007
14. Telelanguage
Known especially for providing interpretation services over the phone, Telelanguage is a renowned name in the translation industry. Founded in 1991, the company has been delivering accurate and highly professional interpretation services irrespective of the industry and type of business.
The company has more than 6000 interpreters throughout the world who execute the interpretation through phone calls. The company has a track record of delivering translation and over-the-phone interpretation services in more than 350 global languages.
One unique service that Telelanguage delivers is remote video interpretation. For customers who require fast communication and correspondence, Telelanguage delivers video interpretation. The process of video remote interpretation (VRI) involves the use of devices such as web cameras or videophones to provide sign languages or spoken interpretation. This video interpretation service is handled by professional interpreters in a remote or off-site setting in order to bridge the communication gap between two parties communicating remotely. In addition to remote interpretation, the company also delivers on-site interpretation services for all industries such as tech, legal, and healthcare.
Website: https://telelanguage.com/
Industry: Translation and Localization
Type: Privately held
Headquartered in: Portland
Founded: 1991
15. K International
K International is another well-renowned name in the translation and interpretation industry. With its team of highly skilled and professional interpreters, K International delivers interpretation services for all industries, including the healthcare and medical industries. Founded in 1986, K International has worked with public and private sector organizations to deliver translation and internationalization services.
In addition to delivering remote interpretation services, K International provides translation services such as retail label packaging translation, interpretation, and accessibility services. These are delivered for all industries such as retail, legal, entertainment, and healthcare industry.
Website: http://www.k-international.com
Industry: Translation and Localization
Type: Privately held
Headquartered in: Milton Keynes, Bucks
Founded: 1986
Key Takeaway
Medical and healthcare interpretation services are amongst the most sought-after services in the United States. The reason is that some diagnoses, treatments, and medical advice are shared only over the phone or through videos. This requires professional and accurate interpretation to communicate the particulars to the other party. To make it easier for companies to select medical interpretation services in the USA, we have compiled a list of the best and most highly professional medical interpretation companies for hassle-free service.
In a healthcare setting, communication is of utmost importance. It plays a crucial role in determining a smooth dialogue between patients and healthcare workers. Owing to this crucial need of making communication between stakeholders easy, medical companies and clinics hire medical interpreters and medical translators. They make communication between medical stakeholders speaking different languages easy and hassle-free.
Although many people consider medical interpreters and translators to be the same, some differences distinguish the two from each other. Any person using the services of a medical interpreter or translator must be aware of the differences between the two.
Before we explore the differences between a medical interpreter and a medical translator, it is important to define an interpreter and translator.
Who is a Translator?
A translator is a person who converts written text from one language to another. If you have a document and you want to convert the contents of that document into another language, you will need the services of a translator. The translator will carefully analyze your document before converting it into your chosen language. He will then send the translated document to you in exchange for a translator fee.
Who is an Interpreter?
An interpreter is a person who converts oral speech from one language to another. If two parties that do not speak the same language need to converse with each other, they can hire an interpreter. He will bridge the communication gap. One party speaks to the interpreter in his native language, communicating what they want the other party to know. The interpreter listens closely and communicates the message to the other party in its native language. Thus, a dialogue takes place between parties with the help of an interpreter.
Why Medical Translation and Interpretation are important?
These are the reasons why the services of skilled medical translators and interpreters are so important:
1. The Medical Field is a Sensitive One
Certified medical translation and interpretation both comprise one of the sensitive fields of translation–the healthcare field. Contrary to other fields and subjects, there is no chance or tolerance for mistakes and errors in healthcare. The reason for this is that an incorrect translation may harm the health or well-being of the parties and could lead to interventions such as surgery or the prescription of powerful medications associated with the risk of serious complications.
Due to the high sensitivity of the medical field, the translation and interpretation should be carried out by highly proficient people who can exercise a high degree of concern to ensure the quality of their work.
