How do I become a Medical Interpreter, in NYC??

Question

I want to switch careers, and want to become a medical interpreter.
I am fluent in spanish and english, and want to utilize my
mastery of both languages, in an effort to help those who speak
spanish and need help commuincating with doctors, and vice versa.

Can someone steer me in the right direction?

Do I need some sort of certificate?


I could not seem to find anything in yahoo's search engine that helped me, so I hope someone who is already one, can guide me accordingly.....

Also, what kind of salaries are we talking about, in general?

Is this a good / decent paying career?

Answer 1

I respect your desire to help in the translation business, however there is far more to being a medical interpreter than being fluent in 2 languages. First, you must have a minimum of a medical degree.

Second, you must be extraordinarily patient and tolerant with people, as most of the patients you are interpreting for will be in considerable pain, discomfort and frustration due to their being shuffled from place to place to find a doctor who can both treat them with western tech, and speak fluent spanish. Since the doctor is unable to understand the patient, you will receive all the flack, and be calm and lucid enough to translate without the aggressive attitude what the patient wants to the doctor. Then take orders from the doctor to be translated back to the patient in an empathetic, understanding manner spoken in laymans terms. You will need an extremely clear understanding of medical language in Spangish, and be capable of juggling a split personality of obedience to the doctor (humility and inferiority), and control of the patient for the probing medical questions they don't want to answer all over again to yet another person (confidence and superiority).

If you still want to get into the business, I'd strongly suggest you begin by enrolling in a medical receptionist course at a trade college, which concertrate a great deal of the course on verbal and written communication, both computer and paperwork, and all in complicated medical terminology and jargon.

The most important book to buy as part of your study texts is the best and biggest medical dictionary and thesaurus combo (called a dictaurus) reference material. Even if you memorise 1 word per day for the length of the course, you'll only be a fraction of the way through the book, so you need to commit to this career, if that's really what you want.

The rewards are varied in scope and depth. The egoic rewards are regular and it will take discipline to remain centred and clear with such sincere complements coming from both patients, families and doctors. Being a highly stressful and expertly position, your presence will demand respect from all you meet, especially the doctors you work with.

You will be given free reign of when and where you choose to work, but the most rewarding postions will be on the medical front line, such as prestigious, world renouned wards (for the money), or in third world countries (for the good feelings).

If your going for the money, NYC is not the capital of spanish-english medical translators required in the US (I expect the cap is somewhere in California, SF or LA maybe, or perhaps Miami, Florida). NYC has it's fair share of demand though, and you can always fly there for consults or video conference.

When your just starting out, find a place that works as a phone based medical consultancy service, which essentially means sitting back and talking all day every day on the phone, to doctors, patients, and panicking families, in both spanish and english, and will build your ability at staying calm in high stress situations remotely, talking in medical language, and translating from spoken spanish to written english in real time, recording the call on the computer in a digital medical advice report that can be emailed to their local doctor. This wil help you pay for your tuition fees at college, and later university when you do your degree.

I hope this has helped you in your quest to help save the world from ourselves. People need people who can talk to people. Most people can't talk to save their life. That's your job. And always remember the first oath of medicine: First, Do no harm!

Good luck! Blessed Be!

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

go to the website for the American Translators Association... they have all the information that you need. And they offer training and networking to help you better your skills.