Health care interpretation is one of the fastest-growing fields in language services. Just what does the job involve?

Many medical establishments need language interpreters to give effective care to their patients. Young people who are bilingual and who have a desire to help others may be naturally attracted to this job. But just what does medical interpreting involve?

“Healthcare interpreters facilitate communication between patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) and their physicians, nurses, lab technicians, and other healthcare providers,” explains the Healthcare Interpreter job description on the ExploreHealthCareers.org website. “Because of the growing number of LEP patients, the need for healthcare interpreters has grown swiftly in the last decade, so there is good career potential in this profession.”

Medical interpreters most often work face-to-face, but sometimes use remote systems such as telephonic or video interpreting. As health care interpreters are given more formal responsibility, the job is becoming more stressful – especially in settings such as emergency rooms and mental health facilities, for example.

Other places of employment, such as private medical offices and clinics, generally offer a more relaxed atmosphere – even if healthcare interpreters are still held to the same rigorous National Code of Ethics wherever they work.

“Most healthcare interpreters speak of the intense emotional rewards they derive from their work,” the career profile points out. So, despite the stress involved in rendering communication about matters of life and death, the job is generally a satisfying one.

Betty Carlson

See Also

• Language Translation, Inc.
  A leading language translation and interpretation service provider for more than 20 years.