What is medical interpreting?
It is consecutive interpretation of speech from one language to another in a medical setting. Requires medical information and background in the health care profession. Medical professionals are finding that there are ever-growing numbers of non-English speakers in their patients loads, and they realize that they need the services of highly skilled interpreters in the medical field, to make sure that health care providers are communicating adequately with their patients. Medical interpreters work in a variety of health care facilities: hospitals, clinics, doctor’s offices, mental health and psychiatric facilities, and quasi-legal proceedings, such as medical-legal evaluations for workers’ compensation claims, arbitration hearings or personal injury lawsuits and hearings to determine employment or mental competence, disability or eligibility of benefits. Medical interpreting requires training in sight translation, consecutive and simultaneous interpretation. Return to list of questions
