Can you think of a place where the stakes of miscommunication are higher than in a healthcare environment? That’s why the role of a medical interpreter is so crucial. These highly specialized linguists not only possess dual language skills, having complete mastery of both English and Spanish but they are also equipped with in-depth medical knowledge.
Read on to find out more about this unique area of interpreting and discover exactly what is needed to be a Spanish medical interpreter.
What Are The Most Important Skills for a Spanish Medical Interpreter?
It goes without saying that a Spanish medical interpreter needs an excellent command of both Spanish and English, as any Spanish interpreter would require. This includes knowledge of idioms and colloquial expressions, cultural subtleties and even a grasp of the huge variations between the Spanish of Latin America and that of Europe, for instance.
However, to work in the medical field, a Spanish interpreter must also have a solid grasp of both Spanish and English medical terminology. It’s also important that they understand the nuances and implications of these terms.
For instance, when accompanying a patient to visit a cardiologist, the interpreter may have to differentiate between the terms cardiopatía and cardiomiopatía. The first refers to general heart disease, while the second refers to a disease of the heart muscle. Being able to work with complex medical vocabulary easily is a key skill required by a Spanish medical interpreter.
What Other Attributes Does a Medical Interpreter Need?
In addition to unrivaled language skills and significant medical knowledge, a Spanish interpreter working within the medical sector should also display:
- Sensitivity
Healthcare consultations not only deal with highly personal information, but they can also be emotional meetings. A medical interpreter must handle the health information with understanding and empathy, bridging the gap between the patient and the healthcare professional.
- Confidentiality
Just as a physician has a duty of confidentiality, so too does a medical interpreter. All medical reports and associated information must always remain confidential. Medical interpreters adhere to strict ethical standards, ensuring that patient privacy is upheld at all times. This means personal health information can only be disclosed to authorized individuals.
- Intercultural understanding
The role of a Spanish medical interpreter also involves a certain amount of cultural mediation. This involves demonstrating an awareness of how medical information may be received among Spanish-speaking communities. For instance, in many Spanish-speaking communities, particularly in Latin American countries, there may be a certain amount of familial involvement in medical decisions. This may mean that the interpreter also has to navigate family dynamics during conversations between the doctor and the patient.
A day in The Life of a Medical Interpreter
Medical interpreters work across all healthcare settings. This means their day-to-day working life could vary enormously, in the same way as that of a healthcare professional. Their assignments could include interpreting at any of the following:
- Supporting a Spanish-speaking pregnant woman to access high-quality ante-natal care at an appointment with her midwife or obstetrician.
- Accompanying a Spanish patient to a physician’s appointment to discuss test results, diagnoses or treatment plans.
- Attending the emergency department to interpret for Spanish patients in critical situations.
- Working in a surgical setting, ensuring Spanish speakers understand their forthcoming surgery, including the procedure itself, aftercare, follow-up and any risks involved.
Some Spanish interpreters specializing in medical services also sometimes work remotely. This is particularly beneficial to patients in remote locations, or where a nearby Spanish interpreter with the necessary expertise is unavailable.
Working as a Spanish medical interpreter is a hugely rewarding and important profession. Thanks to their unique and expert skill set, medical interpreters enable accurate conversations between Spanish and English speakers to take place effectively within a healthcare setting. They erode language barriers and support Spanish patients to make informed decisions and access the healthcare information they need.
If you need to find a Spanish interpreter locally, prioritize an agency with specialist medical interpreters to ensure communication is never an obstacle – something that must be avoided at all costs within a healthcare setting. Once you’ve selected an experienced linguist, you’ll be taking an essential step toward patient-centered healthcare where nothing is lost in translation.
