Overwhelming Interpreter Response to National Job Analysis Survey Propels Industry toward National Certification

Survey Conducted by Language Line^® University, International Medical Interpreters Association and PSI Services

MONTEREY, CA – (February 26, 2009) – More than 1,000 medical interpreters participated in the national job analysis survey conducted by Language Line® University , the globally recognized interpreter testing, training and certification division of Language Line Services, with the support of the International Medical Interpreters Association (IMIA) and PSI Services, LLC. Survey responses will directly impact the form and content of the national certification program Language Line University and IMIA are jointly launching this year.

“The medical interpreter community really stepped up to the plate through its enthusiastic participation in this survey,” explains Louis Provenzano, President and COO of Language Line Services.

“The overwhelming response reaffirms the desire among medical interpreters across the nation, performing all modalities of medical interpreting, for a national certification that recognizes the professional achievements necessary to provide quality language assistance in health care settings.”

The job analysis survey was conducted January 20 through February 1, 2009. The desired goal of 500 survey responses needed for statistical significance was far surpassed with a total of 1,506 survey responses collected. Eighty-six percent were medical interpreters working as staff interpreters for hospitals or health care systems, members of medical interpreter associations, freelance and remote medical interpreters, and interpreters working for health insurance companies.

Another nine percent of respondents were identified as coordinators or supervisors, whose input is important in understanding the interpreter’s role and the knowledge required to be an interpreter. Survey participants represented all U.S. territories and states, with the majority coming from California (26.0%), Texas (9.0%), Massachusetts (8.4%), Florida (6.4%), and Georgia (4.9%). 

“By participating in the largest national survey of its kind within the medical interpreter community, survey respondents are playing an important role in national certification,” says Izabel Arocha, President of the International Medical Interpreters Association. “This is the only certification that confers a credential offered by the profession that belongs to the individual regardless of employment status or geographic location.”

According to professional freelance interpreter and translator Janet Bonet, Co-founder, Past-President and current Board Member of the Nebraska Association for Translators and Interpreters, (NATI):  “This survey is an important step toward creating a solid foundation of profession-specific data. I was pleased that there was a strong effort made to reach out to independent contractors, as well as staff interpreters, and that all parts of the country were included. It is a significant opportunity to be proactive and not just reactive in the movement toward a national medical interpreter certification.”

The results of the survey are now being tallied and analyzed, in conjunction with leading testing services provider PSI, and will be shared at the Third Annual National Medical Interpreter Certification Forum on May 1, 2009, in Denver, Colorado.

"A national certification of medical interpreters will ultimately improve patient safety and the quality of language assistance services in this country, an admirable and achievable goal," says Orlin Márquez, President of the Medical Interpreter Network of Georgia (MING).

“We would like to extend a huge thank you to the interpreter associations, hospitals and other providers and organizations that helped raise the level of awareness by informing their members and interpreter staff and volunteers of the opportunity to participate in this important survey,” adds Provenzano of Language Line Services.

To assist interpreters and other interested parties in understanding the public/private collaboration that is helping to establish a national certification, an industry guide has been released entitled “NATIONAL MEDICAL INTERPRETER CERTIFICATION: Yes, we can, and we will, in 2009! Join Us!” which is available online at www.languageline.com/nmic_faqs.

About PSI

PSI has over 60 years of experience providing solutions to corporations, professional associations and government regulatory agencies. PSI offers a comprehensive solutions approach from test development to delivery to results processing, including pre-hire employment selection, managerial assessments, licensing and certification tests, license Management services and professional services. More information is available at http://corporate.psionline.com/.   

About IMIA

The International Medical Interpreters Association (IMIA) is committed to the advancement of professional medical interpreters as the best practice for equitable language access to health care for linguistically diverse patients worldwide. Founded in 1986, it is comprised of over 1,900 members, and is the oldest and largest medical interpreter association in the world. While representing medical interpreters as the ultimate experts in the medical interpreting field, associate membership to the IMIA is open to multidisciplinary groups interested in medical interpreting, language access, and international human rights in healthcare. IMIA (www.imiaweb.org) has divisions of providers, corporate members, trainers and interpreters in over 100 languages.

About Language Line® University

Language Line® University is the globally recognized interpreter testing, training and certification division of Language Line Services, the leading provider of language-based services and solutions. Language Line University provides interpreter training, as well as an externally validated test in 170 languages, and Certification of Medical Interpreters (CMI), currently available in 22 languages. It also offers Court Certification in 15 languages. Language Line University’s testing; training and certification have proved to be valuable, credible and dependable tools used by healthcare organizations and interpreters nationwide and in Canada to ensure that the language access services they provide to their patients and community are of the highest quality. For more information, visit www.languageLine.com/llu, email LLU@languageline.com, or call 1-877-351-6636.