Why Medical Translation and Medical Interpretation Services are Key in Quality Healthcare

By: Mark Blackwood

Medically reviewed by Patricia Salber MD, MBA

Unlike other forms of language translation and interpretation, there is zero room for mistakes in the healthcare arena.

It is important that doctors and patients look at each other, not the medical translator. Photo source: iStock

All industries need translators and interpreters who are trained in different languages. Although some items, symbols, and/or actions may be universally understood, you still need to convey subtle meanings and instructions across cultures. It is especially important to overcome language barriers in healthcare. That is why the need for medical translation and interpretation is so critical.

Translation and interpretation activities in the health domain are numerous. They can range from simultaneous or consecutive interpretation, translation of medical files, correspondence between doctors and patients, and much more. This article will provide a complete overview of language translation and interpretation in healthcare. We will attempt to answer the questions:

• Who does it?
• How does it work?
• How much does it cost?

And we will provide some predictions for the future.

Medical translation vs medical…