2. Global Migration has Driven Demand
According to statistics, there is quite high demand for language interpretation in medical services. The reason is that there are approximately 45 million people in the US who do not speak English as their primary language while an additional 21 million people report that they do not speak English fluently.
The field of medical translation and interpretation has become more critical with the rise in global and worldwide migration. When a large number of people move from one country to another, medical services are one of the top services they need. They may also require health care, particularly in emergencies and the absence of a medical interpreter or a translator can spell trouble.
3. International Tourism has Expanded
Until the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, global tourism was accelerating and increasing every year. This global tourism could result in people becoming stranded in emergency rooms or finding themselves in medical situations where they are unable to comprehend or communicate in the local language. This is where the services of a medical interpreter come in.
4. Medical Tourism is on the Rise
One other opportunity for demand in healthcare translation and interpretation is medical tourism which has been on the rise owing to international flight connections and globalization as well as the need for international intervention in medical diagnosis and treatments.
Medical tourism occurs when people in countries with a high cost of healthcare, like the United States, choose to get medical services in countries where the quality of medical diagnosis is high, but the costs are much more affordable.
An example is the field of cosmetic surgery and dentistry as well as joint replacements, organ transplantation, and cardiovascular surgery. The medical tourism industry faces the problems of language and cultural gaps, which is why many hospitals and organizations associated with the medical field have medical interpreters available on call.
Medical Interpreter and Medical Translator—What are the Differences?
Simply put, the biggest difference between a medical interpreter and a medical translator is the medium–a medical interpreter works orally, while a medical translator works on written text.
Here are the differences between the two:
The difference in Roles:
The Role of a Medical Interpreter:
A trained medical interpreter is essential for maintaining communication in a healthcare setting. The right interpreter goes into the background of a conversation, allowing the two parties to converse easily with each other as if they were speaking the same language. To make this possible, an interpreter assumes the following roles during a communication session:
A Channel of Communication
An interpreter is a channel of communication from one person to another, and this role as the “bridging channel” is the biggest role that an interpreter plays. The interpreter takes language from one party and interprets it in the target language. Likewise, a medical interpreter bridges the communication gap between a patient and a doctor or between two doctors who do not share the same language.
A Clarifier
An interpreter often has to move to the role of a clarifier between the parties. He then has to confirm understanding and make a request. A medical interpreter is often required to explain the message from one party to another as it might involve a medical term that is difficult to understand by the other party. Often this happens when a doctor wants to describe an ailment to a patient. A medical interpreter clarifies and explains the terminology to the patient that would otherwise be difficult for him to understand.
An Advocate
The role of an “advocate” is probably the most controversial role that a medical interpreter can take. When relaying a medical treatment, procedure, or medicine to a patient, an interpreter should never assume the role of an advocate. He should not communicate while having an underlying bias. The reason is that the presence of any bias by an interpreter can have potentially life-threatening consequences.
The Role of a Medical Translator
A medical translator is responsible for converting physician advice, diagnosis, written patient information, pharmacological instructions, and other related medical procedures from one language to another, often in a written form.
A Channel of Communication
As opposed to a medical interpreter, a medical translator does not work through spoken word. He does not interpret from one language to another. A medical translator is only a channel to bridge the communication gap. He is not a clarifier or an advocate. A hospital’s translation is mostly concerned with files, notes, test results, and transcripts. A medical translator must translate all the information word for word, as closely as possible to the original text.
A Collaborator
A medical translator has to play the role of a collaborator when undertaking the task of translation. The role of a medical collaborator is to convey the meanings and context of a medical text as closely as possible to the target party. For this, a medical translator needs to collaborate with doctors, medical experts, and even patients to convey the translation. This “collaborative” role also helps to ensure all the hard-to-understand information is communicated easily for comprehension.
A Written Liaison
In the process of translating an academic paper or an article, a translator has to work closely with his client. The translator has to clarify aspects of a source text when prompted by a client. For example, the translation of a medical condition that is hard to understand has to be done in a way that is easy to comprehend by all medical stakeholders. Since these interpreters are not medical translators, they are not responsible for translating the use or instructions to operate the equipment.
