The Massachusetts Medical Interpreters Association is teaming up with other organizations to call for a national medical interpreter certification program.

Reacting to the growing need for accurate medical interpretation in the USA, the Massachusetts Medical Interpreters Association (MMIA) and several other organizations have launched a National Medical Interpreter Certification Task Force. Other state interpreters’ associations, policymakers, and educators are invited to join the task force in order to create and implement a certification process for this crucial field of language interpretation.

Izabel Arocha, President of the MMIA, explains that LEP (Limited English Proficiency) patients do not have equal access to health care in the USA because of irregular medical interpretation quality. “Health care professionals are required to meet standardized guidelines before treating patients and, where LEP patients are concerned, an interpreter’s skill level is just as integral to quality care,” explains Linda Joyce, a language access consultant.

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