Our interpreters supported clinics serving patients with limited English proficiency through this initiative, led by the California Department of Health Care Services under SB 165 (Atkins, 2019, Chapter 365).

Please see the success story here: https://www.montereylanguages.com/blog/medical-interpreter-pilot-project-independent-findings-and-operational-insights-5214

Dear Mei-Ling:

I am writing to thank you for Monterey Language Services’ participation in the California Department of Health Care Services Medical Interpreter Pilot Project (MIPP). Your collaboration and the insights and feedback provided by your team were instrumental in assessing the impact of professional medical interpretation services on reducing health disparities and improving quality of care for Medi-Cal members with Limited English Proficiency.

I also want to advise you that the MIPP Final Evaluation is posted and ready for you to review. You can access the report at Medical Interpreter Pilot Project Final Evaluation.
Thank you again for your participation in the MIPP!

Please see the success story here: https://www.montereylanguages.com/blog/medical-interpreter-pilot-project-independent-findings-and-operational-insights-5214

When patients and professionals truly understand each other, outcomes improve. The Medical Interpreter Pilot Project demonstrated just how powerful clear communication can be—showing measurable improvements in patient engagement and preventive care.

But results like these don’t happen automatically. They depend on something fundamental: the quality, professionalism, and cultural competence of the interpreters supporting each interaction.

Looking beyond the headline results, it becomes clear that consistent standards, careful interpreter selection, and reliable scheduling all play an essential role in making effective communication possible.

More Than Language: Cultural Competence Matters

Professional interpreters do more than translate words. They help bridge the gap between two cultures, ensuring that meaning, context, and intent are fully understood on both sides of the conversation.

Culturally competent interpreters recognize that communication styles, expectations, and ways of expressing concerns can vary widely between communities. By understanding these differences, interpreters help prevent misunderstandings, support respectful dialogue, and create an environment where individuals feel comfortable asking questions and participating in decisions.

Concrete example – diabetes and traditional foods:
During a diabetes consultation, a patient mentions a traditional breakfast dish. The interpreter, familiar with the dish and its ingredients, conveys this information to the doctor, ensuring everyone has a shared understanding of the patient’s dietary habits.

Expertise You Can Trust

Professional interpretation requires more than bilingual ability. It requires training, subject knowledge, and a commitment to accuracy.

Certified and Experienced Professionals
Interpreters are selected based on national certifications and demonstrated experience in complex environments such as healthcare and technical settings.

Careful Assignment Matching
Rather than sending the first available interpreter, assignments are matched to professionals who are familiar with the terminology and pace of the specific meeting or appointment.

Ongoing Quality Standards
Regular evaluations help maintain the professionalism and reliability organizations depend on when communication truly matters.

A Reliable and Simple Process

Organizations often value not only interpreter quality but also the ease of scheduling support. A streamlined process helps ensure that communication needs are met quickly and consistently.

Straightforward Scheduling
Requests can be submitted easily, allowing appointments and meetings to be coordinated efficiently.

Flexible Service Options
Interpreting can be provided either on-site or through remote platforms depending on the needs of the organization.

Responsive Support
When situations arise that require quick coordination, fast-turnaround requests can often be accommodated.

Supporting Diverse Communities

While Spanish played a central role in the pilot project, language needs across California extend far beyond a single community. Organizations frequently require support in many languages to serve their patients, clients, and community members effectively.

Providing access to qualified interpreters across a broad range of languages helps ensure that everyone can fully understand important information and participate in meaningful conversations.

Where Professional Interpretation Makes a Difference

Accurate communication is essential whenever important information must be clearly understood. Professional interpreters frequently support organizations in situations such as:

• Healthcare appointments and consultations
• Public service programs and community outreach
• Workplace safety training sessions and orientations
• Technical briefings and informational sessions

Clear Communication Leads to Better Outcomes

The results of the Medical Interpreter Pilot Project reinforce a simple but powerful idea: when communication barriers are removed, organizations can deliver better services and communities’ benefit.

Professional interpreters play a vital role in making that possible and ensuring that every conversation is understood clearly, accurately, and with confidence.

Our interpreters supported clinics serving patients with limited English proficiency through this initiative, led by the California Department of Health Care Services under SB 165 (Atkins, 2019, Chapter 365).

