How Technology Changes the Game for Medical Interpreting

Advancements in technology have changed every aspect of the health care profession over the years, from emergency room equipment to medical transcriptions. All technologies are designed to let those in health care spend less time on administrative work, and more time on actual patient care.

Perhaps one of the newest technology players on the health care field is video remote interpreting (VRI) services, allowing non-English-speaking individuals with a medical situation to communicate effectively, accurately, and instantly.

As you can imagine, any instance where communication is compromised can put a patient at risk. When considering the implications of miscommunication during a critical health care issue, having one or both sides unable to speak, read, write or understand English can change everything. Think of clients who need to report a symptom, update a doctor or nurse on their healing progress, or communicate pain levels. One comma or word can change the entire meaning of an intended communication.

Proper, qualified interpreting services are important in many situations. But in the case of medical situations – they can be life or death.

However, one company has pioneered the introduction of video remote interpreting technology into the medical field in Michigan. Executive Language Services of Bloomfield Hills allows health care professionals and their patients to communicate 100% accurately, effectively, and instantly via virtual interpreting.

Video interpreting is a cost-effective solution for multi-lingual interpretation needs, giving access to professional video interpreters within minutes. Each interpreter assigned to a medical client has at least five years of experience in interpreting projects specific to the health care field.

"Interpreting over the Internet eliminates the need for advanced scheduling," said Carlos Hesano, Chief Operating Officer at Executive Language Services. "We've seen about a 65% increase in our medical clients asking for interpreting services over the web since we introduced this into our lineup of services." The video interpreter appears on your computer monitor, where you will be able to see and hear them as if they are right there with you.

"One client concern we get asked about frequently is privacy. That's a hot topic these days," says Rita Denha, President of ELS. "In health care, a patient’s privacy is paramount. All interpreting services conducted over the Internet are 100% privacy controlled, and comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)."

As the world continues to move at light speed, we'll continue to watch technologies stay one step ahead. Video interpreting services is surely going to be one of those technologies to watch.