Medical Interpreter Research Paper

The Game Doctors Must Play It does not matter how or when, but as soon as something goes wrong it becomes very stressful. But even more so when it has to do with a family member and their health. Life seems to go a million miles per minute yet unbearably and painful slow all at once. The worst part is always being reminded the only ones who can do anything for a family member is some stranger with a white lab coat and a medical doctorate. Now imagine the feeling when doctors say a loved one is seriously ill, maybe even dying. That is a scary thought and ultimately the only option is to get the best treatment possible. Time keeps running faster and faster and their health continues to decline, at that point it becomes very clear that

To make this possible Insurers hire Medical Interpreters, a fairly new profession that has been around for 30 years. A Medical Interpreter's’ job is to take requests and decide whether the test or treatment is truly necessary based on the information in a Doctor’s dictation. The process to become a Medical Interpreter is a fairly easy one; one must meet the age requirement of at least 18, have a high school diploma or the online equitant GED, complete a 40 hour educational program, and be proficient in both English and a target language. (The National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters. (NBCMI). ) Medical Interpreters are hired with the intention of protecting both the insurance companies from unnecessary spending and the patient from unnecessary testing and or treatment. Of course no one wants to go through unnecessary testing and receive any unnecessary treatment so having a Medical Interpreter to make these judgment calls should be a no brainer

Defensive medicine could be defined as tests and treatments that are not always in the best interest for the patient but force the physician not to miss anything. Defensive medicine rules the world of medicine, patients are always sent for tests they truly do not need. It poses potential health risks to the patient and actually increases the cost of healthcare. As Dr. Sandeep Jauhar says “We want to practice medicine the right way, but too many forces today are propelling us away from the bench or the bedside. No one ever goes into medicine to do unnecessary testing but this sort of behavior is rampant”. Medicine was considered a very noble profession; no one imagines themselves as a doctor sending people for useless tests, they always picture themselves saving someone’s life “Many chose medicine because it is thought to be noble and worthwhile...”; but the profession has been changed by the game. Dr. Sandeep Jauhar, author of Doctored: The disillusionment of an American Physician, said “I have become the kind of doctor I never thought I’d be: impatient, occasionally indifferent, at times dismissive or paternalistic...”, this is a reality that many doctors will face throughout their careers. Dr. Sandeep Jauhar is not the only one to express his opinion regarding the medical profession, another doctor said “ I would not do it again, and it has nothing to do with the money… Working up patients in the ER these