Unlike a medical interpreter, a medical translator is required to convey the necessary information in writing. Since they are not medical interpreters, they are not responsible for assisting a patient in the physician’s office. Instead, they are a “written liaison: between a company and healthcare professional or a patient and healthcare professional.
A Client Dealer
When working with a client or a company, a translator must closely communicate and collaborate with the other party for executing the task of translation effectively. In the case of a medical translation, a translator has to deal with a client and enquire about the query he has with the other party. For example, a medical translator communicates the need for a medical diagnosis to a healthcare professional and hence “deals” with the two parties.
The Difference in Skill Sets
There are profound differences between the skill sets of a medical interpreter and a medical translator. But both of these people need to handle their tasks carefully to ensure patient safety and accurate medical collaboration.
The Skill Set of an Interpreter:
Fluency in understanding languages
An interpreter should be skilled enough to read and comprehend instructions. However, writing and typing skills are not important for an interpreter. An interpreter must be fluent in the spoken languages they are supposed to interpret in, including every accent or dialect of those languages.
Fluency in pronunciation
An interpreter is required to “speak” the translation of the dialogue between the parties. He must have excellent fluency in pronouncing the words and sounds as well as phenomes. A medical language uses many complex names, which are often hard to pronounce, such as the names of medicines or diagnoses. A medical interpreter must be able to comprehend and understand what is being communicated. He should have a clear grasp of pronunciation to be able to communicate the message to the other party so that no confusion or misunderstandings arise.
Fluency in speech conversion
An interpreter is required to work in real-time. This means he needs to convert speech from one language to another without breaking the flow of the conversation. The time constraint between an interpreter and a translator dialogue makes the job of a medical interpreter a very difficult one. This is so because he cannot refer to a medical dictionary or an encyclopedia when he gets confused about a particular word. Instead, an interpreter must possess a huge lexicon of vocabulary in each language. He should also have an adept mind to recall the meanings of words that he commonly encounters on the job.
The Skill Set of a Translator:
Fluency in Writings Skills
A translator must be strongly familiar with the written form of each language he translates. For example, languages do not use the same Latin alphabet found in the English script. The Arabic language uses cursive, joined letters which a translator needs to write from right to left instead of from left to right. There are also many nuances when a translator is required to join those letters, as some of the letters have multiple forms.
Fluency in Translating
Translation involves adaptation and conversion from one language to another. This is best handled by a professional translator who knows how to translate accurately. A medical translator must be aware of all the medical terms and common names of diseases and medicines. In this way, we will be able to translate a medical diagnosis or file without any worry. As every language script is different and each has its idiosyncrasies. The task of the translation may become a difficult one. A skilled translator, however, would be experienced enough to handle translation, as he would also be skilled in writing the languages he is required to translate into.
The Difference in Educational Requirements
The Requirements for a Medical Translator
High school diploma in medical diagnosis and nomenclature.
Proficiency in language pair. It is ideal for a medical translator to be proficient in English as a basic language and any other native version of a local language.
Fluency in more than one language is a requirement that a medical translator must fulfill.
To succeed or get hired in the field of a translator, a certification from a medical board or National Commission of Certifying Agencies (NCCA) accredited program is necessary.
Certifications in the medical field and medical terminology ensure that the translator has an in-depth knowledge of medical terminology and an understanding of the usage of medical terms.
The National Board of Certification of Medical Interpreters (NBCMI) offers one accredited certification that a medical translator should look into.
Skills in machine translation and word-for-word translation are a must for a translator. He might be required to translate complex medical documents and prescriptions. Therefore, he should be skilled enough to understand and translate them effectively.
Excellent command of working languages.
Understanding and in-depth knowledge of cultural differences between parties.
Knowledge of anatomy and physiology as well as medical terminology.
