Professional interpreters will make patients feel more comfortable as they will know where to stand in the room, how to introduce themselves properly, and how to interact appropriately with both the patient and the clinician.
Professional interpreters understand the rules of confidentiality.
Professional interpreters understand the boundaries of being an interpreter and will not interject their own thoughts or medical remedies. Unfortunately, the cost of hiring a professional interpreter may be prohibitive for your organization. Consider contacting social service agencies from neighboring towns to recruit volunteers. Keep in mind that some immigrant communities are very small and it might be hard to keep the patient s statements confidential unless you recruit volunteer interpreters from another community. Once you find volunteers, do not forget to train them.