1. Are all bilingual people qualified to interpret?
No, not all bilingual people are interpreters.
While bilingual employees or the patient's family members are sometimes asked to interpret, it's a practice experts say should be avoided.
Programs around the nation that train and certify interpreters in medical terminology, ethics and cultural differences are seeing rising enrollment.
Training includes best practices and ethical guidelines as set by certifying entity. There are also oral and written tests to verify people really understand what they claim to know. Certification and Documentation should be required before using services. Students in programs learn not only about medical terminology and privacy laws but also familiarizes them with home remedies
popular in the given culture they work in and out of. They become cross-culture mediators and will explain to the doctor quickly these nuances so that the Doctor can treat the person as a whole.
2. How can I determine if I need to engage an interpreter?
When working with clients or staff from diverse backgrounds, employers or disability services will need decide whether an interpreter is required to assist in the communication process. The following are situations where an interpreter is needed:
- When it is obvious that there is no shared language between you and the client or when the client’s English language skill is very limited
- When the client makes a request for language assistance or if they specifically request an interpreter to assist with communication
- When clients rely on people who accompany them to speak on their behalf or interpret for them.
