Medical Interpreters: Current Status of the Profession

1. 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

2. How did we come to be? International Medical Interpreters Association

3. Key Moments 1964 Civil Rights Act – Title VI 1986 International Association formed 1990 Americans with Disability Act 2000 Executive Order 13166 2001 1st State Medical Interpreter Law 2001 & 2003 Certification pilots 2009 National Certification launched International Medical Interpreters Association

4. Key Lawsuit The young man was unconscious, and the only clue to his condition was the use of the Spanish word “intoxicado” by his mother and girlfriend. As no one in the ED spoke Spanish, hospital staff interpreted the word to mean that the boy was intoxicated or, more specifically, suffering from a drug overdose. What the women had intended to convey, however, was that the boy was nauseated, not intoxicated. Nearly three days after his admission, all the while being treated for a drug overdose, he was left quadriplegic. He ultimately sued the hospital, the paramedics, the ED, and attending physicians for medical malpractice, and his settlement topped $71 million. International Medical Interpreters Association

5. Key Pioneering Publications: 1987 IMIA Code of Ethics, others followed 2000 IMIA Standards of Practice, others followed 2001 CLAS Standards International Medical Interpreters Association

6. 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 International Medical Interpreters Association

7. Interpreter Needs: • Exposure to practice settings • Mentoring • Access to Training • Networking/Support • Adequate working conditions • Career Ladder • Respect • Protection in the Law International Medical Interpreters Association

8. Where are we now? International Medical Interpreters Association

9. Current Conditions: Basic Training Testing & Credentialing Practicum & Mentoring Continuing Education Affiliation in a Professional Body International Medical Interpreters Association

10. 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 International Medical Interpreters Association

11. 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 International Medical Interpreters Association

12. 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 International Medical Interpreters Association

13. 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 International Medical Interpreters Association

14. Affiliation to a professional body (National, state, international) They provide: • List serves • Committees • Task Forces • Latest Information • Networking events • Leadership opportunities • Representation in Washington International Medical Interpreters Association

15. Where are we going? International Medical Interpreters Association

16. 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, Korean, and Russian to be launched in Summer 2011 International Medical Interpreters Association

17. Where do we want to go? International Medical Interpreters Association

18. 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 International Medical Interpreters Association

19. Questions? Izabel S. Arocha, M.Ed., CMI Executive Director IMIA iarocha@imiaweb.org International Medical Interpreters Association