The Medical Interpretation Industry has been introducing new technologies, as well as, increasing the saturation of older ones throughout the nation. VRI or Video Remote Interpreting is maybe the newest one. It was created to address the lack of ASL Interpreters in certain markets and to present users with an alternative to having to hire a team of 5 or more interpreters to cover and meet the language needs of their institution. However, Interpreters are becoming more savvy with their knowledge of the new challenges these technologies and managment in healthcare present to them.
Many Interpreters are aware that in some markets healthcare providers are gravitating toward the use of VRI for ASL,as well as, spoken languages. Therefore, they are starting to apply for positions with companies such as Language Line Solutions, Stratus Video and others. The Idea is to be able to be employed in a healthcare facility as a per diem employee while at the same time working for a VRI provider when at home. This is very astute of some interpreters; having your eggs in more than one basket or several at a time insures that you can earn a living wage in this industry.
Moreover, Interpreters are becoming nationally certified in order to bring an increased professional partrayal and treatment of the roles in the process of providing healthcare services. You would think that this is not necessary. However, for many years now interpreters are and have not been considered professionals in their field by healthcare providers in general. This is partially due to the fact that many interpreters lack college credentials and professional licensure or certification. As of next year, here in Massachusetts, this will not longer be the case. Many healthcare providers will be requiring their interpreters to be nationally certfied. Lawrence General Hospital is one of these institutions providing leadership toward this accomplishment.
However, the VRI and Telephonic Interpreting providers have been scooping up some of the more qualified interpreters in the field. If they are able to compete on wages they will succeed in saturating the market with these electronically based services. However, if healthcare providers get smart and realize that they must increase wages and even offer benefits to their on staff interpreters the previously mentioned will not succeed. Instead these more qualified interpreters will seek to attain or remain employed at a facility. Currently employers mostly hire per diem interpreters who work and average of 25 to 32 hour a week. This is specifically done for financial purposes. However, Interpreters should be able to earn a professional wage. especially when their credentials include a college degree or two and a certification.
The shortage of medical interpreters being created by attrition due to national certification requirements will be complicated further by state statutes requiring the private sector to provide interpretation services. Once again Massachusetts is right now reviewing and considering such legislation (WBZ Radio, Boston Globe). For those of us who currently work in this industry we are asking ourselves what exactly we can do to take advantage of existing and future conditions in the market. Please consider that althoough the industry has a relatively attractive hourly wage, most interpreters do not work a forty hour shift in one location. Often in order to earn forty hours of wages they must travel to several locations to provide their services. As many of you may know this is physically demanding and time consuming. We do prefer to dedicate ourselves to one employer. However, employers are not offering full time benefited positions. The only persons who may work forty hours a week are coordinators and their direct assistants.
So, get educated, get certified and network for the best pay and benefits out there. As a new collegue told me the other day, " you can earn a great salary if you don't put all your eggs in one basket" I quickly determined that she was right. After many years of working in the field I found out that you need to be multitalented and highly educated in this field if you want to be respected. Better yet, bring something to the table that others cannot do, have difficulty doing, or don't like to do. Remember that they need you more than you need them. In other words position yourself adapt to the new conditions in order to have continued and increased succes. Try to do what many interpreters are now doing more fervently, attain credential in legal and community interpreting in order to garantee yourself employment. If you are truely good at what you do you will be noticed and respected.
Coming soon, a list of all the major language services providers in the country. By the way the Bureau of Federal Investigations is currently hiring interpreters to work in all US markets. So if you are interested go to FBI.gov
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