National Medical Interpreter Certification: A Primer for Trainers

1. National Medical Interpreter Certification: A Primer for Trainers First National Symposium on Medical Interpreter Education New Brunswick, NJ June 12th, 2010 Elena Langdon, MA, CT Secretary of the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters

2. National Certification for Medical Interpreters Launch - October 2009 First National Symposium on Medical Interpreter Education

3. PROGRESS REPORT • Registration automated on newly designed website • International job analysis launched in partnership with Global Advisory Council • Close to 250 registrations received and processed • Candidates have passed the written exam • Oral exams for Spanish are underway First National Symposium on Medical Interpreter Education

4. DEFINITIONS FOR STUDENTS Certification: To go through a process where a certifying body certifies that you meet a specified standard, based on a series of requirements, including passing certification exams Certificate: Completed a course of study or training in interpreting, and received a certificate of completion License: Typically regulated and provided by state or federal entity, this is a work permit required in many professions. First National Symposium on Medical Interpreter Education

5. PREREQUISITES Interpreterswith 1 year proven work experience through employer letter (this offer will expire in May, 2011). Interpreters withless than 1 year proven work experience: Age: at least 18 years old General education: Minimum High School Diploma or equivalent Medical interpreter education: At least 40 hours program Oral proficiency: in English and the other language: High school or higher education or ACTFL LTI Exam at Advanced Mid level minimum. First National Symposium on Medical Interpreter Education

6. CERTIFICATION PROCESS Step 1 Register - Fee $30 Step 2 Take the National Board Written Exam (in English) Fee $150 ($75 for those who participated in the pilots) Step 3 Depending on the non-English working language Take the National Board Oral Exam Fee $250 Step 4. Get Recertified (Available Fall of 2014) Every 5 years – no retesting required/ proof of 3.0CEUs NOTE: All fees are payable to the National Board and go towards processing registration, administering the exams, or further development of new test versions. First National Symposium on Medical Interpreter Education

7. TIMELINE FOR CERTIFICATION Complete Online Registration (one time registration) Notified of approval/denial or of further documentation needed (2-4 weeks) Take Written Exam at PSI Location Immediate notification of pass or fail If Passed: Receive email if Spanish from National Board and ISO to take Oral exam (4-6 weeks) Take Oral Exam at ISO Location (within 6 months) Notified of pass or fail via mail (4-6 weeks) First National Symposium on Medical Interpreter Education

8. CREDENTIALS 1. CERTIFIED MEDICAL INTERPRETER (CMI) Successful completion of certification process with written & oral exams Initially available in Spanish. It will be available in 21 more languages, eventually expanding to 30 QUALIFIED MEDICAL INTERPRETER (QMI) Successful completion of process with written & qualification exams For minority languages done in partnership with other national testing providers SCREENED MEDICAL INTERPRETER (SMI) Successful completion of process with written & review of portfolio (similar to Canadian & Australian recognition processes) For newly emerging languages First National Symposium on Medical Interpreter Education

9. NEXT STEPS Arabic Bosnian Cambodian (Khmer) Cantonese Croatian Farsi French German Haitian Creole Hmong Italian Japanese Korean Mandarin Polish Portuguese Russian Serbian Somali Spanish Tagalog Vietnamese Develop Oral exam for remaining 21 languages First National Symposium on Medical Interpreter Education

10. Written Exam Testing Sites PSI LOCATIONS: www.psionline.com All interpreters, all languages, 600 locations Oral Exam Testing Sites ISO LOCATIONS:www.isoqualitytesting.com/locations.aspx Language specific, over 300 locations First National Symposium on Medical Interpreter Education 6

11. WRITTEN EXAMS TOPICSExam is in English Medical Terminology – not translation of terms, but understanding of terminology 75% of exam is medical terminology Roles of the Medical Interpreter Medical Specialties Medical Interpreter Ethics Cultural Awareness Interpreter Standards of Practice (IMIA, CHIA, NCIHC) Legislation and Regulations (HIPAA, CLAS) Note: Content is based on Job Analysis Data statistics. First National Symposium on Medical Interpreter Education

