The importance of interpretation in the health sector

Spain is an attractive country both for those who visit the country for tourism and for those who decide to have a second home here. Moreover, immigration is a relevant factor, Spain is a host country and this leads to many people who do not know the Spanish language, but who have to deal with health services. Imagine being in a country where you don't know the language and having to explain that you have a sharp pain in your abdomen? For medical professionals, it is a huge challenge, as they are faced with the difficulty of being able to give a diagnosis or propose a treatment with the information they have.

1. Why is medical interpretation so important?

Firstly, because we must not be oblivious to reality. Migratory movements are constant and increasing. Therefore, it is very common for people who do not know a native language to use the health services. Having a solvent translation company makes it possible to eliminate this handicap, as it is the only way to make understanding between health professionals and patients possible. In some cases, it is even a matter of life and death, because a bad intervention can have very serious consequences. Think of a patient who only speaks English and encounters professionals who only speak Spanish.

2. Professionals only

It is also worth remembering that i.e. Spain has direct borders with completely different languages, Portugal, France and also Morocco. This means that any medical emergency may have to be carried out with a patient who speaks Portuguese, Arabic or French. If we are talking about tourist areas, just think of the Germans who love Spain, and frequently visit Malaga or the Canary Islands, the fact that there are health interpreters in German is a plus for everyone.

It is obvious that the complexity of medical jargon requires properly trained professionals, and this can only be solved by a translation agency. The terminology is very dense, specific in many cases, and good patient assessment depends on it. We are talking about the fact that a good diagnosis depends on the accuracy with which the translation is carried out. Even in languages such as Italian, with certain similarities to Spanish due to their Latin origin, it requires an aseptic and professional translation.

3. Taking no risks

Anything less than a professional trained in medical language does not offer sufficiently guarantee accurate care, especially when treating serious illnesses or those requiring very specific treatment. The appropriate interpretation established between healthcare professional and patient is, moreover, an added guarantee.

It is clear that increasing migratory movements and the ease with which people now travel means that the health interpretation sector is growing well. We must continue to work in this direction so that care in a foreign country is never a problem due to linguistic barriers. In fact, many public health care facilities are staffed by interpreters if they are located in areas of foreign linguistic influence, such as those in border regions.

4. Conclusion

There is no doubt that we are facing a reality that must be duly addressed. Not only does it guarantee correct health care, but it also helps to make the diagnosis of any illness much easier and the treatment applied is a success and never a lottery. The healthcare interpreting sector is on the rise and is faced with the challenge of providing the right service for the right care. While this used to be rare, it has now become normal reality.