Collaborating with Language Interpreters for Better Outcomes in Health Care

Learning Objectives

1. KNOW the role, responsibilities, and ethical guidelines that professional language interpreters follow in healthcare settings, including how to identify a qualified interpreter. 
2. UNDERSTAND the healthcare interpreter’s code of ethics and its role in ensuring accurate, professional, and culturally sensitive communication that protects patient safety and autonomy. 
3. BE ABLE TO collaborate effectively with language interpreters in clinical and service settings by applying practical strategies and demonstrating an understanding of provider and interpreter roles before, during, and after interpreted encounters. 
4. BE ABLE TO identify and navigate communication challenges in healthcare interactions involving interpreters, including recognizing their own implicit biases, determining when and how to intervene, and addressing cultural misunderstandings using the Strategic Mediation Model from The Medical Interpreter.