Medical Interpreters: Current Status of the Profession February 5, 2011 North Carolina 2 nd Symposium on Medical Interpreting Izabel S. Arocha, M.Ed., CMI Executive Director IMIA

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

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

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. 4International Medical Interpreters Association

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

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 6International Medical Interpreters Association

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

Where are we now? 8International Medical Interpreters Association

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

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 hours of instruction not enough Demand for training higher than supply Most hospitals require basic training to hire 10International Medical Interpreters Association

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 11International Medical Interpreters Association

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 12International Medical Interpreters Association

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 13International Medical Interpreters Association

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

Where are we going? 15International Medical Interpreters Association

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 International Medical Interpreters Association

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

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 18International Medical Interpreters Association

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