[Cristina Restrepo]

The video presented many techniques to improve mental retention. The first of them being visualization and association which is the idea of transforming abstract information such as words and converting them into vivid images and linking them together, in order to enhance recall and understanding.

Another method that was really interesting to learn was the backwards drill which involved changing the order of the information to be interpreted to start with the last thing that was said and go backwards until you reach the beginning of the idea. What counts is that the message being conveyed is the same not paying attention to the order of ideas. This technique works well when you want to interpret right away things such as numbers, names of medications, dates, difficult terminology etc. Along the same lines goes note taking for the medical interpreter as it takes into account things that are hard to remember such as numbers, medicines, dosages, names, dates, times etc. Symbols are very helpful when taking notes as they simplify words and allow you to be more efficient.

Lastly comes idea mapping, which is a powerful visual thinking tool that enhances memory, note taking skills, thought organizing, planning, creativity and communication. This technique uses color, keywords, lines and images to connect thoughts associatively. This approach frees you to think, see and understand the whole picture far more effectively than when using a multi-page, linear document outlining the same information.

All of the techniques mentioned are great tools to utilize when working on our mental retention skills as they set the foundation for a successful career in the medical interpreting profession.

[Cristina Restrepo]

Mental retention is crucial in the medical interpreting profession as it allows interpreters to remember key details such as specific patient instructions, medical terminology, numbers, names of medications, etc. Ultimately ensuring accuracy and consistency throughout the interpretation process.

As we enter this journey is important to know what things inhibit good mental retention to try to avoid them and work or incorporate the things that improve it. One of the brain’s worst enemies is stress as it destroys the brain cells and damages the hippocampus, which is the region of the brain involved with the formation of new memories and the retrieval of old ones.
Another brain enemy could be your diet as research shows that diets high in saturated fats increase your risk of dementia and impair concentration and memory. Also refined sugars have a negative effect on the brain as it can increase the risk of cognitive impairment.
Lack of sleep is probably the worst enemy of all as it prevents your brain from operating at full capacity. Things such as creativity, problem solving skills and critical thinking are compromised.

On the other hand, things that improve our mental retention and are highly beneficial are sleep, as is necessary for memory consolidation. Also research shows that having meaningful relationships and a strong support system is vital for brain’s health. Laughter is also good for your brain as it engages multiple regions across the whole brain. Keeping stress in check and eating a brain boosting diet including foods rich in omega 3 fatty acids are particularly beneficial for brain health. Colorful fruits and vegetables are also packed with antioxidants which protects brain cells from damage. Meditation is another brain boosting activity as it can improve focus, concentration, creativity, learning and reasoning skills.

[Cristina Restrepo]

Hi Yona, you were spot on when you said that the art of medical interpreting isn’t found in memorization of medical terminology but instead it is found in knowing how the terms are composed. By understanding how prefixes and suffixes affect the root of a word it is easier to figure out the meaning even if it is an unfamiliar term.

[Cristina Restrepo]

Joseph, the accuracy of the interpretation service in the medical field is absolutely crucial as you had mentioned, it is the patient’s health and wellbeing at risk if there is any miscommunication or misunderstanding present as we are dealing with delicate subjects such as diagnosis of illness or disease, treatment options as well as medical exams or procedures that might be needed. Knowing how essential accuracy of translation is in this profession really highlights where I need to focus my attention in order to become a successful medical interpreter.

[Cristina Restrepo]

Hello Joseph, you bring a great point about finding balance when it comes to resources available to increase access of services for LEP individuals, specifically to qualified medical interpreters. I agree with your point of view, as there are many languages being spoken in a particular area and it is impossible to have medical interpreters for every language spoken, however, there should definitely be interpreting services for the most common languages spoken within a particular community.

[Cristina Restrepo]

As a medical interpreter it is important to know and understand the suffixes and prefixes used in medical terminology because it will help you figure out what medical terms mean as it is imposible for the human brain to memorize all the terms pertaining to the medical field. By understanding how words are composed and what suffixes and prefixes do to the root of words it is easier for medical interpreters to convey accurate and precise information by modifying these roots. This also helps to quickly convey complex information with fewer words. It is important to mention that prefixes add meaning to the beginning of a word while suffixes do it at the end of the term, often indicating a condition, procedure or disease.

[Cristina Restrepo]

Lesly, I really like how well you explained the many ways Rhode Island is implementing and adhering to order 13166 which calls to improve access to services for individuals with limited English proficiency. You really showed how compromised the state is with its LEP community, however, I also agree with you in that there is still many challenges to be addressed such as limited funding, technological tools needed, as well as diverse language interpretation among others. I hope our state representatives act to resolve these issues to better serve our LEP community.

[Cristina Restrepo]

I believe present day legislation is not enough as current laws still face some challenges some of them being the lack of universal certification standards for medical interpreters, reimbursement of services and ongoing need for accessible qualified interpreters in various languages. While order 13166, Massachusetts Emergency Room Interpreter Bill and ClAS Standards provide a good foundation, they do not fully address the challenges and gaps that LEP individuals face today.

The most outstanding challenges are the reimbursement of services as it can be a significant barrier especially for Medicaid/Medicare recipients. Also, there are no universal federal standards for certifying medical interpreters, which raises concerns about the quality and consistency of interpreter services. Another issue that needs to be addressed is the lack of medical interpretation in languages other than the most commonly spoken. Despite the legal requirements in place today, there is insufficient access to qualified interpreters, particularly in regions with diverse language population.

