An Overview of Healthcare Interpreting PDF Fall 2024

SMIP I FALL 2024 An Overview of Healthcare Interpreting Learning Objectives ➔ define and discuss the profession of healthcare interpreting ➔ define and discuss the different types of...

SMIP I FALL 2024 An Overview of Healthcare Interpreting Learning Objectives ➔ define and discuss the profession of healthcare interpreting ➔ define and discuss the different types of healthcare interpreters ➔ understand the meaning of the concept “communicative autonomy” ➔ understand the difference between freelancers and employees What is healthcare interpreting? Two terms exist for this profession: medical interpreting and healthcare interpreting. Both terms mean the same thing, but medical interpreting is the most common term. Sometimes the terms “translating”, or “medical translator” are used, which are technically incorrect. Why are they incorrect? Do you know the difference between a translator and an interpreter? If you came to one of my Info Sessions, we talked about it! These terms are often used interchangeably, but they are different professions, with different… training certifications skill sets personalities working environment 1 SMIP I FALL 2024 A Young Profession Medical interpreting is a young profession that is evolving quickly in the US and worldwide. Medical interpreting did not establish itself as a profession until the 1990s and it began to professionalize (with training and credentialing for interpreters) in the 2000s. Federal and State legislation require that publicly-funded agencies take steps to prevent discrimination in accessing services. These “language access laws” have influenced the way that the field has evolved. According to international standards, medical interpreting is actually part of the larger profession of “community interpreting”. Community interpreting facilitates access to community services for people that do not speak the language of service. Most medical interpreters do not realize that they are actually community interpreters! Here are two different definitions of community interpreting. DEFINITIONS OF COMMUNITY INTERPRETING 1. Bidirectional interpreting that takes place in communicative settings … among speakers of different languages for the purpose of accessing community services. ISO (2014, p.1) 2. A specialization of interpreting that facilitates access to community services for individuals who do not speak the language of service. (Bancroft et al) 2 SMIP I FALL 2024 All three specializations of community interpreting (medical, educational and social services) exist to support access to community services. Communicative Autonomy Is our ability to be in control and responsible for our own communication. If we have communicative autonomy, we understand what is going on and what is being said, then we can make informed decisions about our own health care. “The capacity of each party in an encounter to be responsible for and in control of his or her own communication.” Bancroft et al. (2015, p viii). If a patient or other LEP individual does not have an interpreter present, communicative autonomy is not possible, and as a result it is impossible to make an informed decision. Without an interpreter present, equitable healthcare may not be achieved. Let’s think of communicative autonomy as the guiding principle or the FOUNDATIONAL concept for us! 3 SMIP I FALL 2024 What is informed consent? The process in which a health care provider educates a patient about the risks, benefits, and alternatives of a procedure. The patient must be competent to make a voluntary and informed decision about whether to undergo the procedure or intervention. Informed consent is both an ethical and legal obligation of medical practitioners in the US and originates from the patient's right to direct what happens to their own body. Work Classifications of Medical Interpreters There are four main ways that medical interpreters provide their services. As in-house interpreters As freelance interpreters As dual-role interpreters As volunteer interpreters In-house interpreters (staff interpreters, employees) Most staff medical interpreters work for a healthcare organization or language service. For example, many hospitals and community health centers employ their own interpreters. VRI companies also employ their own interpreter. In this case, you would be an employee, but not an in-house interpreter. 4 SMIP I FALL 2024 ➔ If you are a staff interpreter (an employee), the employer has a right to control and manage your performance. ➔ The employer can also tell you how they would like you to perform the job and when. ➔ Staff interpreters normally are paid by the hour. ➔ As a staff interpreter (an employee), you will follow the organization’s policies and regulations. ➔ You may have set hours & shifts (especially if you are a full time employee). If you are a part-time or per diem employee, your shifts will likely vary based on the needs of the organization. Per diem employees have no minimum number of hours to work in a given week. ➔ Staff interpreters usually earn benefits (health insurance, vacation, retirement plans etc.). Freelancer interpreters (self-employed, independent contractors) Other terms for freelance interpreting are self-employed, independent contractors, or contract interpreters. The majority of interpreters work as freelance interpreters. ➔ As a contractor you are providing a service to another individual or to an organization (a healthcare clinic, a non-profit business or a language company). ➔ Freelancers own their own business (even if it is only one person) and can contract with as many agencies as they wish, for example with large language service companies, small local agencies, or directly with hospitals. Freelancers do not receive benefits and are normally paid hourly. 5 SMIP I FALL 2024 ➔ Freelancers have to file business taxes. ➔ Freelancers have the freedom to accept or turn-down assignments based on your availability or any other reason. ➔ Freelancers set their own schedules. ➔ Freelancers send invoices / fill out their agency paperwork in order to get paid. Dual-role interpreters (bilingual staff) Dual-role interpreters are healthcare employees whose main role is not as an interpreter, for example a medical assistant or an ultrasound technician. These employees might be asked to interpret, in addition to their main role. They may get a higher wage (sometimes called a differential) to compensate them for this extra skill. Volunteer interpreters Most volunteer interpreters are not paid, and they may work on a regular basis for a particular clinic or organization. Most volunteer interpreters are not trained or qualified to interpret and for this reason, most large hospitals or organizations no longer use volunteer interpreters. Whether you are a volunteer, a dual role, a freelance or an in-house interpreter, only someone who is trained and qualified to interpret in healthcare should be called a medical or a healthcare interpreter. 6 SMIP I FALL 2024 Some interpreters start out as freelancers, then become staff interpreters once they have more experience. Some interpreters do both staff and contract interpreting, although some contracts may have restrictions on who you can work for when you are not working at the facility where you are contracted. There are pros and cons for each, and during the program we will have guest speaker events for you to hear from SMIP graduates that will help you decide, however it is very likely that you will start out as a freelancer. 1. Where does medical interpreting take place? ⮚ hospitals (including ER, diagnostic imaging, NICU, before, during and after surgery) ⮚ community health clinics ⮚ doctor’s offices (routine doctor visits) ⮚ specialist doctor appointments ⮚ mental health services (counseling) ⮚ outpatient clinics ⮚ rehabilitation centers ⮚ physical or occupational therapy ⮚ domestic violence and sexual assault centers 7 SMIP I FALL 2024 2. How does medical interpreting take place? Medical interpreters can interpret…. onsite remotely ➔ via the telephone (OPI - Over the Phone Interpreting) ➔ via video (VRI - Video Remote Interpreting) Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, use of VRI interpreting increased quickly. Today many healthcare locations use a combination of in-person and remote interpreters. 8