How to Find a High-Quality Spanish Medical Interpreter to Improve the Patient Experience

Hospitals and medical groups have reported a growing need for Spanish medical interpreters to not only offer a better patient experience, but so they can lawfully perform procedures and treat people with illnesses. Laws demand that patients must give their consent before undergoing surgery, and in some cases they can’t be prescribed medications unless a pharmacist first reviews the drug with the patient. In order to find the best Spanish medical interpreter, there are a number of things to be on the lookout for. This article is intended to help people in roles who are responsible for finding a Spanish medical interpreter to work with their care providers to communicate accurately and efficiently with patients. 

The Best Spanish Medical Interpreter can be Found at a Multilingual Translation Agency

Multilingual translation agencies offer a wide variety of services, to various industries. Moreso, the best ones will only partner with the best so that quality is consistent across their offerings. This means Spanish medical interpreters need to be certified, and fluent in all medical terminology. They also need to meet the demand to use the same bedside manner the instructing doctor, nurse or pharmacist is using, which is a skill that’s very hard to find in a Spanish medical interpreter outside of a multilingual translation agency. Agencies put a stamp of high quality on all their service providers making this an ideal place to find your Spanish medical interpreter.

Services the Spanish Medical Interpreter Offers

A good Spanish medical interpreter does much more than the name suggests. Make sure the service offers consecutive interpretation. This is used for one-on-one communication like when interpreting homecare instructions post-surgery, or in small group settings like when a team of doctors meet with a patient to go over treatment options. The Spanish medical interpreter should be able to do their job at the highest level within an expansive range of subjects like discussing HIPAA laws or treatment risks, to specialized areas of medicine like cardiology or oncology. 

Multiple Spanish Medical Interpreters and Conferences

The absolute best Spanish medical interpreter provider will offer hospitals the ability to have two or more simultaneous Spanish interpreters and conferencing abilities. Make sure the provider can offer on-site coordinators and technicians to inspect the environment and create a solution that enables flawless efficiency and ease. They should also give you the option for fully enclosed booths with work surfaces and the latest technology. 

Spanish Medical Interpreter Costs

You have a budget, so this means your Spanish medical interpreter should also give you options. If a consistent and significant patient load consists of Spanish speakers, you may want to contract with the agency. However, if you have a lower number of Spanish-speaking patients, over-the-phone Spanish interpretation that charges you by the minutes used would likely make more sense. 

When looking for the best Spanish medical interpreter, consider these points and you (and your patients) will be in excellent hands.