The Human Side of Healthcare Interpreting

What Professionalism Means for Medical Interpreters

In situations where mutual understanding becomes crucial, precise communication cannot be left to chance. And in healthcare settings, the details become essential.

Although humane and dignified treatment is important in any professional area, in healthcare, this aspect takes on a different tone. We must understand that we are dealing with a sick or an injured person that, sometimes, does not even speak the local language.

Getting healthcare as an LEP (Limited English Proficiency) patient can be an extremely disorienting and stressful situation. So, besides facilitating understanding between the medical practitioner and the patient, a medical interpreter may have to help create a climate of positivity and support.

In March of 2019, one of our clients in Florida contacted us after one of their own clients suffered from a brain aneurysm. His wife, a Romanian citizen, flew in to assist her husband. Not being a proficient English speaker, she needed the help of a Romanian to English interpreter to communicate with doctors. Our client referred us to her, and we connected her with a language professional that could meet her needs. What was supposed to be a one day project, turned into a full week for our medical interpreter, who shifted her schedule to accompany the client as much as possible. She assisted the patient’s wife until the couple returned to Romania.

This wasn’t the first time that our interpreters had to go the extra mile to truly support a struggling family. A few years ago, a gentleman died at an Orlando airport and his husband flew in from France, to take care of this painful situation. Our French to English interpreter assisted the widow on a daily basis until he returned to his home country.

Precise terminology management, a trained ear, and incredible problem-solving skills are the necessary traits of a good medical interpreter. Certifications are also important. Only an expert in the field should handle your medical interpreting needs.

But the ability to empathize with the patient is what sets our industry-leading human interpreting services apart from the average interpreting company. Behind every project, there’s a human. Personally connecting with the client isn’t an accident for us, it’s at the core of our mission.

In this case study, you’ll learn more about our approach to medical interpreting. Fill the form and download it for free.