Increased Demand for Medical Interpreters in the US

Become a Remote Medical Interpreter

The population of the United States is getting ever more diverse. With the US having one of the largest healthcare systems in the world, there is a growing need for trained medical interpreters. The population of immigrants and refugees in the US is expected to equal the number of American citizens in 2050. Healthcare providers are therefore becoming more attentive to the needs of the speakers of other languages.

The lack of an interpreter generates both a cultural and a financial problem. Indeed, if a person cannot explain their symptoms accurately, a doctor may need to perform extra tests which can be quite expensive. Apart from the linguistic barrier, there is also a cultural gap that the interpreter can bridge. For example, in Somali culture, asking a person if they smoke or drink alcohol can be offended, so a Somali interpreter can explain this to the doctor, who can apologize in advance to the patient for having to ask such questions. Another example is the one of some cultures where it is not appropriate for a doctor to tell a patient if they are going to die soon, because that kind of burden has to be carried by the family, so that the patient can live in peace for their remaining days.

For a career as a medical interpreter, you need to pay attention to those cultural difference and find ways to convey the true message that the person wants to express. 

Furthermore, the code of ethics is essential for the interpreting profession. This includes respecting the confidentiality of the information heard. Even though there may be legally regulated exceptions to this rule, the interpreter must be cautious. Even in court, for example, it may not be necessary to reveal the patient’s information, but just the provider’s information.

Other essential rules are accuracy, completeness, and conveying the cultural framework of the conversation. Completeness can include keeping repetitions, if the patient has done any, or asking for clarification when something is not clear. Some cultural gaps can be bridged with the interpreter’s intervention when the dialogue is stuck. For example, in the case of a patient not understanding the doctor because of a different habit in their country that the doctor is unaware of. 

To get trained and access the CCHI certification to work as an interpreter remotely for the US healthcare system, take MiTio online certificate course for medical interpreters.