Understanding and knowledge of health care concepts as well as ethical issues related to the medical field.
The Requirements for a Medical Interpreter
The medical interpreter has to communicate medical-related terms between the parties. A high school diploma in medical diagnosis and treatment is a must for him.
A medical interpreter must be proficient in English and any other native version of a local regional language. The more languages a medical interpreter knows, the more skilled he is.
Skills in spoken language are a must for a medical interpreter. They are required to communicate between parties about medical diagnoses or treatments. Owing to this, a medical translator must have a strong command of spoken English and other languages of the region.
Certifications from a medical board are a plus when an interpreter needs to establish communication between two parties. Preferably, a certification from a National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) accredited program is a must.
An in-depth knowledge of medical terminology is required for a medical interpreter. Also, an absolute understanding of its usage as this knowledge and skill is the key to becoming an interpreter who is in demand.
The National Board of Certification of Medical Interpreters (NBCMI) offers accredited certification courses that a medical interpreter should enroll in.
Strong interpersonal skills such as clear speech or sign language.
The ability to work bi-directionally, actively conversing in both languages.
String interpersonal skills and an understanding of dialects in regional languages.
The ability to think on their feet and stay calm and patient as required by medical dialogue between parties.
A command over listening and memory skills.
An ability to understand and interpret non-verbal cues.
Key Takeaway
The field of medical sciences is complex and extremely sensitive. It requires utmost care and precision as far as translation and interpretation are concerned. A medical translator and interpreter both are tasked with the sensitive job of establishing communication between patients, healthcare workers, and medical organizations. That’s why they should leave no room for incorrect translation or misinterpretation. Failure to properly communicate coil result in catastrophic outcomes for patients and all stakeholders.
COVID-19 and the need for remote treatment services
Hospitals have been using traditionally onsite interpreters for a long now, however, video remote interpretation in hospitals is also known as (VRI). It has become one of the important practices in recent years. The hospitals are aiming to have this facility to become one of the fastest foreign language services in the country. They also are into this practice to bridge the gap between over-the-phone and on-site interpretation.
The past two years of the pandemic and COVID-19 health crisis have surged the increase of VRI and medical interpreters. Moreover, social distancing is getting more common, making it necessary to practice telehealth services. VRI has been witnessed as the safest and most effective way of communicating with limited or no English proficiency along with deaf patients who have problems with hearing.
A rise in the use of telehealth services
The use of telehealth has increased from 8% among Americans in December (2019) to around 30% by May 2020. It was primarily done for the physical and mental health of physicians and specialists. This was a new trend, but it does not seem to stop anytime soon. As the people have massively appreciated it. People can consult physicians without leaving their space.
Moreover, this has emerged as one of the most appropriate interpreting mediums for telehealth. Every second hospital worldwide is coping with the increased demand for video communication. So, it is better to have an in-depth and detailed understanding of the process and the benefits of introducing it in the long run.
People often assume English is one of the most spoken languages, and also think everyone can speak or understand it. However, this is not true. Many patients consult physicians worldwide from underdeveloped countries and the languages they speak are not understandable to physicians and vice versa. To tackle such situations, video interpretation is evident.
What is VRI
Video remote interpretation also termed VRI is a service used for interpretation through video telecommunication. It also involves the use of devices web cameras and other videophones to facilitate the persons involved with spoken language and sign language.
While using video remote interpretation in hospitals, certified interpreters are the only solution. Medical interpretation is a serious issue, and it can lead to irreversible results if dealt with poorly. According to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) expect hospitals, health plans, clinics, physicians, nursing homes, and others offer qualified interpreters to people who have limited English proficiency.
Benefits of video remote interpretation in hospitals
Video remote services allow organizations and ventures to meet the increased needs of limited proficiency in English and other deaf and hard-hearing patients regardless of the language. These are provided to everyone and in every region of the world for almost every second language. However, there are particular language pairs that are more in demand as compared to others.
