Medical Interpreter Training
With the growing number of people in the United States who speak a language other than English, there is an increasing demand for bilingual and bicultural interpreters in the health care setting. Because accurate communication is a vital component in the delivery and receipt of effective health care, the availability of linguistically proficient health services is increasingly recognized as a pre-requisite to quality care. The use of a trained medical interpreter has the potential to improve access to health care, the quality of that care, reduce costs, and ultimately, improve patient health outcomes.
In acknowledgement of the importance of medical interpreter service, the Federal government currently requires health care facilities that receive Federal funds to:
- Provide language accessible services to all patients
- Determine the language needs of prospective patients at the earliest possible opportunity
- Use only trained interpreters
- Ensure the 24 hour availability of trained interpreters
The Office of Community Programs (OCP) provides a number of training programs, educational materials, and consulting services to help organizations address these requirements.
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To learn more about our medical interpreter training program, contact our program coordinator, Janet Culpepper at janet.culpepper@umassmed.edu