Navigating Challenges of Medical Interpreting Standards and Expectations of Patients and Health Care Professionals: The Interpreter Perspective

Abstract

Although medical interpreters are guided by a clear set of medical interpreting standards that are designed to ensure an accurate, clear line of communication between patient and provider, limited research has focused on interpreters’ actual experiences: how they integrate the medical interpreting standards into practice, challenges they might face, how they address those challenges, and with what consequences. To address these gaps, we explored experiences of 15 interpreters working in health care settings. As this is a relatively unexplored area and we are exploring social processes, we used grounded theory. Data were analyzed through open, axial, and selective coding. We found all interpreters intended to practice “within” the encounter and valued the medical interpreting standards. However, patient and provider expectations, requests, and a desire to protect patient–provider relationships led to significant deviations from specific elements of the medical interpreting standards. Findings highlight the need to revise medical interpreting standards.