Interpreting Medicine

Among the challenges IRC’s community interpreters take on is helping non-English speakers communicate health complaints and understand medical instructions. The importance and difficulty of interpretation in medical settings was the topic of a recent seminar that is part of continuing education the IRC provides its contract interpreters. The seminar, coordinated by IRC’s interpreter services intern Kristen Loudermilk (above), incorporated Latin and Greek roots for many medical terms, and focused on understanding cardiovascular systems. Interpreters learned about heart and lung disease and anatomy as well as related test terminology. The seminars serve as continuing education for the community interpreters, who currently serve more than 50 community organizations.