12. Subtopics Covered in Ethics • Confidentiality • Accuracy and Completeness • Impartiality • Conflict of Interest • Scope of Practice, Role Boundaries • Disqualification/Impediments to Performance • Professional Courtesy • Professional Development Note: Content is based on 2009 Job Analysis Data statistics. First National Symposium on Medical Interpreter Education

13. Subtopics - Medical Terminology • Medical Tests and Diagnostics • Medical Apparatus • Pharmacology • Pathologies • Symptomatology • Anatomy • Musculoskeletal System • Endocrine • Respiratory . Cardiovascular Urinary Nervous Digestive Reproductive Integumentary (skin) Treatments Acronyms and Abbreviations Note: Content is based on Job Analysis Data statistics First National Symposium on Medical Interpreter Education

14. Subtopics - Medical Specialties • OB/GYN & Genetic Counseling • Organ Transplant • Pharmacy • ENT • Pediatrics • Emergency medicine • Oncology • Surgery • Orthopedics • Radiology • Nutrition Counseling Physical Speech and Occupational Therapy Urology and Nephrology Endocrinology Ophthalmology Neurology Psychiatry Cardiology Hematology Dermatology Respiratory Illness First National Symposium on Medical Interpreter Education

15. Sample question on the written test If a patient has renal failure, this means that he/she has a disease primarily related to: The pancreas The kidneys The liver The spleen First National Symposium on Medical Interpreter Education

16. ORAL EXAM The oral test is proctored at ISO sites using web technology The test takes 40 minutes 12 mini-scenarios - 30 minutes 1 sight translation - 10 minutes Covers same subject matter as described previously First National Symposium on Medical Interpreter Education

17. SKILLS ASSESSED ON ORAL EXAM Linguistic proficiency in both working languages Consecutive Interpreting skills in context Sight translation skills from English into other language Knowledge of medical terminology and specialties within context in both languages Cultural awareness Note: Content is based on Job Analysis Data statistics. First National Symposium on Medical Interpreter Education

18. SAMPLE ORAL EXAM SCENARIO What brings you to the emergency room today? I feel a sharp pain in my chest (in other language). When did it start? This morning at two (in other language). Is the pain constant or does it come and go? Does it radiate to your arms or legs? It’s a tight and localized pain (in other language). I will examine you and also order an EKG and some blood tests. Thank you. I need something to make me feel better (in other language). First National Symposium on Medical Interpreter Education

19. SAMPLE SIGHT TRANSLATION Skin care and hygiene instructions: Apply a hypoallergenic lotion twice a day. Keep your skin clean, such as with a daily shower. This can help reduce the possibility of infection. Keep your hands clean. Wash your hands frequently, especially before taking care of your catheter. Avoid direct sun exposure on your skin. Take your medicine for eczema as directed. First National Symposium on Medical Interpreter Education

20. How can we prepare our students? First National Symposium on Medical Interpreter Education

21. Factors to consider: • DIVERSITY • Age • Experience • Educational backgrounds • Cultural expectations • Languages • Technological expertise • Career goals • Certification experience First National Symposium on Medical Interpreter Education

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23. Standard components • Medical terminology • Standards of practice • Ethical guidelines • Role plays • Consecutive interpreting • Sight translation • Regulations and laws First National Symposium on Medical Interpreter Education

24. What’s NOT on the tests • Simultaneous interpreting • Written translation • Figures/diagrams • Essay or open-ended questions First National Symposium on Medical Interpreter Education

25. Questions to ask • How do you currently measure skills and knowledge? • What areas do you cover? • Language neutral vs. language specific • Learning environment First National Symposium on Medical Interpreter Education

26. Testing & measurement • Written exams: • Multiple choice quizzes and tests • Use computers • Free programs like Survey Monkey, ProProfs ($3/mo to store scores) • Oral exams: • Self-monitoring • Recorded role-plays • Group assessments First National Symposium on Medical Interpreter Education

27. Audio Resources • Audacity • mp3 players • Headphones w/ mics • Skype First National Symposium on Medical Interpreter Education

28. Audacity www.audacity.sourceforge.net First National Symposium on Medical Interpreter Education

29. Web 2.0 resources for trainers • interpretertrainers.ning.com • Join today! • http://interpreters.free.fr/practice.htm • delicious.com/elangdon • Facebook groups (Interpreter Studies and probably others) First National Symposium on Medical Interpreter Education