Report:
Defining Competency in Medical Interpreting:
The Role of the Emerging Medical Interpreting
Profession in Improving Access to and Quality of Care for Patients with
Limited English Proficiency
By Michelle Roppe, M.Ed.
This report highlights the need to address quality within the individual
interpreting encounter itself, stating that assuring access to the system
of care must begin first with assuring communication as a foundation for
providing care. It contains relevant elements about the medical interpreter
appropriate for all members of the health care system, especially policymakers,
administrators, providers, faculty, interpreters and individuals with limited
English proficiency accessing health care and interpreter services.
Key Points:
The remarkable points of this paper include a discussion on the role
of the emerging medical interpreting profession , the competency and qualifications
of interpreters, the necessity for promoting consistency in the quality
of medical interpreting, and the need for standards as a measure of quality
of interpreting in health settings. It lists characteristics that define
what is meant by "profession", and provides citations and discussions
on the crucial role of formal training and education, professionalism as
a method of organizing work performance, recognition of competency for those
in a profession, professional code of ethics, and professional culture.
It also discusses the limitations of defining competency in interpreting,
observing that it is paramount in any discussion surrounding credentialing
or establishing standards for competency in medical interpreting to recognize
that this profession is still evolving. A significant concern over setting
standards for interpreting relates to the exclusionary policies and practices
which may accompany credentialing. Such standards for competency may potentially
limit the number of available interpreters so severely that in effect another
barrier to accessing health care is created.
The table of contents includes:
Introduction
Access, quality and cost as a framework for discussion
Present status of providing interpreter services in the health care system
Review of regulatory and legislative measures
Examples and models of professionalization in interpreting
The emergence of the medical interpreting profession
The Massachusetts Medical Interpreters Association
Limitations of defining competency in medical interpreting
Conclusion
References: 45
Total pages: 41
Where to Get It:
For further information and contact Michelle Roppe, M.Ed.
E-mail: Mroppe@mpls.k12.mn.us
Phone: (612) 588-6886
The cost of a copy of the report, including shipping and handling, is
$7.50
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