The best thing for any doctor is to ensure that patients understand their questions; so that the best treatment is applied.

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      For helping patients with limited English ability, having medical interpreters on call is crucial.   Medical interpreting has a specific set of concerns: what if someone’s health—or even life—is at immediate risk? As with any aspect of the medical field, the last thing anyone wants is a measure of uncertainty. For these reasons, certified medical interpreters are always preferable to an untrained person who happens to speak the needed language. (The latter is a common situation: a child or other relative with some English is enlisted to serve as go-between.)

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       Medical Interpreters are familiar not only with terminology, but also how to handle everything from doctor–patient confidentiality to family interactions. Even healthcare professionals who do possess language skills often cannot simplify concepts for laypeople across language boundaries as effectively. And beyond conveying information and putting patients in a stressful situation at ease, there are legal and ethical implications.  For this reason, we are offering an opportunity for dual language adults to take our Medical Interpreting course offered through MCA (Medical Interpreters Course) here at the Elkhart Community Schools Community Education Program.