Key Outcomes from UC Berkeley Evaluation

The MIPP was independently evaluated by the University of California, Berkeley, which documented several outcomes at the clinics we supported:

• Patient & Clinician Satisfaction: 9.8/10
• Follow-Up Visits: Significant increase among patients
• Preventive Care Engagement: Greater participation and compliance

Why Monterey Language Services Stands Out

Exceptional Satisfaction

• 442 surveys collected (63% response rate)
• Contra Costa pilot sites supported by our team received highest satisfaction ratings

Measurable Quality-of-Care Improvements

• Colorectal cancer screening: +15.8%
• Tobacco use screening: +22%
• BMI/obesity & depression follow-ups: +11%

Operational Benefits for Clinics

• Improved patient understanding of diagnoses and treatment plans
• Stronger patient-clinician trust
• Increased follow-up visits and preventive care engagement
• Freed staff from ad-hoc interpretation, streamlining workflow

Real-World Impact Example

A patient with diabetes struggled to manage their condition. Our interpreter identified a dietary factor affecting their health, allowing the clinician to give targeted guidance—resulting in improved patient outcomes.

Acknowledgements

We sincerely thank our project manager and the dedicated team of medical interpreters whose expertise and commitment made the Contra Costa pilot a success. Their work ensures that patients are heard, understood, and empowered, directly improving healthcare outcomes.

We also extend gratitude to the California Department of Health Care Services for guiding the pilot. Monterey Language Services is proud to be a key partner in this transformative effort.

Key Takeaways

Monterey Language Services interpreters do more than translate — they:

• Improve patient care and understanding
• Foster trust between patients and providers
• Support clinical workflow and efficiency

We are proud to partner with California clinics and the Department of Health Care Services to ensure equitable, high-quality care for patients with limited English proficiency.

There are situations including patients having tubes hooked up which they rely on to keep breathing because they can’t do so by themselves anymore.

So, let’s explore these three distinct paths: 1) allowing a natural death; 2) opting for assisted death (where legal); 3) pursuing treatment for as long as medically possible. Each path carries its own set of potential benefits and drawbacks.

Embracing the Natural Course: Finding Peace in Letting Go

Choosing to allow a natural death often centers on prioritizing comfort and quality of remaining time over aggressive interventions.

Pros:

• Focus on Comfort and Dignity: The emphasis shifts from medical procedures to managing pain and symptoms, allowing the patient to spend their final days in a more peaceful and familiar environment, surrounded by loved ones.
• Avoiding Invasive Procedures: This path spares the patient from potentially painful and burdensome treatments that may offer little to no extension of life.
• Honoring the Natural Process: For some, there’s a profound sense of acceptance in allowing the body’s natural processes to take their course, viewing it as a more dignified and less artificial end.
• Time for Connection and Closure: Without the demands of constant treatment, there can be more quality time for emotional connection, reflection, and saying goodbye.

Cons:

• Potential for Unmanaged Symptoms: Without active treatment, pain and other distressing symptoms may not be adequately controlled, leading to discomfort and suffering if not managed with palliative care.
• Emotional Distress for Loved Ones: Watching a loved one decline naturally can be emotionally challenging, and families may struggle with feelings of helplessness.
• Uncertainty of Timeline: The exact timing of death can be unpredictable, which can make planning and emotional preparation difficult.

Assisted Death: Empowering Choice and Control

Assisted death, currently legal in a limited number of jurisdictions, involves a terminally ill, mentally competent adult voluntarily requesting and receiving medication to end their life peacefully.

Pros:

• Autonomy and Control: This option provides the patient with a sense of control over the timing and manner of their death, potentially alleviating fear and anxiety associated with a prolonged and uncontrolled dying process.
• Reduced Suffering: For individuals experiencing unbearable and unrelieved suffering, assisted death can offer a way to end their pain and distress on their own terms.
• Peace of Mind: Knowing this option is available can provide a sense of peace and empowerment, even if the patient ultimately chooses not to use it.

Cons:

• Ethical and Moral Concerns: Assisted death raises significant ethical and moral questions for individuals, healthcare providers, and society as a whole, often conflicting with religious or personal beliefs about the sanctity of life.
• Potential for Abuse and Coercion: Safeguards are crucial to ensure the patient’s decision is fully voluntary and not influenced by coercion or pressure from others.
• Impact on Healthcare Professionals: Participating in assisted death can be emotionally and morally challenging for healthcare providers, potentially leading to moral distress.
• Slippery Slope Arguments: Some worry that legalizing assisted death could lead to its expansion to individuals who are not terminally ill or who are vulnerable.

