Sign Language Interpreting
(The original information for this page was excerpted and adapted from "Medical Interpreting: The Importance of Communication"
(http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=298825) by Heather Edden. Edden is a Client Account Specialist at 10x Marketing who intends on becoming a medical interpreter for American Sign Language along with pursuing a career as a Dietitian. For your medical interpreting needs contact The Big Word (http://www.thebigword.com) translation services.)
As if medical jargon is not difficult enough to understand, the problem is made worse if the patient cannot understand what the doctor is saying. Medical interpreters are specially trained in medical terminology and procedure.
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[Edit]1 Training
In the USA, many community college and even medical schools have some type of medical interpreting program. There are also different associations, both medical and language related that provide training. The programs vary in length and intensity depending on the school itself and where it is located . Some programs require that you already be a certified interpreter before you enter and others only require that you have a sound understanding of the language.
The level of education and certification required to work varies from place to place. Some countries don't even require certification, but most developed nations do usually require some sort of skills test to make sure that those applying are qualified. Usually training includes going over medical terminology and training for the different situations that will be encountered in the work place. Those that take the course will also become familiar with the regulations and ethics involved with the medical field. Medical interpreters must follow the relevant health standards and other patient confidentiality practices.
[Edit]2 Salary
Payment of the medical interpreter varies greatly from country to country. In the USA it is often the physicians that hire the interpreter, which leaves them responsible for payment. Patients may decide to hire a personal interpreter depending on their income and need. Hospitals may also have interpreters on their staff. These interpreters are given a regular paycheck just like any other staff member.
In Australia, the federal government has funded interpreting for private health appointments for General Practitioners, private specialists and many auxiliary and alternative practitioners. The National Auslan Booking Service (http://www.nabs.org.au) is the centralised booking agency for these private medical appointments. Public hospital appointments must be met by the hospital. Payment varies from state to state, but is roughly AUD$60 for a 1 1/2 hour appointment.
[Edit]3 Job Description
There is more to medical interpreting than just simply repeating what the physician has said in another language. Medical interpreters must keep their patients feelings in mind as much as their physical problems. Medical interpreters are also responsible to ask questions for the patient and make sure that they understand everything thing that is being discussed. Interpreters help with the paperwork that has to be filled out prior to the procedure as well. They are supposed to help the patient during the appointment and with anything post appointment matters as well.
There are both free-lance interpreters and those that work for hospitals/health care facilities or organization. Those who work for hospitals will have more consistent hours and a more stable pay but sometimes don't get paid as much. Free-lance interpreters are essentially constantly on call so they must be available at a moments notice, though they generally do get paid more.
