Medical Interpreters: Current Status of the Profession

Medical Interpreters:Current Status of the Profession

February 5, 2011North Carolina 2nd Symposium on Medical Interpreting

Izabel S. Arocha, M.Ed., CMIExecutive Director

IMIA

How did we come to be?

2International Medical Interpreters Association

Key Moments

1964 Civil Rights Act – Title VI1986 International Association formed1990 Americans with Disability Act2000 Executive Order 131662001 1st State Medical Interpreter Law2001 & 2003 Certification pilots2009 National Certification launched


Key Lawsuit

The young man was unconscious, and the only clue to hiscondition was the use of the Spanish word “intoxicado” by hismother and girlfriend. As no one in the ED spoke Spanish,hospital staff interpreted the word to mean that the boy wasintoxicated or, more specifically, suffering from a drug overdose. What thewomen had intended to convey, however, was that the boy was nauseated,not intoxicated. Nearly three days after his admission, all the while beingtreated for a drug overdose, he was left quadriplegic. He ultimately suedthe hospital, the paramedics, the ED, and attending physicians for medicalmalpractice, and his settlement topped $71 million.


Key Pioneering Publications:

1987 IMIA Code of Ethics, others followed2000 IMIA Standards of Practice, others followed2001 CLAS Standards


Recent Publications

• IMIA Guide on Working with Interpreters • IMIA Guide on Ethical Conduct for Medical

Interpreters• IMIA Guide on Telephone Interpreting• IMIA Guide on Medical Translation• Top Ten Reasons to Hire a Staff Interpreter


Interpreter Needs:

• Exposure to practice settings• Mentoring• Access to Training• Networking/Support• Adequate working conditions• Career Ladder• Respect• Protection in the Law


Where are we now?


Current Conditions:

Basic TrainingTesting & CredentialingPracticum & MentoringContinuing EducationAffiliation in a Professional Body


Specialized Medical Interpreting Training• Many 40-60hr trainings (<40 hrs not recognized a

program since 2008)• IMIA National Training Registry – new requirement

for national certification as of 2009• Increase in University-based programs

• Educational Degrees affect pay grades• 40-60 hours of instruction not enough

• Demand for training higher than supply• Most hospitals require basic training to hire


Testing & Credentialing• Most hospitals require interpreters to be tested

– National third party testing increasing– Quality of hospital and training testing varies significantly– Hospitals require ASL interpreter certification

• National Certification since 2009– Requirement in Oregon, other states will follow– Oral in Spanish only (75% of demand)– Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Russian and Korean to

become available in Summer 2011– QMI, SMI Credentials for other languages


Practicum and Mentoring

• Practicum being incorporated into training programs– Preceptor training varies– Educators & employers – No access to all languages

• IMIA Mentoring Program– Free service– Career ladder


Continuing Education

• Increase in availability of workshops• Access through remote webinars• IMIA CEU Program

– requirement for recertification– Archives all your educational history

• Specialization programs – (Mental Health Interpreting 1 yr certificate program,

Cambridge College)– Northeastern Univ. Interpreter Pedagogy Masters


Affiliation to a professional body(National, state, international)

They provide:• List serves• Committees• Task Forces• Latest Information• Networking events• Leadership opportunities• Representation in Washington


Where are we going?


Trends:• NCIHC Training Standards and IMIA Accreditation Program

coming soon• New secondary professions emerging (interpreter trainer,

researcher, manager, language coach, rater)• Technology making language access more efficient• Remote interpreting surpassing on site interpreting• Public awareness of profession increasing• Certification will become the norm nationwide

– Already required in Oregon, other states will follow– Spanish available, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese,

Korean, and Russian to be launched in Summer 201116International Medical Interpreters

Association

Where do we want to go?


Long term goals:• Close compensation gap between medical interpreters and

colleagues (ASL, Court, Conference)• Protect working conditions (rests, minimum hours)• Strong practicum component required in all trainings• Training & Certification - all languages & locations• Protect jobs (not all can be done via remote interpreting)• Legislation protecting profession so only competent individuals

can practice – patient safety issue• Reimbursement of services nationwide • Internationalization of profession


Questions?

Izabel S. Arocha, M.Ed., CMIExecutive Director

[email protected]


Documents

Medical Interpreters: Current Status of the Profession