The Certified Spanish Interpreter In Medical Settings

With 19 million people in the United States having a very limited ability to communicate in English

, the role of a certified Spanish interpreter in medical settings is becoming increasingly important. When non-English speaking people seek medical attention, the issue of being able to properly communicate is of critical importance. Communication is the key element to receiving proper medical care, as unexpected complications can arise if the patient or the family is unable to clearly convey the nature of the patients condition and the symptoms that have been experienced. The importance of effective communication is escalated in cases of medical emergencies, of course, so you can see why the availability of a certified Spanish interpreter, or a professional in any language, could very well be a matter of life and death.

There are some hospitals and clinics with trained interpreters on staff for purposes of effective communication, but the overwhelming majority of facilities are not so equipped. Miscommunication through poor interpretation of a patients condition can have serious implications on the treatment and the outcome of the patients recovery. In a recent study by the pediatrics department of the Boston Medical Center, it was found that in only 13 encounters between physicians and their non-English speaking patients, there were 396 interpretation errors made! This is exactly why it is always best to make sure that you have a certified Spanish interpreter with you. These trained professionals are overall far more superior with interpreting from one language to another than interpreters who are not so thoroughly trained.

Unfortunately, the services of a certified Spanish interpreter are covered by medical insurance in Hawaii, Minnesota, Vermont, Maine and Washington only. Many hospitals have interpreters on their payroll, and some others outsource their services based on need. However, a large number of health care establishments do not have adequate resources to cover this expense. In some communities there may even be some volunteer interpreters who will come without charge, but the expertise of such volunteers is inconsistent, at best.

With such rapid advances in the medical field taking place concurrently with the number of people in the United States seeking medical care who do not speak English, the need for high quality interpretation and translation services in health care facilities is felt with increasing intensity. If you are in need of a certified Spanish interpreter, whether it be for medical reasons or otherwise, you can either perform a search on the Internet or contact a hospital patient advocate who can help you find a good professional.

by: Phoenix Delray

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