Physicians and hospital administration now need to take quick action and they have to come up with video translation and interpretation services so that they can cater to more patients, and it would be quite economical for the patients as well.
Here are a few of the most important benefits that have been listed to throw light on VRI’s importance.
Quick response to urgent situations
VRI enables businesses and owners to facilitate the patient and physicians with a quick and fast response for both languages i.e., source or target languages. Whenever there is an emergency or urgency to communicate in a foreign language, VRI people can make sure that there are medical interpreters arranged within no time.
Interpreting solutions on demand
Emergent situations or ones that are not pre-planned may lead to hiring the services of remote interpreters to cope with the need for language support. On-demand support refers to the use of interpreters immediately. They are accessible whenever hospitals or physicians require them. This is extremely important as patients often need to get treatment on an urgent basis.
More accuracy
Having the support of medical interpreters and their visual support linked with video remote interpreting can make the services and content more accurate. Accuracy is of foremost importance in medical documents, content, and conversation. The same is the case with interpretation. Hence, going for VRI brings more accuracy and helps physicians to diagnose and provide treatment accordingly.
Cost-effective and budget-friendly
People require video remote interpretation services to bridge the gap between phone and on-site interpretation. The traditional interpretation services are time taking and often require at least two hours’ time for charging and also for mileage and travel charges. As the interpreter has to leave his place and come for visiting and to provide their services. However, going for video remote interpretation services can help with visual support, and that too on an economical budget.
The medical translation and interpretation services can help with optimizing the interpretation budget. Also, hospital officials should ask for hourly minimum charges with VRI’s latest technology. There are many companies that offer ways to optimize and lower costs.
Security and confidentiality
The video interpretation healthcare offers an online portal and the clients access to their data 24/7. This is one of the greatest benefits of turning hospitals into video interpretation services. Patients can track their progress, and treatment plan to stay connected and updated. Moreover, the data would be secure and there are no chances of misplacing and data eruption. The companies also ensure confidentiality and ensure there is no violation of it.
User-friendly
Live interpreters can be added to the calls with patients and physicians within seconds without spending any extra penny. There is no more equipment required for providing interpretation services for video and phone meetings with the help of video conferencing tools including zoom and telemedicine platforms.
Importance of qualified interpreters for patient’s health
With the advanced technology and two years of pandemics, there is a great important need of turning more hospitals into video interpretation services. Medical interpreters can help hospital systems in the following way
Enhancing patient satisfaction
Reducing miscommunication errors and having clinical consequences
Allowing for safe and effective communication also considers social distancing
Budget-friendly and economical interpretation solution
Improving efficiency
Increasing productivity and staff
VRI along with telephonic interpretation is helpful for getting responses in seconds to cater to urgent situations. The immense growth of language diversity has made interpreters and their services valuable for patient care during the whole journey of the patients. When a patient is looking for medical care, effective communication comes up with positive health outcomes.
However, if there is a language barrier, that may hinder communication. This is where the interpreter has to play his role. This improves patient care, including relatively higher care of clinical care and achieving patient satisfaction. There will be fewer communication errors, more accuracy, comprehensive diagnosis and follow-up instruction, and far fewer rates of readmission.
Final words
Technology has a great impact on human lives. It has also enhanced medical care and helped with advanced treatment methods. After two years of COVID-19, things and perspectives have totally changed. People prefer to stay socially distanced and are into remote options. Similarly, hospitals and clinics have already started this option of video remote interpretation VRI services to facilitate more patients in less time. However, the idea has not reached everywhere yet and this needs to be taken seriously as it has a lot of benefits.
An interpreter usually performs the duty of bridging the communication gap between two persons who can not understand each other because they use different languages. He doesn’t concern with the subject and content of the speech; however, he is responsible for conveying spoken content to another person accurately and precisely. In this article, we are going to discuss the role of interpreters in the healthcare environment.
An interpreter is also assumed to be a person who is proficient in two or more languages. Hence, it is significant that the interpreter understands languages well and the setting of interpreting services. This is imperative in providing interpreting services.
