Q: What's a typical workday like for you?
A: I interact with patients from different parts of Latin America and Spain. My first job is to confirm the regional language and make sure we understand each other. I fill the needs of three hospitals - St. Joseph's, St. John's and Woodwinds - whose emergency departments and maternity care centers are quite busy. (HealthEast requires interpreters to be present at the time of labor and delivery.) Phone calls are an important part of my job - making three-way calls with service providers, reminding patients of upcoming appointments, or preparing them for a surgical procedure, or for certain exams. I also translate documents such as medical forms and letters to patients.
Q: How does your role fit into the bigger healthcare picture?
A: According to the U.S. Census, more than 25 million people in the U.S. speak less than very good English and may be considered to have LEP (Limited English Proficiency). Interpreters help LEP patients to effectively communicate with healthcare providers and focus on concerns of health rather than concerns about communication.
Q: Who do you interact with during the course of the day?
A. I interact with patients and their families, doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, health unit coordinators, receptionists, administration personnel and technicians.
Q: Why did you become a medical interpreter?
A: I have always been interested in the medical field. Growing up in Mexico in a bilingual home, and attending an English immersion school gave me the tools to understand both languages.
