Medical Interpretation Services
Language Access
Growing diversification of the
U.S. population brings a necessity to provide meaningful and equal access to
the vital public services, such as health care, for people who do not have
sufficient command of the English language. According to the latest Census data, 8% of Michigan and 13% of the
Southeast Michigan population was born abroad and does not speak English
"very well".
As Cynthia Roat, a Board Member of
the National Council of Interpreting in Health Care, said, "We are all for
the new immigrants learning English and for their rapid integration into the
American life, but maybe hospitals and courtrooms are not the best places to
practice".
When human health is at stake,
clear communication between a patient and a health care professional is
essential. The role of medical
interpreters is to facilitate such communication.
As a member of the National
Council of Interpreting in Health Care, Bromberg & Associates supports the
mission, goals, and values of this organization, as well as complies with the
Code of Ethics and National Standards of Interpretation in Health Care.
OUR MISSION: To promote culturally competent professional health
care interpreting as a means to support equal access to health care for
individuals with limited English proficiency.
Who is the Medical Interpreter?
A medical interpreter is a
professional who facilitates effective communication between health care
providers and patients with limited English proficiency.
Has an excellent command of
working languages
Accurately uses specialized
terminology
Obeys by the Code of Ethics and
Standards of Practice
Able to interpret in the following
modes: consecutive, simultaneous, and sight translation
Culturally competent
INTERPRETATION IN HEALTH CARE BY BROMBERG & ASSOCIATES
Qalified interpreters and
translators in more than 150 languages
On-site and telephonic
interpretation
Flexible and efficient scheduling
Language professionals' screening
and performance evaluation
Ongoing training courses for
medical and legal interpreters
Comprehensive quality control
procedures
Professional liability insurance
Cost-efficiency
Compliance with the National
Standards of Interpreting in Health Care
LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY (LEP)
Definition
The inability to speak, read,
write or understand the English language at a level that permits an individual
to interact effectively with health care providers and social service agencies.
US Department of Health and Human
Services: Guidance to Federal Financial Assistance Recipients Regarding Title
VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited English
Proficient Persons. Federal Register. August 8, 2003; Volume 68
PROFESSIONAL VS. AD-HOC INTERPRETERS
Linguistically Appropriate
Services (LAS) standards require HC organizations to provide competent language
assistance to LEP patients.
Multiple studies show that
untrained, unqualified interpreters are extremely dangerous in medical settings
where human lives are at stake. For
example, the research "Errors in Medical Interpretation and their
Potential Clinical Consequences in Pediatric Encounters"[i] shows that
there are on average 31 mistakes made by untrained interpreters per one
encounter, and 63% of all errors had potential clinical consequences.
[i] Glenn Flores, M. Barton Laws,
Sandra J. Mayo, Barry Zuckerman, Milagros Abreu, Leonardo Medina and Hardt.
DOI:10.1542/peds.111.1.62003;111;6-14 Pediatrics
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