The Professionalization of Medical Interpreting in the United States

∼The Perspective of Early Pioneers∼

Abstract

Objectives
To analyze the professionalization process of medical interpreting in the United States. The findings are expected to provide suggestions for Japan, a nation primed to educate its future professional medical interpreters.
Method
Initial members of the world’s oldest medical interpreters association were interviewed. The transcripts were analyzed through thematic analysis.
Results
A group of staff interpreters met to share stories of difficult cases and dilemmas at work in the 1980s, later forming a professional organization in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1986. Later, they began to discuss common issues and developed some standards to clarify role definitions. They advocated for the profession with an aim to increase employment by collaborating with stakeholders to enact the first state law of medical interpreting. Out of eight participants, six worked as a professional interpreter and trainer simultaneously, thus educating newcomers to the profession. Conferences enabled professional medical interpreters and stakeholders to expand their network for local or joint initiatives to further develop the profession. The state government provided grants to medical interpreting education projects and issued guidance to hospitals for best practices.
Conclusion
To establish medical interpreting as a profession, organizational and advocacy activities were vital. Pioneering medical interpreters played an important role in the process of developing the profession by forming a professional organization, creating standards, approaching stakeholders, and becoming professional trainers to educate newcomers to be skillful enough. This network expanded through conferences enabling multiple stakeholders to take initiatives and accelerate the process. The participants pointed out the lack of training courses, difficulty in building relationships with physicians, and self-stress control. A survey conducted in Japan revealed that medical interpreters pointed out a lack of training courses, a lack of understanding by physicians and patients, and a lack of mental support. This study provides important lessons for burgeoning interpreters in Japan, with these commonalities in mind.