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Exchange of Medical Information
Follow the process to request medical interpreters
whenever exchanging medical information with non-English, LEP (Limited
English Proficient) and deaf or hard of hearing patients to ensure patient’s
rights.
Summary guidelines to work with medical interpreters. For a more
comprehensive guide contact us:
- Prior to Seeing the Patient
- Give background & set goals to “get on the same page”,
before entering the room.
- Encourage clarification .
- Etiquette
- Address the patient, not the interpreter, and maintain primary
eye contact with your patient.
- Don’t “think out loud”. Patients wonder what
is NOT being interpreted and sometimes understand more than
they can speak.
- The Dialogue
- Keep a comfortable pace that will allow time for interpretation.
- Avoid medical jargon and idiomatic expressions to make the
encounter less complicated.
- Listen before redirecting.
- Give full information on diagnosis, tests, and treatment.
- Confirm understanding and agreement with patient to ensure
compliance.
- Encourage interpreter to clarify terms with you. Feel free
to ask interpreter to interpret back to you whenever you are
concerned about the accuracy and completness of the interpretation.
- Debriefing
- Use the interpreter as a resource for you.
- Speak privately with the medical interpreter who may perceive
cultural and emotional subtleties more clearly.
- Ensure Accuracy and Confidentiality
- Do not ask the patients to bring their own interpreter.
- Do not ask another patient to help you interpret.
- Do not use children or family members.
- Do not use non-qualified hospital support staff.
- Documentation
- Document the presence of the MGH Medical Interpreter on the patient's chart. All the MGH Medical Interpreters carry ID's indentifying them as such.
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