When it comes to order 13166, it is already being implemented in the state of Rhode Island to ensure access to federal programs and services for individuals with limited English proficiency. This means that any health facility that receives federal funding must provide competent and qualified interpreter services to those who need it. Also, the state of Rhode Island has developed a Limited English Proficiency Plan to ensure accessible transportation planning and public notification. This plan focuses on the provision of multilingual publications, translation, and interpretation services to meet the needs of limited English proficiency individuals.

[Cristina Restrepo]

Hi Milleny, I absolutely agree with you when it comes to making sure patients are being treated fairly and if we as future medical interpreters see something that might compromise the patient’s wellbeing or health we should definitely speak up and advocate for them.

[Cristina Restrepo]

Alexandra, thank you for pointing out the importance of doing a short but effective pre-session even in an emergency situation to obtain and maintain control of the communication in the room. I was assuming that being an emergency and time being of essence the pre-session was not necessary but I now see what could happen if that one step is omitted.

[Cristina Restrepo]

Hi Leonisa, I am glad you found my examples helpful when it comes to understanding each role of the medical interpreter. I really liked how you highlighted the importance of stating to both patient and provider when the message is coming from the interpreter and when you have stepped out of the message conveyor role, as you said. As it makes it clear to both parties that the message being conveyed is not coming from either the provider nor the patient but from the interpreter itself.

• This reply was modified 1 month ago by Cristina Restrepo.

[Cristina Restrepo]

The chief roles of the medical interpreter are message conveyor, message clarifier, cultural broker and lastly patient advocate.

To further explore what each roles entails let’s start with the message conveyor which transports the verbal and non verbal messages from provider to patient and vice versa. As a message conveyor the interpreter listens to both parties, observe body language, and convert the meaning of all messages from the source language tío the target language, without unnecessary additions, deletions or changes in meaning. In order for this to happen interpreters need to be in charge of the flow of communication, meaning deciding who and for how long each party needs to speak. An example of this would be the doctor asking the patient if they take any medications and the interpreter saying exactly the same thing in the target language without adding or changing anything such as what medications you take for instance.

The message clarifier role alert for possible words or concepts that might lead to a misunderstanding. When there is evidence of confusion the interpreter needs to address the issue before moving on with the encounter. Also, it is important for the interpreter to let patient and provider know when the message being spoken is coming from themselves personally and not being converted through interpretation. The message clarifier role also takes into account the educational background of the patient and maintains the same register as the patient and provider. An example of this would be the interpreter asking the provider for clarification after noticing a confused facial expression from the patient after a procedure was explained.

In the cultural broker role the interpreter acts as a bridge between patients and providers with different cultural backgrounds, facilitating communication, understanding, and potentially resolving conflicts. An example of this would be the interpreter finding a similar expression or word to convey a message that has no literal translation from one language to another. Another example could be when the patient refuses to have eye contact with a male doctor because her culture does not allow it.

In the patient advocate role the interpreter ensures that the patient’s voice is heard and their needs are met, particularly when language barriers exist, by facilitating communication, clarifying messages, and acting as a cultural broker, with the ultimate purpose of promoting patient-centered care as well as patient health and wellbeing. It is important to mention that this role of the medical interpreter is optional in light of the high skill level required and the potential risks to both patient and interpreter. An example would be the interpreter asking the front desk person to make a morning follow up appointment after the patient had disclosed during the encounter that this is the only time the patient has transportation available.

[Cristina Restrepo]

Thank you Alexandra for explaining why it is so important to keep interaction with the patient to a minimum before the encounter as it can allow room for ethical issues to occur. You having so many years of experience in the field must have seen a lot and it really gives us an opportunity to learn from your experience and prevent the same scenarios to happen to us when interpreting.

[Cristina Restrepo]

The benefits of a pre-session are valuable as it levels the playing field for all parties involved by explaining to the patient and provider what they can expect from you, how to best use your services, and to clarify your role as the interpreter, you also place yourself as the one responsible for the flow of communication in the encounter.

The benefit of a pre-session with yourself is to prepare yourself for the encounter that is about to take place. It allows you to be more comfortable with the process while maintaining professionalism and a high standard of service. For example a pre-session with yourself could include asking yourself what kind of appointment it is, familiarizing yourself with medical vocabulary that pertains to that particular appointment, procedures that will occur at that particular appointment and what part of the body is going to be talked about.

The benefit of a pre-session with the patient and provider as previously stated is to level the playing field for everyone involved, by explaining what they can expect from you, how the interaction between interpreter, provider and patient works, as well as going over the pre-session protocol CEFF to avoid misunderstandings and prevent possible issues from arising.

Possible scenarios that could be prevented by doing a pre-session are confusion by not knowing the roles of each party, people talking simultaneously, patient asking you to omit information or lie to the provider, not being clear what the appointment is for etc.

As far as the necessity of always doing a pre-session with the provider I would say is highly recommended for most instances, however, if an interpreter has been working with that provider for a while or has been working with that office and everyone knows their role then it may be omitted.

[Cristina Restrepo]

Leonisa, I am right there with you as I am now learning how deep and important the role of a medical interpreter is in ensuring effective communications between patients and medical providers. Really looking forward to learning everything that is needed to be a successful medical interpreter!

[Author]

Posts