NCIHC Announces New Resource to Support Healthcare Interpreters Working with LGBTQIA Patients

WASHINGTON - Dec. 15, 2016 - PRLog -- The National Council on Interpreting in Health Care (NCIHC) today announces a valuable new resource for interpreter trainers and healthcare interpreters who work with patients who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex or asexual (LGBTQIA). Individuals with limited English proficiency face significant barriers in accessing health care, as do individuals who identify as LGBTQIA. These barriers are heightened when a person is both LEP and LGBTQIA.  While societal views on LGBTQIA people vary greatly, recent events in the U.S. like marriage equality and enforcement of Section 1557, the nondiscrimination provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), have brought more visibility to this marginalized population. Accrediting organizations like the Joint Commission strongly urge healthcare organizations to incorporate LGBTQIA patent care information into existing staff training.

"Healthcare interpreters are often exposed to very sensitive and personal information during the course of their work," states Enrica Ardemagni, President of NCIHC. "It is imperative that interpreters be well-prepared for interpreting for any patient from any walk of life, regardless of their personal beliefs. We are here to facilitate effective communication and equal access."

The resource guide includes links to training materials, multilingual glossaries and patient health information geared specifically for LGBTQIA patient care. Additionally, the Home for Trainers, a project of the NCIHC Standards and Training Committee, hosted a webinar on "Training Interpreters to Work Effectively with Gender and Sexual Minorities" on December 15, 2016. For more information about the webinar: http://www.ncihc.org/home-for-trainers-22-training-for-im....

For more information about NCIHC, to register for the webinar and to access the Resource page visit http://www.ncihc.org/LGBTQIA.