Pursuing Treatment: Hope and the Fight for More Time

Continuing treatment for as long as possible reflects a desire to fight the illness and extend life, often fueled by hope and a determination to not give up.

Pros:

• Potential for Remission or Cure (Rare): In some cases, ongoing treatment, especially with advancements in medicine, may lead to unexpected remission or even a cure, although this is less likely in advanced terminal illness.
• Buying More Time: Treatment can potentially prolong life, allowing for more time with loved ones, to achieve personal goals, or to witness important events.
• Hope and a Sense of Fighting: Actively pursuing treatment can provide a sense of hope and purpose, empowering the patient to feel like they are actively fighting the disease.

Cons:

• Diminished Quality of Life: Aggressive treatments often come with significant side effects that can severely impact the patient’s quality of life, leading to increased pain, fatigue, and discomfort.
• Financial and Emotional Burden: Prolonged treatment can be incredibly expensive and emotionally draining for both the patient and their family.
• False Hope and Unrealistic Expectations: Continuing treatment when the prognosis is very poor can sometimes create false hope and prevent the patient and family from fully accepting the reality of the situation and focusing on quality time and end-of-life preparations.
• Potentially Isolating: The demands of constant medical appointments and treatments can isolate the patient from their usual social activities and support networks.

When facing a terminal illness, patients and their loved ones often grapple with complex choices about how that final chapter will unfold.

Imagine a situation where a patient’s tumor in their throat has grown to the point where it is making it difficult for them to breathe. Then there are possible options for them to choose:

-Their care and treatment can be stopped, allowing them to naturally pass away.

-They could begin more aggressive treatments in the hopes of becoming cured.

-They could opt for euthanasia to peacefully pass away.

It’s in these highly difficult situations that sometimes premature decisions are made. To end a life too soon, people may experience decision-related stress and cause trauma for family members.

Sometimes, even though people understand the chance of recovery through a long road of treatment, the family or patient may decide that they don’t want to live like that.

Learning how to maintain the balance between medical principles and how to end life isn’t easy for anyone.  You would be lucky if you have an experienced physician with the assistance of medical interpreters to facilitate communication to guide you and point you to a simple direction on every step of the way!

We’d like to share an interesting video lecture we’ve found. Taking care of our bodies is an important part of living a happy, healthy life, but are there other keys to being our best future selves?
VIDEO – Robert Waldinger: What Makes a Good Life? Lessons from the Longest Study on Happiness

Here are some of highlights of the video:

Since 1938, the Harvard Study of Adult Development has tracked the lives of 724 men in an effort to learn what makes people happy. Their simple conclusion: social connection is really good for us, and good relationships lead to longer, healthier, and happier lives. Participants of the study who had more and better relationships with friends, family, and community were physically healthier, happier, and lived longer than participants who were more isolated, or had bad relationships.

At Monterey Language Services we are fortunate, because our work involves frequent interaction with communities; whether locally, nationally, or around the world, we are connected. The uniqueness of our profession as a translation and interpretation provider has brought us a great sense of fulfillment and happiness, and we hope we can convey that same feeling to people we work with. Our work is no longer limited to the mechanical and technical – it’s about human interaction, having something to contribute, and connecting with the world.

Monterey Language Services is committed to bridging the world’s languages by providing quality, professional and efficient translation & interpretation services in over 175 languages. Please feel free to request a quote from us.

NEWS RELEASE

Contact:         Mei-Ling Chen, Director of Translation
831-655-3460 (Office)

Translation Services Launches 40-hour Minimum Training
Required in the Healthcare Interpreting Industry

MONTEREY, Calif. (11/19, 2014) – Monterey Language Services (MLS), an independent translation and interpretation company in the Monterey area, announced its new intensive 5 day, 40 hour training course in medical interpreting. The course will take place the week of 6/1 – 6/5, 2015 and is available to online participants, regardless of location.

The Monterey and neighboring Salinas areas are home to many who do not speak English as their first language—or do not speak English at all. The importance of skilled interpreters in providing healthcare services for these residents has become increasingly evident, and the local medical interpretation industry presents a highly attractive job market for area bilinguals.

