Interpreter training for medical students: pilot implementation and assessment in a student-run clinic

Abstract

BackgroundTrained medical interpreters are instrumental to patient satisfaction and quality of care. They are especially important in student-run clinics, where many patients have limited English proficiency. Because student-run clinics have ties to their medical schools, they have access to bilingual students who may volunteer to interpret, but are not necessarily formally trained.MethodsTo study the feasibility and efficacy of leveraging medical student volunteers to improve interpretation services, we performed a pilot study at the student-run clinic at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. In each fall semester in 2012–2015, we implemented a 6-h course providing didactic and interactive training on medical Spanish interpreting techniques and language skills to bilingual students. We then assessed the impact of the course on interpreter abilities.ResultsParticipants’ comfort levels, understanding of their roles, and understanding of terminology significantly increased after the course (p < 0.05), and these gains remained several months later (p < 0.05) and were repeated in an independent cohort. Patients and student clinicians also rated participants highly (averages above 4.5 out of 5) on these measures in real clinical encounters.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that a formal interpreter training course tailored for medical students in the setting of a student-run clinic is feasible and effective. This program for training qualified student interpreters can serve as a model for other settings where medical students serve as interpreters.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12909-016-0760-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Strengthening value-based medication management in a free clinic for the uninsured: Quality interventions aimed at reducing costs and enhancing adherence

“…On an average clinical day, 63% of patients are solely Spanish speaking. 6 As a volunteer-run clinic supported through philanthropy and grants, EHHOP currently provides all patient services, including prescription medications and supplies, to over 222 patients annually, free of charge.…”

Implementing a medical student interpreter training program as a strategy to developing humanism

“…As the nation’s landscape trends towards the “minority becoming the majority” and the number of bilingual and diverse providers fails to grow accordingly, training medical students on the role of medical interpreters will help address future needs of the healthcare system [ 16 , 34 , 35 ]. In addition, this training would also provide students with components of cultural competency and humanism in medicine that are not typically included in the medical school curriculum [ 36 , 37 ].…”

Medical Students as Certified Interpreters

“…7 Community health centers and free clinics, where many patients with LEP receive care, have a significant need for interpreter services. 8,9 Almost 50% of US allopathic medical schools operate at least one student-run clinic, 10 and many others are affiliated with a free clinic. Although bilingual students often volunteer as interpreters and help to fill this gap, they are not necessarily formally trained.…”

“…The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai implemented a course providing training in interpreting techniques and language skills to bilingual students, which resulted in increased participant comfort level with and understanding of interpretation as well as high ratings by patients and student clinicians in these areas. 10 Although this training program was rigorous, it is important to note that it was not an official certification program supported by a national organization. Knowing the patient care benefits of formally training and certifying interpreters, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine (SSOM) funded and established an interpreter certification program for medical students with the help of Loyola University Medical Center (LUMC) Interpreter Services.…”