Role of an Interpreter
An interpreter plays a vital and significant role in the healthcare industry. An accident overseas can land the already injured person in trouble without the services of an interpreter. Misunderstandings can occur. Depending on the accident’s seriousness, healthcare professionals have to understand the condition of the patient well. They need to know the medical history of that person for his effectiveness and to inject him with different medications and doses.
The only scenario possible is to hire an interpreter who understands the patient’s language as well as healthcare professionals. He can bridge the gap and help patients get quick and appropriate treatment. This is one example of how interpreter is vital for the healthcare industry and how they can play their role in serving humanity.
Common Languages Among Interpreters
Interpreters mostly know and are well aware of common languages that are in demand more often. These are languages that are concerned with healthcare and are required to cater to healthcare needs and facilities when required. Agencies can provide their services right away when contacted, and they can also send their interpreters if needed. There are scenarios where interpreters in a hospital or clinic facilitate patients fully with their interactive sessions with interpreters. This is how they bridge the gap between healthcare and provider.
In case the language is not available or interpreters are not proficient enough in that language, the agency further contacts their associates and arranges interpreters from overseas. Arranged interpreters further provide their services through telephone and or video calls. The management takes care of webcams and makes other arrangements to get through the process. There is no official number or list of languages available by interpreter services. This works as per demand and popularity.
Interpreter Duties in a Healthcare Environment
The interpreter literally saves lives in healthcare industries. However, these are the main tasks that they perform majorly.
Informing patients about their medical condition, diagnosis by Doctor
Discussion about the patient’s needs and requirements with the patient and his relatives
Inquiring about the patient’s previous medical history, surgeries, and allergies
Explaining treatments, their requirements, and other requirements
Describing scenarios about how to use drugs and their dosages
Interpreters and their roles are quite important for treatments and medical problems abroad. Without the services of an interpreter, misunderstandings take place and lead to the worst scenarios.
These include the following points:
Lack of information about customer’s allergies and healthcare professionals suggest some medicine that can trigger the allergy and their reactions
Misunderstandings for customers about the diagnosis as provided by doctors and physicians
Precautions that a patient has to take and follow when sent home after getting treatment.
Follow-up treatment
Frequency and dosages for drugs that are prescribed
It takes hardly any time to realize how important an interpreter and their services are. Learning and acquiring a new language takes time and not everyone is capable of learning a new language instantly. People who visit foreign lands are not ready to communicate in different languages when they are visiting the country for holiday or business purposes. Things are quite arranged already. So, people do not bother to learn one whole language for one quick trip and visit.
An interpreter is supposed to bridge the language gap so that people in one healthcare setting can communicate and fulfill their needs that are stuck due to language problems. They are there to provide their services to patients so that they can understand well their health issues, problems, and diagnoses and can also work on communicating their concerns and reservations to healthcare professionals. Besides that, healthcare professionals in return can expand things and situations better. They can further share treatment plans, projected recovery times, and everything that concerns patients.
It is interesting to note that the interpreter doesn’t share his opinion, but he rather has to simply put forward his services of interpretation of words in front of patients and other parties. The important of all is to ensure that they interpret content in the most accurate and effective manner between healthcare professionals and patients. It is also important to make sure that whatever language they are speaking to communicate, the interpreter is really proficient.
Working Conditions of Interpreters
Healthcare interpreters work in a number of healthcare environment including hospitals, private offices, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers. Few interpreters focus on one department only and always offer services to that particular department. However, there are many who keep shuffling their duties between departments whenever needed.
The timings of healthcare interpreters could be different and late at times. A few of them could be required in evening shifts and on weekends. Hospitals often need them in weird times, call them in the wee hours as well. It is quite common for interpreters to work as much as needed regardless of timings and a particular number of hours.
