Interpreter Practice
This section on Interpreter Practice covers many issues related to the
emerging profession of medical interpretation. The individual topic areas
here do not stand alone, but comprise a continuum of interconnected processes
that must occur as the profession evolves.
Under Role and Practice Issues, you will find
information on the importance of Standards of Practice
as a starting point for the emerging professionalization of medical interpreters
and you will find examples of standards that have already been developed.
Here you will also find Role Definition, a discussion
of the various roles interpreters can assume, the controversy concerning
roles, and the importance of defining role. You will also find valuable
information on certification, licensing, accreditation,
role of national/state boards, such as existing certification processes,
issues to consider in the development of certification requirements, and
the role that national professional organizations can play in helping to
develop testing and accreditation programs to ensure the quality of interpreter
services.
Under Competency Testing you will find examples
of specific tests for evaluating interpreter competency and issues to consider
in developing such tests.
Under Ethics, you will find an overview of ethical
issues in interpretation, advice on how to seek help when cross-cultural
situations with ethical considerations arise, as well as specific examples
of codes of ethics from three different organizations.
Finally, the section on Interpreter Job Descriptions
will contain samples of job descriptions that describe the varying scope
of duties interpreters perform at different institutions around the country. | 
