Medical Interpreter |
Career OverviewAs the name implies, a medical interpreter is responsible for translating the medical terminology used by doctors, nurses and other medical specialists into language that the patients and their families can understand. The medical interpreter plays a key role in helping patients and families understand the various procedures that the hospital or healthcare facility uses as well as the recommendations on the treatment or long-term care plan.
A medical interpreter must have a clear understanding medical terms as well as an ability to easily and clearly transfer this highly technical information into terms and phrases that non-medical staff can understand. The medical interpreter must be have a great sense of patience and should be willing to work with individuals for as long as it takes to be sure that all questions are answered and all information is correctly understood.
The medical interpreter will have to keep records and notes on all information exchanged with patients and their families, and may work with hospital staff in an effort to help direct communication.
An ability to speak more than one language is often very helpful to medical interpreters depending on the area that they work. Good computer skills and the ability to work closely with medical technology are also very important.
The medical interpreter may work within the hospital or treatment center or they may work in the community assisting those patients that have questions are being seen on an outpatient basis. Some medical interpreters may also work with long-term care patients that have returned to their homes and are having difficulties understanding treatment plans or other documents generated by the hospital or healthcare facility or the medical staff.
Medical interpreters may work evening or weekend shifts and may be required to travel to see homebound patients. Some medical interpreters will be assigned to specific areas of the hospital such as the emergency room where their services may be required more frequently than on admissions units.
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Career RequirementsMost medical interpreters are also nurses and have either an associate’s degree or a Bachelors degree in nursing or a related field. Some medical interpreter may also be RNs, public health nurses or other specialized nurses or medical professionals.
In most small hospitals or healthcare facilities the medical interpreter works as a regular staff member and then takes the additional responsibility of acting as a medical interpreter. Larger hospitals and treatment facilities with have specialized medical interpreters.
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Job OutlookAs hospitals and emergency rooms are pushed to see more and more patients per hour or day the demand for medical interpreter will increase. Doctors and nurses will have less time to spend explaining terminology and answering detailed questions so the role of a medical interpreter will become increasingly more important. It is expected that the demand for medical interpreters will increase over the next several years due to this trend.
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Career TrackMedical interpreters often move back into nursing or may specialize and become community or public health nurses. Some medical interpreters may also move into management or supervisory positions when the numbers of medical interpreters within a given facility increases to a level where a manager is required.
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CompensationThe average yearly income for a medical interpreter is between $31,000 and $39,000. Those medical interpreters that are also RN’s make considerably more than this salary, especially in large or private hospitals or healthcare facilities.
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