However, with increasing regulation in the healthcare interpretation field, just because you are bilingual does not mean you are qualified to interpret at a hospital or clinic. The era of family member “interpreters” is over.  “Just being bilingual, it’s not enough.  But if you have a certificate from Monterey Language Services, it’s good,” said Victor Sosa, the head of the Language Access at Natividad Medical Center, during his presentation at the workshop.

“Today, industry standards require medical interpreters to show proof of 40 hour training, successful assessment, and qualification,” said Mei-Ling Chen, Director of Translation at Monterey Language Services, who is also a Monterey Institute of International Studies trained interpreter.

MLS’s 40 hour course will provide the required minimum training and aims to help participants advance toward national certification. Training will be conducted by experienced medical interpreters and trainers. Upon successfully completing the course, participants will receive a certificate of attendance. Those who pass the exit exam will also receive a certificate of competency in medical interpreting from Monterey Language Services.

When the course was first announced to the participants of MLS’s successful community service workshop, including two attending online, they expressed great interest in the inner workings of the medical interpretation field and were eager for a more in-depth look.

“I was wondering if they (medical interpreters) start out as many of us, interpreting for family and friends, or if they have jobs where the employer saw a need to better train the janitor, for example, so he could fill two roles,” said one participant, “as was the case with my father in 1969.”

The course will next take place 6/1/2015 – 6/5/2015, cost: $800 onsite, $750 online. The flyer and registration form can be downloaded at our blog, www.montereylanguages.com/blog/.  For more information, please call 831 655 3460.

More press related to our 40 hour training:

• 40 Hour Training: Medical Interpreting as a Profession
• Medical Interpreter training announced in the Californian
• Monterey Language Services Trains Bilinguals for Jobs
• Workshop: Medical Interpreting as a Profession
• Bilingual Evaluation

Registration Form (Click to Download)

(no need to pay right away)

Return to Info Center: 40 hr Medical Interpreter Training

Frequently Asked Questions about our
40 hr Medical Interpreter Training

1. What is the cost of the 40 hour training?
2. For the certification process, is the exam required?
3. Can you take the exam without the training?
4. If you take the exit exam and pass, what are the benefits?
5. Regarding national certification, how much does it cost? How does it work–sign up online; how far out are the appointments; where is the exam administered? What is the time frame to receive results and be ready for employment?
6. Is this training and preparation truly required to work as an interpreter?
7. The leading motivator to pursue the training and certification will be income opportunity. What can you tell me about the income opportunities in this area for those who attend?
8. What is the style of your training?
9. What is the feedback from past workshops?
10. What are the new laws in California requiring medical professionals to provide an interpreter for non-English speaking patients?

Question 1

What is the cost of the 40 hour training?

Answer:  The fees for training, including the exit exam, are $750 for online participants and $800 for in-person participants.
Return to Top

Question 2

For the certification process described in the workshop flyer: exam required or not?

Answer: Upon finishing the course, you’ll receive a Certificate of Completion.  This also serves as the minimum requirement for you to take the national certification.

Our training also comes with an exit exam, its fees are included in the training.  If you take the exam and pass, you receive a Certificate of Competency.

If you decide not to take the exam, it is okay.
Return to Top

Question 3

Can you take the exam without the training? If so, what is the cost?

Answer:  If you do not take the training, you may still take the exam, but there will be a fee of $150.
Return to Top

Question 4

If you take the exit exam and pass, what are the benefits?

Answer:

• Certificate of Competency endorses that you meet industry standards, which mean that you are delivering quality service to your patient.
• You will have a higher chance of being hired as a medical interpreter by Monterey Language Services and elsewhere.
• It also signifies that you are ready to take the national certification.

Return to Top

Question 5

Regarding the national certification, how much does it cost? How does it work—sign up online; how far out are the appointments; where is the exam administered? What is the time frame to receive results and be ready for employment?

Answer: To take the national certification exam, there is a requirement of a minimum of 40 hours training—which you receive at Monterey Language Services. Our training meets national standards. To answer the other questions, please visit The National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters @ http://www.certifiedmedicalinterpreters.org/getcertified  OR Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters @ http://www.cchicertification.org/ . Either agency can get you nationally certified.
Return to Top

Question 6

Is this training and preparation truly required to work as an interpreter?