Moreover, they not only have to cater to the stress of working in primary and medical specialized fields, but interpreters also have to cope with unique issues that are related to working in mental health facilities, abuse clinics, domestic violence, forensic services, and similar type of healthcare problems and issues. This could be challenging mentally and emotionally. However, being part of the job, they have to hold themselves tough during these times.
Final Words
The role of an interpreter is as important as medicine in the healthcare industry. A patient can only get the right and effective treatment if his health issues and medical history is conveyed to healthcare professionals well. Also, healthcare professionals can only diagnose and treat the patient well once they know everything about their patient. Therefore, such scenarios make the role of interpreters in the healthcare environment quite vital and significant.
Due to globalization, people need to travel frequently to foreign countries. It can be for business purposes, higher education, and vocations. Whatever the purpose of your traveling is, you must secure yourself financially in a foreign land. Here the insurance services are of great help to you. They help you greatly if you face any unexpected accident. For instance, if you face any injury in a foreign land then you must go for medical insurance services. How can you understand insurance services in a foreign land because of language differences? For this, you must go for medical translation and interpretation services.
Difference Between Medical Translation and Medical Interpretation
Insurance services help to claim the money in case of an accident. Most often medical interpretation and medical translation are used interchangeably so people often confuse one with the other. Let’s remove the ambiguity between the two. Hospitals and clinics use both the services of medical translations and interpreters. The main difference in both is the use of communication mediums. The translation is about converting the written content from one language to another whereas interpretation is about altering the language orally. Some skills are common in translators and interpreters. The important thing to keep in mind is that a good interpreter might not be a good translator and vice versa.
Interpreters must work with objectivity because they are independent in their work. This thing sometimes causes a problem for them especially when they are interpreting for family and friends. Interpreters should be bilingual but this cannot ensure their success.
Medical translators work differently from interpreters because they need to provide services in written form. Therefore translators must possess good written skills in the language in which they are required to provide services. In the translation process, you must read an original context, and find relevant equivalent words in the target market. Finally, you must edit and proofread the content. If you are working with a medical translator then it is recommended to take the opinion of a second translator to get error-free medical translation services.
How to Translate Medical Documents for Insurance Companies
Before going for medical document translation services, you must collect all the necessary documents in one place. They include hospital bills, medical check-ups, blood tests, and all the documents related to illness and injury. It is recommended to get a copy of each document to keep the medical record with yourself before giving them to the translation or insurance company. For the translation of medical documents, like medical claims you should not rely on software. For example, google translate will just give you an idea of the text. Therefore for the best health care services at economic rates, you should not take risks of both your health and wealth.
The medical documents about health and insurance contain difficult words and phrases that cannot be translated by a simple translator. For this, the translator should be a subject matter expert in the medical field. Therefore, you must hire a professional translation company because they employ a subject matter expert after strict scrutiny. You cannot make your health and wealth prone to different software.
Interpretation and Translation Required for Medical Insurance
For the processing of medical insurance, translators and interpreters are required throughout the process. It includes
The early phase of contact with the client.
Translation of medical reports, assessments, affidavits, and witness statements.
Client Meetings
Investigations for diagnosis
Trials
To get the required coverage from the insurance company, you must take the assistance of a reliable translation company.
Information Needs to be Accurate Both in Law and Language
If you require medical assistance in a foreign language then a translator should have a complete understanding of the foreign language with the law of that country. A minute mistake will harm the entire process and you must bear a high cost. Moreover, the interpreter is also required to interpret the foreign country’s law accurately. Additionally, they clear you regarding any ambiguities in understanding the law.
Happy Clients will Lead to Higher Retention Rates
When patients feel that they can rely on a specific insurance company then the next step is to look for translation and interpretation services. If the translation and interpretation services are not taken care of then people will not opt for your insurance policies. The health of the client and the growth of the insurance company are associated with impeccable translation and interpretation services.
