Simultaneous Interpreting in the Health Care Setting

Healthcare interpreters are often taught that simultaneous interpretation (simul) is used almost exclusively in encounters where there is a prolonged emotional utterance which compromises the interpreter’s performance. In other words, the interpreter is not given enough pauses to render an accurate consecutive interpretation (consec) during dialogue, which then provokes the interpreter to spontaneously change their practice from consec to simul. The presenter will argue in favor of re-evaluating our field’s de facto position on this and encourage the use of simul in other dynamics, as well. She will argue that simul can be an effective practice when the interpreter has the opportunity to be more deliberate in planning for it. The presenter will explore when and why we might choose to employ simul (and/or simul combined with consec) and how to negotiate its use with the other parties. She will explore its potential in certain settings to result in effective interpreter performance and accuracy, especially with language-discordant families (e.g., English-speaking patient and LEP caregiver) and prolonged unilateral teaching sessions (CPR, extensive home care teaching, etc.) The presenter will ultimately share the limitations of short-term memory in complex consec and how to improve both consec and simul performance by understanding the role that long term memory plays with retention and recall.

PRO TIP: Allow yourself 2 hours and 10 minutes to watch the entire video in one sitting to more easily receive your certificate upon completion.
CEU Credit Offering

  • OHA: Skills or Other

    2.00 Units

    • CCHI

      2.00 Units

    • IMIA/NBCMI

      0.20 Units

    Instructor Bio: Andrea Henry

    Andrea Henry is a full-time interpreter and the principal investigator for grant-funded research on interpreter mental fatigue. She has been active in healthcare interpreting for 25 years. Andrea earned her B.A. in Spanish & International Studies with a minor in Ethnic Studies, and shortly after, began her career as a freelance interpreter in Portland, Oregon. Andrea was later promoted to full-time OPI interpreting at Pacific Interpreters’ headquarters.

    With her relocation to Atlanta, she embarked on six years of management, developing interpreter services departments for two healthcare systems. Andrea has received over 175 hours of interpreter education and has attended 30+ conferences. She is a volunteer member of the NCIHC Home for Trainers webinar workgroup and was recently named a CCHI commissioner. Finally, Andrea is the principal investigator for grant-funded research on development and validation of a tool that measures complexity and mental fatigue in the healthcare encounter.