Language can become a barrier in healthcare settings. Effective communication is key to a patient’s satisfaction and successful treatment outcomes when they seek medical care. However, if there is a language barrier between the patient and the doctor, nurse, or staff, it may be dangerous to the patient, given the serious nature of medical services.
What Is Medical On-Site Interpretation
Medical on-site interpretation helps with the communication among healthcare staff and patients who require these kinds of services. This interpretation ensures that patients who don’t speak the native language, or are not proficient, receive the quality and accurate professional treatment.
Medical on-site interpretation also guarantees equal opportunities to foreign patients, allowing them to understand their diagnosis, aftercare instructions and follow-up recommendations.
When is Medical On-Site Interpretation Needed?
For healthcare facilities, having medical interpreters can be very beneficial in many scenarios:
- Emergency Cases: If an LEP patient needs urgent medical attention, medical interpreters will translate to the staff the symptoms the patient describes, as well as any additional information of interest. At the same time, they will communicate the diagnosis, procedures, and care to the patient and family.
- Non-verbal Communication: An on-site interpreter can help collect crucial non-verbal cues to interpret a message. These cues can often get lost through a video conversation.
- Medical Evaluations: Interpreters can help doctors and their patients with documentation related to med-legal evaluations, vital documents, forms, and notices.
- Confidentiality: On-site interpreters always maintain the principles of strict medical confidentiality between a doctor and the patient.
Atlas Language Services provides on-site medical interpretation services to help patients and healthcare personnel communicate accurately, effectively and confidentially. Please contact us for more information.
FAQs
What is medical on-site interpretation?
Medical on-site interpretation facilitates communication between healthcare staff and patients who are not proficient in the local language. It ensures that patients fully understand their diagnosis, treatment options, aftercare instructions, and follow-up recommendations, helping to provide accurate and professional care.
When is medical on-site interpretation necessary?
Medical on-site interpretation is essential in various scenarios, including emergency cases where timely communication is critical, non-verbal communication that requires in-person observation, medical evaluations, and ensuring patients understand important forms and documents.
How do on-site interpreters help in medical emergencies?
In emergencies, on-site interpreters assist by translating the patient’s symptoms and any other vital information to healthcare providers. They also communicate the diagnosis, procedures, and care instructions to the patient and their family, ensuring a clear understanding in urgent situations.
Do medical on-site interpreters maintain patient confidentiality?
Yes, on-site interpreters are bound by strict confidentiality rules in medical settings. They ensure that all patient information shared during medical visits remains private and complies with healthcare confidentiality standards.