This document discusses the importance of professional medical interpreters. It notes that medical facilities see patients from diverse backgrounds and languages daily, so interpreters are needed to facilitate communication when language barriers exist. Family or friends of patients may try to interpret, but the medical field has complex terminology requiring experience. Unauthorized interpreters could make errors that complicate care or risk patient health. The document also emphasizes that medical interpreters must keep up to date on advancing terminology and procedures. It outlines other requirements like cultural understanding and managing relationships. Finally, it introduces Alphatrad as an agency providing qualified interpreters with medical expertise and resources to meet industry needs.

2. Medical Interpretation – A
Healthcare Necessity
Within healthcare facilities all over the world,
patients of different cultures and backgrounds are
admitted every day.
Sometimes there may be a language barrier
between healthcare professionals and a patient.
This is where medical interpreters are needed to
make communications between healthcare
professionals and patients as easy as if there
were no language barrier at all.

3. Professional Interpreters –
Often Overlooked
It is often the case where patients feel that others present
who may be bilingual, such as family members and friends
can perform as their interpreter.
However, the medical industry is one with a vast amount
of complicated terminology that can usually only be fully
understood by people who have experience in the
industry.
Having a stand-in interpreter who is not qualified step in
as a substitute is very risky and could lead to errors in
interpretation. Such errors not only complicate medical
procedures and protocol, but they can also put patient
health and medical professional’s liability at risk.

4. The Medical Industry –
Constantly Changing
The medical industry is always changing, usually for
the better. Through medical research, new
medicines, vaccines and medical procedures are
developed every day.
Therefore, medical interpreters must be able to keep
up-to-date with these advancements so that they are
familiar with the medical terminology for when a
medical procedure requires recently updated
terminology and instructions to be relayed between a
patient and medical staff.

5. Other Medical Interpretation
Requirements
There are a number of other requirements of medical
interpreters:
The ability to become quickly familiar with the task in hand –
as medical practices have no room for error, a medical
interpreter must become quickly familiar with the medical
procedures ahead. Therefore, they can make sure
communications between each party run as smoothly as
possible.
Cultural and ethical understanding – Medical interpreters
must take the patient’s cultural background and values into
consideration when working with them.
Manage the “triadic” relationship – as the interpreter is the
third party in these instances, he/she must ensure a good
working relationship is quickly instilled between him/herself,
the medical staff and the patient.

6. Alphatrad Meets the Interpreting Needs of
the Ever-Changing Medical Industry
Today’s medical industry needs interpreters who deliver
the upmost accuracy, quality and medical knowledge.
Here at Alphatrad our interpreters:
Are only assigned native projects for which they have been
fully immersed in the source and target languages as well
as the cultural requirements
Are specialized in the medical industry . Our medical
interpreters have excellent and up-to-date knowledge of
the medical industry, its terminology and are active in
researching the latest advancements.
Are part of a network that covers the globe and has over
35 years of experience. With 85 offices situated worldwide,
a network of over 3,500 translators and covering over 100
languages, Alphatrad has a translator to best fit your
medical translation needs.

7. Our Interpreters are
Always Up-to-date
Our interpreters take pride in their work and
therefore understand the need to constantly
update themselves with any changes in the
industry. They use internationally recognized
sources such as:
International Health Terminology Standards
Development Organization – www.ihtsdo.org
Medterms Online Medical Terminology Dictionary –
www.medterms.com

8. Contact Us for More
Information
If you are interested in our services or simply
want to find out more information on the medical
interpretation field, please contact us:
Email: USA@alphatrad.com
By phone (toll-free): (1-877)-900-5652
Or visit our website
www.alphatrad-translations.com
We look forward to hearing from you!