eTranslation Services

The Increasing Need for Medical Translation and Interpretation Services

Translation agencies provide various translation and interpreting services to a variety of clients. The services may include language services for the healthcare sector. Other agencies specialize and concentrate on a particular type of service, like medical translation and medical interpreting.

Medical translation and interpreting services are exacting. Healthcare utilizes specific language and terminology that differs but remains constant despite the differences in language the patients and providers speak. Because of this, it is vital for the language service provider LSP) to deliver a high level of accuracy and consistency that the sector requires. Medical translators employ the right terminology, as the medical field has numerous branches and specializations.

Another vital thing to the services is regulatory compliance, such as being HIPAA-certified.

Why are translators and interpreters critical in healthcare?

Healthcare providers cannot select the patients they should see. Thus, they have to attend to patients who may not understand English. In the United States, many patients are immigrants, with limited or no knowledge of English.

It is a challenge for the doctor and the patient to communicate if they are not speaking the same language. Patients who are not fluent in English will have a tough time explaining what they feel. They need the help of a translator or interpreter. The doctor will likewise experience the same dilemma because they have some specific questions to ask the patient.

Having medical translators and interpreters in a healthcare facility enables doctors and patients to communicate better. The interpreter can translate what the doctor says to the patient and relay the patient’s response.

A medical translator can explain the doctor’s diagnosis, the recommendations, and instructions for home care. They translate the patient’s prescriptions, indicating the proper dosage. The medical translator can likewise make the patient perceive why it is important to follow the doctor’s instructions, and when they should come back for a follow-up visit. The experience and training of the medical translator will help in ensuring the patient follows what the doctor says. They select the exact words that the patient will understand, utilizing their native language.

Access to a medical interpreter or medical translator can bolster patient confidence. They can also remain more relaxed while talking with the doctor because they know there is someone near them who speaks their language. They can comprehend what the doctor requires them to do.

The enactment of laws provides patients to exercise their right to receive essential services and language access.

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act

The Act prohibits discrimination because of a person’s national origin. Implementing Executive Order 13166, enacted in April 2000, improves access services for people who have limited English language proficiency. It requires healthcare facilities to provide interpreter services to patients with limited English proficiency.

While the full implementation of language access programs is not yet complete, many facilities at present have language access programs. Many studies show that employing a medical interpreter or medical translator increases the satisfaction of patients, decreases untoward outcomes, and improves patients’ adherence to doctors’ recommendations and advice.

Patients are getting more confident in using qualified translators and interpreters instead of asking their relatives or friends to be their interpreter or translators. Incidentally, the law likewise prohibits using relatives, friends, and bilingual medical staff from acting as a patient’s LSP.

Doctors have an ethical and professional obligation to attend to every patient according to the recommended standard of care based in their specialization. Without the help of a medical translator or a medical interpreter, they cannot fulfill their obligation to patients with limited proficiency in the English language.

What is the purpose of a translation in a medical office?

In a medical office setting, medical translation, which includes medical interpretation, becomes increasingly important. The principal reason is the continuous rise in the number of immigrants who communicate in languages other than English. A more current reason is the coronavirus pandemic.

A medical translator provides translation of the written correspondence between doctor and patient. The translator can make the attending physician understand a patient’s medical history written in another language. The translator can translate medical findings, medical test results, patient instructions, recommendations for home care, and prescriptions.

The medical translator will convert the diagnoses and advice of doctors. They can translate pharmacological instructions and written information about the patient.

When not assisting doctors and patients, a medical translator can work on the translation of the facility’s informational brochures.

Privacy and confidentiality are important to doctors and patients. The medical and health information must remain secure. Translators maintain physician-patient confidentiality.

What are the qualities of a medical translator?

Translators are critical in many industries. For the healthcare industry, translators enjoy an enormous demand. While you require a competent doctor to provide you with excellent care, doctors require excellent translators to help them serve patients of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

A good medical translator should possess excellent business skills. They should be capable to manage their career and their finances. They should be prepared to handle various situations in the hospital or other medical facility.

They should have good concentration skills, as medical language and terminology are complex and tricky. Distraction has no room when they are working. An inaccurate term or word choice could put a doctor and the patient at risk.

It is vital for the translator to translate into their native language. An excellent medical translator should be an excellent reader and writer. They should also be discrete and sensitive to cultural differences.

eTS can immediately respond to your need for medical translation and interpreting.

Our pool of native-speaking translators includes subject matter experts. If you require medical translators for your office, please let us know. When you need medical translations, we have subject matter experts to work on your project wherever you are. Our translators live in-country, so it is easy to connect them with you. For accurate medical translations, get in touch with the experts, eTranslation Services. You can easily get in touch with us by emailing at [email protected]. You can also contact us at (800) 882-6058 to discuss your requirements.

 

Share this :
blog

Related Articles

Quis egestas felis eu fermentum adarcu suscipit quis ut gravida dolor amet justo In purus integer dui enim vitae vitae congue volutpat tincidunt sed ac non tempor massa.