The emergency department presents unique challenges for medical interpreters, where the unexpected is the norm. Medical interpreters must be prepared for whatever comes through the ER doors and provide essential language support for healthcare providers. In this webinar, Trauma Nurse Specialist and Certified Healthcare Interpreter, Maria Schwieter, will discuss provider expectations of interpreters, focusing on three core areas: professionalism, subject matter knowledge, and certification or extensive training.
ust as nurses cannot work in trauma centers immediately after graduation due to the extensive knowledge required for complex medical procedures and outcomes, medical interpreters should follow similar professional development pathways. The current minimum training requirement of 40 hours is insufficient for the complicated and specialized profession of medicine. Provider experience with interpreters varies significantly, indicating a lack of consistency in training and preparation.
Maria will share real experiences with interpreters—both positive and challenging—and outline clear expectations providers have for professional medical interpreters in emergency department settings.
Learning Objectives:
- Discuss the culture of the emergency department: approaches to patient care, areas of concentration, use of technology.
- Preview situations you may encounter in the emergency department and how to deal with them.
- Understand the function of the dual role interpreter.
- Discuss Education and Certification Expectations of the interpreter.
- Discuss encounters with an interpreter, what worked well, what could have gone better.
No, CCC is an organization dedicated solely to interpreter and cultural competence training. Our mission is language access. However, we do provide graduates of The Community Interpreter® with a list of nearby language companies and public organizations that employ interpreters. We also occasionally send out job postings to our program graduates and/or e-newsletter subscribers at the request of other organizations.
Cross-Cultural Communications is the leading international training agency in the U.S. devoted to community interpreting, educational interpreting, healthcare interpreting and cultural competence. It is also the only organization that licenses community interpreters across the U.S. and in other countries. We regularly train bilingual staff as well as contract interpreters. We also provide training and consulting services to private companies, non-profits and government agencies. Our programs are grounded in a mixture of theory and practical, hands-on activities.
The Community Interpreter® International, or TCII, is a 40-hour certificate training program for interpreters who are just starting out or those experienced interpreters who are looking for a recognized qualification. Subjects covered include the interpreting code of ethics and standards of practice in order to give participants a solid grounding in the profession. This is complemented by practical, hands-on activities such as role-plays and interactive group discussions. The program fulfills the 40-hour training requirements considered by many (certifying bodies employers and industry associations) to be the minimum needed to entire the field.
At the moment, a combination of two CCC programs fulfills this requirement: Medical Terminology for Interpreters (7.5 hours) and The Community Interpreter® International. Since TCII is open to all community interpreters and the subject matter covers education and social services as well as medical interpreting, at the end of each TCII session any participant who is seeking medical interpreter certification will be given a letter from CCC, stating the number of hours that can be counted towards this requirement. Typically 34-36 hours count towards the 40 hour requirement.
Yes, although the CE credits offered for each program will vary according to course length and content. Our programs are currently approved for continuing education credits by the following organizations:
*To apply for RID CEUs after completing one of our courses, please contact our RID sponsor, admin@linguisteducationonline.com, with your course certificate of completion.
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