NCIHC National Standards of Practice for Healthcare Interpreters

9/29/2013
NATIONALCOUNCILONINTERPRETINGINHEALTHCARE
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NCIHC
National Standards of
Practice for Healthcare
Interpreters
Joy Connell
6th Annual Hawai’i Conference on
Language Access
August 7-8, 2013

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NCIHC
1994 – informal working group
1998 – formally established
Multidisciplinary membership
Mission: to promote and enhance
language access in health care in the
United States

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Building a Profession
Create and build support for a single code of
ethics that would guide the practice of
interpreters working in health care venues
Develop a nationally accepted, unified set of
standards of practice based on the National
Code of Ethics to define competent practice in
the field
 Develop standards for healthcare
interpreter training

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National Code of Ethics
Developed between 2002-2004
using a national consensus-
building process
Partially funded by the DHHS
Office of Minority Health

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What are Standards of Practice?
Accepted protocols to meet the core
obligations of one’s profession
A clear set of guidelines that delineate
expectations for the interpreter’s conduct
and practice.

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Code of Ethics vs Standards of Practice
• A code of ethics
provides a set of
principles or values that
govern the conduct of
members of a
professions while they
are engaged in the
enactment of that
profession.
• Gives guidelines for
making judgments about
what is acceptable and
desirable behavior in a
given context or in a
particular relationship.
• Standards of Practice
define what an interpreter
does in the performance
of his or her role – the
tasks and skills the
interpreter should be able
to perform in the course of
fulfilling the duties of the
profession.
• Ensure a consistent quality
of performance.

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How can the Standards be used?
To define competent practices in the field
To improve the quality of interpreter services,
resulting in improved communication and
better outcomes in health care
To lead to standards for health care interpreter
training

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Why National Standards?
National standards represent the thinking and
practice of interpreters across geographic and
linguistic boundaries.
National standards are more likely to be
widely accepted due to broader input and
buy-in.
Funders of healthcare interpreting were
interested in seeing national unity build
around key issues.

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Organization of the Standards
32 Standards of Practice
Grouped under 9 headings demonstrating the
relationship between the standards to the 9 ethical
principles of the National Code of Ethics.
Each heading includes a stated objective, defining the
overall goal of that set of standards.
Corresponding ethical principles are stated under each
heading.

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Accuracy
To enable other parties to know
precisely what each speaker has said.
Related ethical principle:
Interpreters strive to render the message
accurately, conveying the content and spirit of
the original message, taking into
consideration the cultural content.

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Accuracy
The interpreter renders all messages
accurately and completely, without adding,
omitting, or substituting.
The interpreter replicates the register, style,
and tone of the speaker.
The interpreter advises parties that everything
said will be interpreted.
The interpreter manages the flow of
communication.
The interpreter corrects errors in
interpretation.
The interpreter maintains transparency.

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Confidentiality
To honor the private and personal
nature of the health care interaction
and maintain trust.
Interpreters treat as confidential, within
the treating team, all information
learned in the performance of their
professional duties, while observing
relevant requirements regarding
disclosure.

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Confidentiality
The interpreter maintains confidentiality and
does not disclose information outside the
treating team, except with the patient’s
consent or if required by law.
The interpreter protects written patient
information in his or her possession.

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Impartiality
To eliminate the effect of interpreter
bias or preference.
Interpreters strive to maintain
impartiality and refrain from
counseling, advising, or projecting
personal biases or beliefs.

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Respect
To acknowledge the inherent dignity of
all parties in the interpreted encounter.
Interpreters treat all parties with
respect.

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Respect
The interpreter uses professional,
culturally appropriate ways of showing
respect.
The interpreter promotes direct
communication among all parties in the
encounter.
The interpreter promotes patient
autonomy.

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Cultural Awareness
To facilitate communication across
cultural differences.
Interpreters strive to develop
awareness of the cultures encountered
in the performance of interpreting
duties.

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Cultural Awareness
The interpreter strives to understand
the cultures associated with the
languages he or she interprets,
including biomedical culture.
The interpreter alerts all parties to any
significant cultural misunderstanding
that arises.

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Role Boundaries
To clarify the scope and limits of the
interpreting role, in order to avoid
conflicts of interest.
Interpreters maintain the boundaries of
the professional role, refraining from
personal involvement.

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Professionalism
To uphold the public’s trust in the
interpreting profession.
Interpreters at all times act in a
professional and ethical manner.

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Professionalism
The interpreter is honest and ethical in all
business practices.
The interpreter is prepared for all
assignments.
The interpreter discloses skill limitations with
respect to particular assignments.
The interpreter avoids sight
translation, especially of complex or critical
documents, if he or she lacks sight translation
skills.

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Professionalism
The interpreter is accountable for
professionalism performance.
The interpreter advocates for working
conditions that support quality interpreting.
The interpreter shows a respect for
professionals with whom he or she works.
The interpreters acts in a manner befitting the
dignity of the profession and appropriate to
the setting.

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Professional Development
To attain the highest possible level of
competence and service.
Interpreters strive to further their knowledge
and skills through independent study,
continuing education, and actual interpreting
practice.

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Professional Development
The interpreter continues to develop language
and cultural knowledge and interpreting skills.
The interpreter seeks feedback to improve his
or her performance.
The interpreter supports the professional
development of fellow interpreters.
The interpreter participates in organizations
and activities that contribute to the
development of the profession.

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Advocacy
To prevent harm to parties that the
interpreter serves.
When the patient’s health, well-
being, or dignity are at risk, the
interpreter may be justified in acting as
an advocate.

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Advocacy
The interpreter may speak out to
protect an individual from serious
harm.
The interpreter may advocate on behalf
of a party or group to correct
mistreatment or abuse.

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Using the Standards for Training
The Standards of Practice can be read as an
independent study.
The Standards of Practice can be used to
develop training scenarios and exercises.
The Standards of Practice can be used as a
resource document.

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Using the Standards for Hiring
Knowledge of the Standards of Practice,
and the ability to apply the Standards,
can be used as a criteria for hiring staff
interpreters.

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Using the Standards for
Performance Monitoring
The Standards of Practice can be
used to develop a performance
checklist for monitoring
interpreters.

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Using the Standards as the
Basis for Certification
The Standards of Practice have
become the basis for national
certification.

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Thank you!
Mahalo!
Joy Connell
jconnell@ncihc.org

NCIHC National Standards of Practice for Healthcare Interpreters

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