The Role of Translation and Interpretation Services for Health Insurance
One of the worst things that one can come across in a foreign land is any ailment or unexpected accident. This one requires medical treatment. Not all of us can bear medical expenses in a foreign land. Moreover, it is not easy to understand insurance policies in a foreign land unless you understand their language. Here the translation and interpretation play an imperative role in making you understand the entire process and how to opt for it. Some hospitals don’t start treatment until you give them proof of insurance coverage.
In this regard, the hospital administrator contacts the victims to know the worth of their coverage. In such a situation, you must take the assistance of a medical interpreter that can act as a median between the hospital and the insurance company. Moreover, a translator would assist in translating documents for the hospital and medical facility to start a relevant treatment and to know how much money would be needed. Moreover, the insurance company also asks for police reports and witness statements to know the validity of your case.
Importance of Health Insurance Translation Services
Although English is a universal language it does not mean that everyone can speak and understand English. The translation of health insurance documents for people that do not speak and understand English is a critical process and requires experience and expertise in this field. Initially, bilingual people used to work as a translator in the medical field. To work according to federal and state laws, medical insurance translation services are the most critical translation services for the healthcare system. LEP, low English proficiency people like to communicate in their language. Health insurance translation services are significant for LEP because in this way they can understand the cost and terminologies used in the treatment in the best way.
a) Health Insurance Translation Services Help you to Understand Medical Rights
Usually, the terms used in medical documents and insurance policies are obscure even for native speakers of the country. By getting a health insurance translation service, people can get aware of their health rights and know how they can take better leverage from them. This applies to the entire healthcare system. There are many cases in which people are unable to interact properly with doctors and insurance companies. For example, if you are an ex-pat and you have been given health insurance from your company then you can understand the health facilities given to you only by health insurance translation services. On the other hand, health insurance companies also want their clients to understand the health privileges given to them. Therefore translation services in health insurance are pivotal.
b) Health Insurance Services are Used for the Welfare of People
Many welfare countries also want health care providers of their country to take the assistance of translation and interpretation services in their practices. This shows that a large number of populations depend on their services. In the USA, healthcare facilities are very expensive. Therefore people who have taken health insurance services can save a lot of money and enjoy great health privileges. According to one study, 25 million US citizens have low English proficiency. Therefore, if they claim medical insurance then they must go for health insurance translation services to make their process more professional and efficient. Translation services in the healthcare industry are considered ethical because they help to save the lives of people.
c) Insurance Companies give you Leverage in Many Ways
If the insurance companies take the assistance of professional medical translation agencies, then they are in a better position to understand federal and state laws and can abide by them. It will increase both their financial and administrative efficiency. For LEP clients, the translation agencies come with communication strategies that can resonate with customer requirements. On the other hand insurance companies can improve the quality of customer services and help to process the insurance services in minimal time.
If the insurance company has its website, then translating a website into multiple languages will help to increase the customer’s enrollments and decrease expenses. Many insurance companies have included insurance forms online. People can understand and fill out the insurance forms if they are provided to them in their native languages. It will increase the information access and efficiency of the insurance firm. Over-the-phone interpreting can also increase the sales of the insurance company. In short, translation services will enhance the corporate image of the insurance company.
Miscommunication Prevented by Translation Services
One of the main reasons for the importance of medical translation services for insurance is to avoid miscommunication. Insurance companies are aware of the risks associated with wrong communication. The problems caused by errors in translation can result in lawsuits and the most dangerous part is the loss of health and death.
Do you know why miscommunication is in havoc in the medical insurance field? It is because of difficult terminologies used in medical and insurance. Therefore to have impeccable translation results one should hire a professional translation company.
Wrapping Up
The welfare states of the world take interest in providing the best healthcare services to their citizens. Many people from developing countries also visit these states to get better health facilities. To mitigate the communication gap between medical health and insurance companies, translation and interpretation services are of great help. It will ease the work of all three parties, patients, medical care providers, and the insurance company. For this, you must hire a professional translation agency. It will help the medical practitioner to treat the patient with utmost care. On the other hand, it will help health insurance companies to enhance their efficiency.