Answer:  Would you risk the life of your patient without having proper training?  One example of the dangers involved in interpreting without appropriate training is the following unfortunate true story: When an untrained person served as a medical interpreter to a pregnant woman who only spoke Spanish, the woman was prescribed an abortion-inducing drug instead of the prenatal care she was expecting. She lost her baby.

In the Joint Commission’s New & Revised Standards and EPs for Patient-Centered Communication, it says “Qualifications for language interpreters and translators may be met through language proficiency assessment, education, training, and experience.”

Monterey Language Services’ interpreter training conforms to the above and follows the rigorous standards and guidance currently available from National Council on Interpreting in Health Care (NCIHC).  This training is also posted on IMIA’s website: http://www.imiaweb.org/education/details.asp?id=4209

Our training also discusses the California Healthcare Interpreting Association (CHIA) standards. These standards are the law for medical interpreters since 2009. All such interpreters must be trained in “interpreting ethics, conduct, and confidentiality” as set out in the CHIA standards.
Return to Top

Question 7

The leading motivator to pursue the training and certification will be income opportunity.  What can you tell me about the income opportunities in this area for those that attend?

Answer:

• Types of work: Hospitals, doctors offices, community opportunities—public education sessions/seminars
• Average annual salary for interpreters nationwide was $50,610 as of May 2011, which means $24.33 per hour. **
• Interpreters with less than one year experience can expect $10-18.50 hourly. The range of annual salaries for professionals of all experience levels is from $21,036 – $83,847. ***
• Salinas, CA has an employment of 890, not including self-employed persons, an hourly mean wage of $12.10, and an annual mean wage of $25,170. **
• Job outlook: no need to worry about a saturated market. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 42% improvement in the job outlook for interpreters and translators in the next decade. ** Economicmodeling.com stated “when most of the economy was taking a severe beating, translation and interpretation services have grown by about 50%.”****
• The states with highest employment are as follows: **

**According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. ***According to Payscale.com

****According to Economicmodeling.com *****Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
Return to Top

Question 8

What is the style of your training?

Answer: Our training has a real-world focus: practical, yet fun. You will learn from industry professionals: hospitals, language service providers, and practicing medical interpreters. These professionals will share their experience with you. You will be involved in realistic role-play sessions to practice your new skills. You will have the opportunity to use the technology that interpreters use on a daily basis. There will be a consistent environment of group support.
Return to Top

Question 9

What is the feedback from past workshops?

Answer: “I thought I couldn’t make a career of medical interpreting. This workshop has been most encouraging.”

“The variety of presenters was beneficial.” “The speakers were very professional.”

“Even though it’s not a secret field, I have found medical interpretation difficult to get into.”

“It was a most informative workshop and I look forward to learning more.”

“This workshop was excellent. Thank you so much.”
[Insert YouTube video links here when done]
Return to Top

Question 10

What are the new laws in California requiring medical professionals to provide an interpreter for non-English speaking patients?

Answer:  On January 1, 2009, California implemented the first law—Senate Bill 853—to require that health insurance companies provide interpreting and translating services to patients with Limited English Proficiency (LEP).

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination against people in programs receiving federal assistance regardless of national origin. This means interpreters must be provided to persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP). Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 also supports the use of interpreters. Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act requires state and local governments to make their programs accessible to deaf or hard of hearing people, therefore also requiring ASL interpreters.
Return to Top

Act Now! Register by March 31st and get a $50 discount!

Registration form (click to download)

(no need to pay right away)

Return to Info Center: 40 hr Medical Interpreter Training

2015 Training Calendar

Act Now! Register by March 31st and get a $50 discount!

Registration form (click to download)

(no need to pay right away)

These dates don’t work for you?

Suggest new ones here!

Return to Info Center: 40 hr Medical Interpreter Training

Each term above is a link to a mini-site on that subject–please click!

The training will move you forward toward
the following goals:

• Meet minimum requirement to take national certification exam!
• Be part of the 46% growth in interpreting jobs in the next decade
• Help the community fulfill the need in healthcare interpreting
• Improve the quality of services in the healthcare industry

Click calendar for details on our next session!

Click Here to Download Registration Form

Training Focus:

Act Now! Register by March 31st and get a $50 discount!

Registration form (click to download)

(no need to pay right away)

Act Now! Register by March 31st and get a $50 discount!

Registration form (click to download)

(no need to pay right away)

Return to Info Center: 40 hr Medical Interpreter Training