CI offered a successful precursor to the interpretation class last semester, taught by Assistant Professor of Spanish Margarita Lopéz, Ph.D. Courtesy photos.
CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CI) will offer classes required for a Certificate of Healthcare Interpreting beginning in fall of 2016.
The Healthcare Interpreter Certificate prepares students to become English-Spanish interpreters in medical settings, a field that is exploding with opportunity.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of interpreters and translators is projected to grow 29 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for other occupations.
“The need for medical interpreters is huge and they are understaffed at clinics and hospitals,” said Professor of Spanish Antonio Jiménez-Jiménez, Ph.D. “Those of us in the Spanish program wanted to give students the opportunity to find real jobs that are practical, so we decided to go ahead and propose a certificate in medical interpretation.”
Jiménez-Jiménez was first approached about offering the certificate by George West, Vice President of Mission Integration for St. John’s Regional Medical Center and St. John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital.
“We live in a diverse culture and a diverse society,” West said. “Understanding health care in any language is complex and it’s important that people who speak any language understand what’s happening to them or a loved one.”
West said the two St. John’s hospitals now offer both audio and video interpreter services in hundreds of different languages 24/7 through a remote interpreting service, but believes it will be more effective to have medical interpreters at the bedside when needed.
Jiménez-Jiménez said the course will be available to all students, including CI Extended University students and the community.
Here, Lopéz is speaking, one student is interpreting, and the rest of the students are listening to the interpretation on headsets.
Students must successfully complete the five required courses with an overall average grade of B minus or better. Students who complete the course of study and earn a certificate from CI will be eligible to take any of the nationally recognized certification exams by the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters, or by the Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters.
Aside from becoming an increasingly globalized world with many non-English speakers in the U.S., Jiménez-Jiménez said the increased need for health care interpretation may also be the result of the Affordable Care Act, giving more people from a variety of cultures access to healthcare, not all of them English speakers.
Healthcare interpreters must also be familiar with cultural norms as communication will be with people with different backgrounds and values.
“In some rural communities, for example, they may use herbal medicines or other resources that modern medicine doesn’t consider,” said Jiménez-Jiménez. “Some people believe that someone can cast an evil eye on them and it’s affecting their health. The interpreter may have to explain the cultural concept to the doctor.”
CI 2016 graduate Gabriel Guillén, who works as a registered nurse at St. John’s, also had a role in getting the word out about the need for medical interpreters. On May 21, Guillén was awarded a Masters in Business Administration to join his 2011 degree in Nursing.
Guillén realized there was an opportunity for medical interpreters while working at St. John’s in Oxnard as a Community Health Supervisor.
Jiménez-Jiménez said he hopes to add a service learning component to the certificate, which means interpreters will be able to perfect their craft while working with actual patients in a clinical environment.
About California State University Channel Islands: CSU Channel Islands (CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more about CI by visiting CI’s Social Media