The vital role of interpreters in healthcare, legal settings

Interpreters play a vital role in facilitating communication between individuals who speak different languages.  

In healthcare settings and the legal system, interpreters can be particularly important in ensuring that all parties involved fully understand the information being communicated. 

Healthcare 

Interpreters help bridge the language barrier between healthcare providers and patients who may speak different languages. The interpreter’s role is to accurately convey medical information and facilitate communication between the healthcare provider and the patient. This is critical in ensuring that the patient fully understands their diagnosis, treatment options, and any potential risks or side effects of medical procedures. 

At Teneo Linguistics Company (TLC), healthcare interpreters are vetted through a certified quality process. This ensures they have the knowledge of languages and cultural sensitivity, and the ability to express thoughts clearly and concisely. And all TLC medical interpreters comply with HIPAA. 

In addition, interpreters play a significant role in ensuring that patients feel heard and understood by their healthcare providers. In many cases, patients who do not speak the same language as their doctor may feel embarrassed or intimidated by their inability to communicate effectively. An interpreter can help to alleviate these concerns and provide a sense of reassurance to the patient that their concerns are being heard and addressed. 

When possible, TLC offers on-site interpreting services at the location of a patient’s choosing. These services not only include routine medical appointments but also specialty care like speech therapy, high-risk pregnancy, and urology appointments. 

Legal 

Interpreters also play an important role in the legal system. In legal settings, interpreters may be necessary to facilitate communication between defendants, witnesses, and legal professionals who may not speak the same language. In criminal cases, for example, an interpreter may be used to ensure that a defendant fully understands their legal rights and the charges against them.  

TLC utilizes a secure customer platform for file exchange and ordering interpreting services and has a multi-step quality control process in place. 

In addition, interpreters play a big role in ensuring that individuals who are not fluent in the language used in legal proceedings are able to effectively participate in the proceedings. This is particularly important in cases where individuals may face serious legal consequences, such as deportation, due to their lack of understanding of legal processes and procedures. 

Interpreters are essential in ensuring that individuals can fully understand critical information and participate effectively in important proceedings. They must adhere to strict ethical standards and should be valued and respected for the important work they do. 

TLC offers a variety of professional services from in-person to over-the-phone, on-demand interpreting, and video remote interpreting. The on-demand platform TLC uses is perfect for medical offices/hospitals, school districts, government offices, community outreach, hotlines, appointments, and more. 

Learn more about how TLC can support the healthcare and legal industries with interpreting services by visiting www.tlctranslation.com.