Medical interpreting carries a great sensitive responsibility for sensitivity. There is a set of rules, when followed carefully, will ensure that one's role as a medical interpreter is carried out flawlessly: The rules are listed as followed:
1. Never get overwhelmed by emotions:
During the course of medical interpreting, one may witness various extreme situations of life. One must have complete control over emotions, and should not get carried away or overwhelmed by any experiences that the client goes through. Services must be provided with extreme care and concern and, the interpreter must stay neutral at all times. Interpreting companies must make sure that the professionals are well- trained in balancing their emotions.
2. Do not counsel patients:
Interpreter companies that provide interpreter services do not assign professionals to counsel patients. Therefore, it is important that that the personnel does not take the initiative to counsel the patient. The patient must feel that the person providing interpreting services is a pleasant person to be around. The interpreter must never give a chance to build an emotional rapport with the patient. In cases where the service provider feels that the patient is in danger or if there is a need to get a professional involved, then the professional extending interpreter services can act in a way that the situation demands.
3. Maintain confidentiality:
Medical Interpreting service guide lines demand that the professional assigned to provide interpreting services must maintain complete confidentiality about the patients' personal and health information. If the interpreter does not follow this as a code of conduct, patients would lose trust in the interpreter and would hesitate to speak openly in his presence. In such a case, the interpreter‘s service would end up being of little use. It is also the responsibility of interpreter companies to ensure that their personnel strictly adhere to this guideline.
4. Know that medical translation is different:
Medical translation deals with written text where as medical interpreter services deal with spoken words. With medical interpreting, you don't have to translate prescriptions or other medical documents. Medical interpreters are required to carefully listen to both the patient and the healthcare professional and make sure that both of them are having an error-free communication. They also are to act as a bridge between the two, by carefully interpreting every word they speak.
5. Do not judge their talk:
Every piece of information that the doctor gives the patient and vice versa is important; never omit any information while interpreting their words. A minor omission from interpreter service provider's part may cost a life. Therefore, one must not be judgmental while providing interpreting services.
6. Understand the culture, not just the language:
You must understand the cultural influences on the language that the client speaks. In each culture, there are various words and idioms used to express certain emotions and situations. They may not be found in the dictionaries, but would be widely used by natives. Therefore an interpreter in Minnesota providing his services for a Spanish client must be well acquainted with the language that the client would use in his daily life. Only then would he be able to provide accurate Spanish to English interpreting services.
7. Only a certified translation company would be preferred by clients:
Especially for medical interpretation services, clients would prefer certified interpreting companies who can provide speciality services. If you are aspiring to be part of language service industry, join a certified company to gain experience in the chosen field. If  you are looking for a medical interpreter in the US, choose from the interpreting companies in Minnesota, as they have a large pool of certified professionals.
Start your search now!
1. Never get overwhelmed by emotions:
During the course of medical interpreting, one may witness various extreme situations of life. One must have complete control over emotions, and should not get carried away or overwhelmed by any experiences that the client goes through. Services must be provided with extreme care and concern and, the interpreter must stay neutral at all times. Interpreting companies must make sure that the professionals are well- trained in balancing their emotions.
2. Do not counsel patients:
Interpreter companies that provide interpreter services do not assign professionals to counsel patients. Therefore, it is important that that the personnel does not take the initiative to counsel the patient. The patient must feel that the person providing interpreting services is a pleasant person to be around. The interpreter must never give a chance to build an emotional rapport with the patient. In cases where the service provider feels that the patient is in danger or if there is a need to get a professional involved, then the professional extending interpreter services can act in a way that the situation demands.
3. Maintain confidentiality:
Medical Interpreting service guide lines demand that the professional assigned to provide interpreting services must maintain complete confidentiality about the patients' personal and health information. If the interpreter does not follow this as a code of conduct, patients would lose trust in the interpreter and would hesitate to speak openly in his presence. In such a case, the interpreter‘s service would end up being of little use. It is also the responsibility of interpreter companies to ensure that their personnel strictly adhere to this guideline.
4. Know that medical translation is different:
Medical translation deals with written text where as medical interpreter services deal with spoken words. With medical interpreting, you don't have to translate prescriptions or other medical documents. Medical interpreters are required to carefully listen to both the patient and the healthcare professional and make sure that both of them are having an error-free communication. They also are to act as a bridge between the two, by carefully interpreting every word they speak.
5. Do not judge their talk:
Every piece of information that the doctor gives the patient and vice versa is important; never omit any information while interpreting their words. A minor omission from interpreter service provider's part may cost a life. Therefore, one must not be judgmental while providing interpreting services.
6. Understand the culture, not just the language:
You must understand the cultural influences on the language that the client speaks. In each culture, there are various words and idioms used to express certain emotions and situations. They may not be found in the dictionaries, but would be widely used by natives. Therefore an interpreter in Minnesota providing his services for a Spanish client must be well acquainted with the language that the client would use in his daily life. Only then would he be able to provide accurate Spanish to English interpreting services.
7. Only a certified translation company would be preferred by clients:
Especially for medical interpretation services, clients would prefer certified interpreting companies who can provide speciality services. If you are aspiring to be part of language service industry, join a certified company to gain experience in the chosen field. If  you are looking for a medical interpreter in the US, choose from the interpreting companies in Minnesota, as they have a large pool of certified professionals.
Start your search now!