Medical Specialties

The latest trend in medical interpreting is specialty medical terminology.  Many hospitals and cilinics that use medical interpreter services are now advertizing positions with the following description;

Medical Interpreter with 1 - 3 years experience, 60 hour Medical Interpreter training, knowledge of medical terminology with medical specialties. Will be tested.

So something is obviously happening that has prompted some healthcare providers to be more specific about what they are looking for regarding terminology and specialties.  It is likely that they have found that many practicing interpreters do not have the desired level of knowledge or simply lack the competence necessary to interpret in certain situations..

The problem may be a result of the medical interpreter training programs.  They do a very good job at testing individuals prior to starting the course as a prerequisite.  Fluency and general knowledge of medical terminology are tested and a candidate must meet a minimum requirement.  Once you enter the course you are taught medical terminology for all the major body systems. You are taught about certain procedures.  However, you are not specifically taught or tested on medical specialty and the terminology associated with it. 

So maybe the next step in training medical interpreters should be to include medical specialties as part of the training. However, to do this the training program must be increased from 60 to 70 hours to accommodate the added material and include medical specialty terminology. This will then send a better prepared interpreter into the field.  The second approach could be to require as a prerequisite that prospective medical interpreters take a medical terminology course and test for proficiency prior to entering a medical interpreter training.

The result will be a much more proficient and competent medical interpreter.  This will serve the purpose of both the employers and the interpreters.  The employer will be able to hire a medical interpreter with a little less experience who has the level of competence they require to perform interpretations in a medical specialty venue.  The interpreter will have the knowledge to perform in this venue and be able to attain employment regardless of their experience.  Both will have success.