By Heather Comak, for HealthLeaders Media, February 24, 2010.

"One of the most vital parts of providing adequate healthcare is the exchange of information between patient and caregiver. Without clear communication, it can be difficult, and even dangerous, to treat a patient.

"For patients who have limited English proficiency (LEP), as well as providers, the presence of a medical interpreter can allay fears about care. Most importantly, using a qualified medical interpreter to assist with communication keeps patients safe.

"Until recently, however, there has been no national standard by which to evaluate medical interpreters. Even national requirements on the part of hospital accreditors were lax.

"In January 2010, however, The Joint Commission released new standards concerning patient-provider communication, that will be implemented no sooner than January 1, 2011.

"One standard specifically will address qualifications for language interpreters and translators."

Read the rest of this HealthLeaders Media story here >>

National Board Public Call for Oral Spanish Exam Raters & Subject Matter Experts in 23 Languages - Recruitment by the National Board Underway

Washington, DC - (February 2, 2010) - The National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters has launched a National Public Call for Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and Raters for National Certification.

The National Board Certification Exams became available in Spanish as of 2009 to interpreters nationwide. This year the National Board is developing national certification oral exams in several other languages according to the same rigorous scientific standards as the Spanish oral exam.

Raters for the oral examinations in Spanish will be recruited first, and SMEs and Raters are also invited in these languages: Arabic, Bosnian, Cambodian (Khmer), Cantonese, Croatian, Farsi, French, German, Haitian Creole, Hmong, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Serbian, Somali, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.

For more information read the rest of this news release from The National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters here >>

This is the second open call in an ongoing series of informational forums to provide updates and information to interpreters, stakeholders and the industry at large.

All are invited and welcome to participate!

Topic: What Every Interpreter Needs to Know to Get Certified

Speaker: Elena Langdon, MA, CT, Secretary, the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters

Date: Thursday, March 18, 2010

Time: 9:00 a.m. Pacific / 10:00 a.m. Mountain / 11:00 a.m. Central / 12:00 p.m. Eastern

Duration: 1 hour

To access Audio portion of the meeting: USA Toll-Free: (877) 336-1839 ACCESS CODE: 6248587

To access the Web portion of the meeting:
Web Meeting Address: https://www.webmeeting.att.com
Meeting Number(s): (877)336-1839 ACCESS CODE: 6248587

We recommend that you dial in 5 minutes early. The call will be muted to participants to prevent audio issues or background noise.

If you have questions in advance  you can also submit them to [email protected]

In case you do not have web access but still wish to follow along, the presentation can be downloaded at www.certifiedmedicalinterpreters.org

If your organization would like an individual presentation, we will be happy to accommodate! Please contact [email protected]

As a Language Line Services client, you have access to a variety of training tools that help you communicate with your limited English-speaking patients.

Some we've designed to train your staff on how to access and efficiently work with medically trained interpreters.

Others are designed to let your limited English speaking patients and family members know they are valued and will be served by an interpreter.

The Language Line Phone is one of the latter group. And perhaps the most versatile.

We now have the new Language Line Phone for you and your customers (see photo above).

Its many new features and benefits include:

• Anti-microbial protection
• Duplexing speaker phone
• Speaker phone volume control
• Improved keypad design for faster interpreter access
• Headset ready
• Individual handset volume controls
• Anti-theft security tab
• Improved ergonomics, and
• Larger visual call notification indicator

If you are a Language Line Services customer, you can order the new Language Line LL-2100 Phones today by completing the form here >>

The Arizona Health Sciences Library presented a webinar on Foreign Language Consumer Health Resources for Refugees.

The recording of the presentation is now available at: http://www.ahsl.arizona.edu/consumer/webinars/

You may access the PowerPoint presentation, Word document, "Sixteen Sources of Foreign Language/Multicultural Health Information Materials," Streaming Video, and Download Video at that site.

(Source: Arizona Health Sciences Library)

• Hear presentations on latest national lobbying updates
• Receive training on how to advocate
• Be the voice of the LEP patient in Washington, DC
• Come with us to your Senators and Representatives offices, we need you!

Attention! Providers, State Representatives, Interpreters, Associations, Trainers, Educators & other stakeholders. Register now to ensure a seat.

Last year's May 1st Forum was full capacity! There is NO FEE to attend this important annual, multi-stakeholder event.

Register now!

Selected News of the Month

• Over-the-Phone Interpretation Continues to Grow Despite U.S. Economy. Real-time Data from Language Line® LanguageTrak Points to Record Increases in Demand


• Language Line Services' - Cross-Cultural Update for February 2010. Useful Cultural News, Tips and Timely Information


• "Language Line Services Does an About Face (-to-Face)" by Nataly Kelly of Common Sense Advisory and the Global Watchtower

Read more Language Line Services news here >>

Language Line Services, the leader in language interpretation, is seeking to increase its over the phone interpreter team in many languages including:

• Chru
• Edo
• Garre
• Kotokoli
• Kpelle
• Mam
• Mixteco
• Trique
• Punu
• Putian
• Sango
• Sinhalese
• Uzbeq*

As for professional and experienced on-site interpreter positions, we are seeking the following within Contra Costa County, CA only:

• Spanish
• Farsi
• Cantonese
• Mandarin
• Punjabi
• Tagalog
• Hindi
• Laotian
• Mien
• Russian
• Arabic
• Sinhalese
• Uzbeq*

And, finally, among non-interpreter positions, here is a selection for which we are interviewing:

• Account Manager
• Collections Specialist
• Customer Contract Salesforce Administrator
• Human Resources Compliance Manager
• Product Sales Executive
• Project Manager - Lingo Systems Div.
• Response Center Specialist
• Senior Sales Executive

For non-interpreter positions, please apply at: www.languageline.com/careers. Click on "Apply Today" under "Corporate Careers" and follow the directions to add your profile.

EEO/AA Employer.

* Some positions may have been filled by the time you apply. However, new positions open every week.

Are you interested in becoming an over-the-phone interpreter?

If you have excellent proficiency in English, with strong listening and comprehension skills as well as good customer service skills, you can become an interpreter for Language Line Services.

Visit www.languageline.com/careers.

View the "How to Become an Interpreter" Video.

Then, click on "Apply Today" under "interpreter Careers" OR "Corporate Careers" and follow the directions.

Here's what one valued client recently said about one of Language Line Services' excellent interpreters:

"...interpreter #6100 for Farsi was fantastic... We had a very difficult client that your interpreter made so easy for me. Thank you..."

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