Interpreting International Journal of Research and Practice in Interpreting · 2006 · 99 citations · 0 references
Language StudiesHealth LawCommunity InterpretingHealth Care ComplianceInterpreting StudiesHealthcare InterpretingInterpreter ResponsibilitiesInterpreter RolesInterpreter TrainingInterpreting EthicsMedical InterpretingFocus Group DiscussionsHealth Care InterpretingInterpreter ProfessionalismInterpreter Role FramingInterpreter Role NormsInterpretersMedical Interpreting StandardsStandards
Healthcare interpreters face challenges implementing the California Standards, struggling to reconcile professional duties with real‑world constraints. The study aims to validate the 2002 California Standards for Healthcare Interpreters by gathering and analyzing focus group responses from interpreters. Researchers conducted focus groups to capture interpreters’ reactions to the standards and examined difficulties in defining the interpreter’s role within the system. The authors conclude that building stronger links between research and practice is essential for the continued development of the interpreting profession.
This article presents a focus group study on the validation of the California Standards for Healthcare Interpreters produced by the California Healthcare Interpreting Association (CHIA) in 2002. The reactions of healthcare interpreters to the Standards , and their opinions and thoughts on its provisions are reviewed and analyzed. The article first addresses the issues and problems healthcare interpreters encounter when implementing the Standards , and highlights the challenges they face when trying to balance their professional mandate with the reality of their working environment. In particular, it describes the difficulties of defining the interpreter’s role in the system. The final section of the article draws attention to the need for bridges between research and practice as a means of guaranteeing that the field of interpreting will continue to develop.