Introducing the medical interpreter (MI) effectively is crucial to ensure clear communication and understanding between the healthcare provider, patient, and their family.
- Introducing the MI:a. Clinician’s Responsibility: The clinician should initiate the introduction and highlight the role of the MI as a team member. The clinician can say something like, “Hello, I’m [clinician’s name], and I am your [ describe expertise and subspeciality and your role in the patient’s care]. To ensure clear communication between us, we have a skilled medical interpreter with us today.”b. Clarifying the MI’s Role: The clinician should then clarify the MI’s role. For example, “The interpreter is here to help both of us. They will interpret your questions and concerns to me accurately, and they’ll interpret my explanations and instructions to you.”
c. Respecting Patient’s Choice: It’s important to acknowledge that some patients may have family members who want to interpret for them. In such cases, the clinician can say, “While your family members can certainly be here to support you, the medical interpreter is an important member of our healthcare team and is here to help and support us and ensure that we have meticulous communication about your health condition.”
- Interaction Before Meeting:a. Pre-Meeting Huddle: If the MI arrives before the clinician, it’s a good practice for the MI and the clinician to have a brief, private huddle. During this huddle, they can discuss the patient’s background, specific language preferences, and any potential cultural considerations. They should also outline the goals for the upcoming encounter.b. Entering Together: Both the clinician and the MI should enter the patient’s room together. This signals a unified approach to care and helps set the stage for effective communication.
- Pitch to the Patient and Family:a. Sample Pitch: During the introduction, the clinician might say something like, “I understand that clear communication is essential for your care. To ensure that we understand each other accurately, we have a highly trained medical interpreter with us today. They will assist in translating our conversation, making sure that your concerns are heard and my explanations are clear.”
By following these steps, healthcare providers can establish a collaborative and respectful environment that promotes effective communication between all parties involved in the medical encounter.
VJ Periyakoil, MD, Stanford University School of Medicine.
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