medical interpreters

[batista_123]

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hello
i have 2 questions
1. what does it take to become one of those people that are called when the patient doesnt speak English? is there an exam? i googled "certified medical interpreter" and I am not getting like an official government-run website, all i am getting is these ads for schools that offer this degree, but i dont know if thats what i need to get the position??
2. I alway wonder what do these interpreters do when there is no patients? do they just sit around at an office and get paid for doing nothing? or do they do some office work?

 

[MexicanDr]

1) There are several Community Colleges or adult school based programs that offer A medical interpreter certificate. Its usually a semester long and classes are like twice a week. One friend did this and she likes it a lot; as far as when there is no pts to interpret, there are many things she does, such as translating documents and other things as such.

 

[vc7777]

Some companies are set up as call centers, and hospitals and clinics pay subscription fees to have access at all times to the service. While it is more a more impersonal business model, it serves two purposes: it employs these folks full-time at a centralized location and provides this type of service to smaller and rural locations that can not afford to staff such a position full-time. I've seen a similar business model where a centralized cardiology group monitors patients remotely too!🙂