medical interpreters: current status of the profession february 5, 2011 north carolina 2 nd...
TRANSCRIPT
Medical Interpreters:Current Status of the Profession
February 5, 2011
North Carolina 2nd Symposium on Medical Interpreting
Izabel S. Arocha, M.Ed., CMI
Executive Director
IMIA
How did we come to be?
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Key Moments
1964 Civil Rights Act – Title VI1986 International Association formed1990 Americans with Disability Act2000 Executive Order 131662001 1st State Medical Interpreter Law2001 & 2003 Certification pilots2009 National Certification launched
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Key Lawsuit
The young man was unconscious, and the only clue to hiscondition was the use of the Spanish word “intoxicado” by hismother and girlfriend. As no one in the ED spoke Spanish,hospital staff interpreted the word to mean that the boy wasintoxicated or, more specifically, suffering from a drug overdose. What thewomen had intended to convey, however, was that the boy was nauseated,not intoxicated. Nearly three days after his admission, all the while beingtreated for a drug overdose, he was left quadriplegic. He ultimately suedthe hospital, the paramedics, the ED, and attending physicians for medicalmalpractice, and his settlement topped $71 million.
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Key Pioneering Publications:
1987 IMIA Code of Ethics, others followed
2000 IMIA Standards of Practice, others followed
2001 CLAS Standards
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Recent Publications
• IMIA Guide on Working with Interpreters • IMIA Guide on Ethical Conduct for Medical
Interpreters• IMIA Guide on Telephone Interpreting• IMIA Guide on Medical Translation• Top Ten Reasons to Hire a Staff Interpreter
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Interpreter Needs:
• Exposure to practice settings• Mentoring• Access to Training• Networking/Support• Adequate working conditions• Career Ladder• Respect• Protection in the Law
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Where are we now?
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Current Conditions:
Basic Training
Testing & Credentialing
Practicum & Mentoring
Continuing Education
Affiliation in a Professional Body
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Specialized Medical Interpreting Training• Many 40-60hr trainings (<40 hrs not recognized a
program since 2008)• IMIA National Training Registry – new requirement
for national certification as of 2009• Increase in University-based programs
• Educational Degrees affect pay grades• 40-60 hours of instruction not enough
• Demand for training higher than supply• Most hospitals require basic training to hire
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Testing & Credentialing• Most hospitals require interpreters to be tested
– National third party testing increasing– Quality of hospital and training testing varies significantly– Hospitals require ASL interpreter certification
• National Certification since 2009– Requirement in Oregon, other states will follow– Oral in Spanish only (75% of demand)– Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Russian and Korean to
become available in Summer 2011– QMI, SMI Credentials for other languages
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Practicum and Mentoring
• Practicum being incorporated into training programs– Preceptor training varies– Educators & employers – No access to all languages
• IMIA Mentoring Program– Free service– Career ladder
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Continuing Education
• Increase in availability of workshops• Access through remote webinars• IMIA CEU Program
– requirement for recertification– Archives all your educational history
• Specialization programs – (Mental Health Interpreting 1 yr certificate program,
Cambridge College)– Northeastern Univ. Interpreter Pedagogy Masters
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Affiliation to a professional body(National, state, international)
They provide:• List serves• Committees• Task Forces• Latest Information• Networking events• Leadership opportunities• Representation in Washington
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Where are we going?
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Trends:• NCIHC Training Standards and IMIA Accreditation Program
coming soon• New secondary professions emerging (interpreter trainer,
researcher, manager, language coach, rater)• Technology making language access more efficient• Remote interpreting surpassing on site interpreting• Public awareness of profession increasing• Certification will become the norm nationwide
– Already required in Oregon, other states will follow– Spanish available, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese,
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Where do we want to go?
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Long term goals:
• Close compensation gap between medical interpreters and colleagues (ASL, Court, Conference)
• Protect working conditions (rests, minimum hours)• Strong practicum component required in all trainings• Training & Certification - all languages & locations• Protect jobs (not all can be done via remote interpreting)• Legislation protecting profession so only competent individuals
can practice – patient safety issue• Reimbursement of services nationwide • Internationalization of profession
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Questions?
Izabel S. Arocha, M.Ed., CMI
Executive Director
IMIA
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