Medical interpreters provide language services to non-English-speaking patients to help them communicate with doctors, nurses and other medical staff. They might be employed by medical facilities or interpreter agencies, or they might choose to operate their own businesses. Medical interpreters need to have a high level of communication skill in both English and a foreign language.
Medical interpreters work with non-English speaking patients in hospitals, physician’s offices, clinics, rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes and mental health clinics. They act as conduits between patients and medical professionals by listening to the professional and orally translating information into a patient’s native language in layman’s terms. The medical interpreter then translates the patient’s response back to the professional, using proper medical terminology. Interpreters may translate such information as the reason for a medical visit, past medical history and family medical history, as well as explaining medical and
surgical procedures, giving medical care instructions, providing drug information
and scheduling follow-up appointments.
Medical Interpretation includes but is not limited to:
- Psychological Evaluations
- Medical Appointments
- Doctor Evaluations
- Follow-Up Appointments
- Pre-Surgery Evaluations
- Physical Therapy Sessions
- Intake & Discharge Summaries
- Medical Records