5 Mistakes Hospitals Should Avoid When Hiring an Interpreter

Effective communication is the cornerstone of quality healthcare.

Yet, healthcare facilities often face the challenge of communicating with patients who speak different languages or have hearing impairments.

They might provide an interpreter when the doctor arrives, but individuals who are deaf or don’t speak English as their first language struggle through the onboarding, booking, and check-in processes.

Providing language access in healthcare extends far beyond the interaction between the patient and the doctor. Effective communication should encompass every stage of the patient journey because each step requires clear communication to ensure the patient understands and can comply with medical advice.

This includes having interpreters available for phone calls, check-ins, and other preliminary interactions. By providing language support throughout the entire patient journey, healthcare facilities can ensure that patients receive the care they need in a timely manner.

However, when hiring an interpreter, there are many key mistakes hospitals tend to make—which could be easily avoided to improve the patients experience!

Here are the five common mistakes to keep in mind:

1.  Last-Minute Scheduling:

One of the most common issues is interpreters showing up late or not at all because the hospital didn’t schedule them in advance.

Medical interpreters should be booked as soon as the appointment is made to ensure their availability and punctuality. Last-minute arrangements often lead to delays and patient dissatisfaction.

2.  Unprofessional Appearance:

The appearance of an interpreter can significantly impact the perception of the individual they are interpreting for.

An interpreter showing up in inappropriate attire, such as a hot pink dress or with visible tattoos, can distract from the communication process and reflect poorly on the patient. Interpreters should maintain a professional appearance to foster a respectful and effective interaction between the patient and healthcare provider.

If they have an unprofessional appearance, they aren’t one you should hire again.

3.  Inappropriate Use of AI:

While AI technologies like ChatGPT 4.0 offer promising capabilities for language translation, they are not suitable replacements for human interpreters in medical settings.

The nuances and complexities of medical terminology require a human touch to ensure accuracy and clarity. Relying on AI for interpreting critical medical information can lead to significant errors and potential legal repercussions.

Now, that doesn’t mean you can never use AI. It can be useful for non-critical tasks such as scheduling appointments or handling billing inquiries, but AI should not replace human interpreters during medical consultations.

4.  Gender Mismatch:

For discussions involving sensitive health issues, having an interpreter of the same sex as the patient can significantly enhance comfort and openness.

This is especially important in the deaf community, where social circles are often small and closely-knit. Ensuring that interpreters match the gender of the patient when discussing intimate health matters can improve the quality of the interaction and the patient’s comfort level.

5.  Poor Technology for VRI:

Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) can be an effective solution, especially in settings where in-person interpreters are not available.

However, the success of VRI depends heavily on the quality of the internet connection. A poor or unstable connection can lead to freezing video, garbled audio, and overall miscommunication.

Healthcare facilities should lean towards in person interpreters first to make sure there are no technological barriers in important medical conversations.

If you can avoid these five mistakes when providing language services for your patients, their experience with your hospital will be drastically improved! And the best part? You aren’t just helping patients when you keep these things in mind.

The Business Benefits of Medical Interpreters

Investing in professional medical interpreters offers numerous business advantages for healthcare facilities.

One of the most immediate and noticeable benefits of having professional medical interpreters is the improvement in patient satisfaction. When patients fully understand their diagnoses, treatment plans, and follow-up instructions, they are more likely to feel confident and secure in their care.

This confidence translates into higher levels of satisfaction, which generate better outcomes and patients who are more likely to return for future services.

Another significant advantage is enhanced treatment adherence.

Patients who fully grasp the details of their medical conditions and the steps they need to take for their treatment are more likely to follow through with prescribed treatments. This understanding can lead to fewer complications, and reduced hospital readmissions.

Miscommunication in healthcare settings can lead to severe errors, such as incorrect diagnoses or inappropriate treatments, which can have dire consequences for patients. These mistakes can result in legal liabilities and costly lawsuits for healthcare facilities. By ensuring that communication is accurate and clear through the use of professional interpreters, healthcare providers can significantly minimize these risks.

When patients feel that their cultural and linguistic needs are respected and met, they are more likely to follow instructions and become advocates for the facility.

Need interpreting?

Hands Up Communications can help. Our interpreters, both remote and onsite, are highly experienced and ready to bridge the gap of communication for you. If you need interpreting or translation services to provide exceptional service to your patients, we’ve got you covered.

Our goal is to help you effectively communicate with the world! Schedule here.