Fifth Comprehensive Study of the Medical Interpreting Market Preliminary Results

Aug. 1, 2010 - PRLog -- August 1, 2010

(Boston, MA) – Interpreters work in hospitals, health centers, and nursing homes helping to save the lives of patients each day in many languages. Working conditions are improving for this essential and growing health care profession. According to the fifth annual compensation survey, conducted by the International Medical Interpreters Association, and in collaboration with many other interpreter associations, interpreters are essential in reducing health disparities due to language access. The Analysis Report will highlight the results of 1083 respondents, which reveals that 54% of interpreter administrators average between US$15 and US$30 per hour, while 62% of medical interpreters earn between US$15 and US$25 per hour, depending on their location, training, and specialization. “This report will provide a benchmark for national industry wages and reveal the complexities of compensation dynamics”, Casita Negron Wild, Masters of Intercultural Relations.  

The study shows that interpreters are a highly trained group. 72% of the respondents reported having at least a bachelor's degree, and 31% had a master's or doctoral degree. "We want interpreters to earn a living comparable to other professions with the same level of responsibility and intellectual demands," says Izabel S. Arocha, M.Ed. "Another primary reason for gathering this data is to better inform government entities of the current costs of language services, imperative information for our advocacy efforts towards national reimbursement within the upcoming health care payment reform."

The full findings of the study will be presented at the 2010 Medical Interpreting Conference, which takes place September 3-5, 2010 at the Harvard Medical School Conference Center in Boston, MA, US. Members of the media will be provided with a copy of the report upon request. A limited number of free media passes for the event are also available. Please contact the email address listed below for more information.

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About the IMIA : It is an umbrella association that promotes all standards and best practices in the field of medical interpreting. As an international trade association of medical interpreters, it represents practicing medical interpreters as the ultimate experts in medical interpreting. It is also the only national trade association of medical interpreters in the US, and is an official active member of FIT, the Federation of Interpreters and Translators, an international organization comprised of trade associations of interpreters and translators worldwide. IMIA developed the first code of ethics, standards, annual conference, and certification for medical interpreters and continues to be a pioneer in the field with its recent work to develop the first Interpreter Educators Code of Ethics and National Education Registry. It’s most current work involves developing an accreditation for medical interpreter training program.