Collectively, these patients spoke more than thirty languages most frequently Russian, Chinese, and Spanish. Somehow, they needed to get beyond the language barrier to tell healthcare workers their concerns and to understand what was being said to them. Using the services of trained medical interpreters and translators is just good patient care. And interpreting is taking what is said and converting it verbally into the target language. In order to communicate medical information effectively, the interpreter or translator needs to know more than the words.
Effective communication requires being able to put the words into an appropriate cultural context.
But there is also more than language and culture to consider. Using trained medical interpreters offers several advantages over relying on family members, friends, and volunteers who are bilingual. Professional interpreters are trained in medical vocabulary so they understand the words they need to communicate. They also are instructed in ethics and confidentiality. Perhaps most importantly, they understand how to maintain neutrality and do not impose their personal views while interpreting.