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

After sharing the outcomes of the California Medical Interpreter Pilot Project (MIPP), the next question is simple: what made those results possible?

Monterey Language Services was selected through a competitive bid process to provide medical interpreting services. Like all approved providers, we were required to meet strict compliance standards set by the state of California.

Meeting the Standard

Every interpreter assigned to the project completed all required documentation and clearances, including:

• Vaccination records (including COVID-19)
• TB testing
• Fit-to-work clearance
• Live Scan/Fingerprinting
• Background checks
• CCHI certification

These requirements ensured that interpreters could safely and professionally work in medical environments.

What Made the Difference

Monterey Language Services met all required compliance standards—just like other approved providers. What set us apart was how consistently we delivered quality in real-world medical settings.

Our interpreters were not only qualified on paper, but reliable in practice—supporting clear communication between patients and healthcare providers in high-pressure situations.

The Result

As a result, Monterey Language Services was ranked the highest-performing provider in the MIPP.

Work With a Proven Team

If your organization needs medical interpreters who meet strict requirements and deliver consistently in real settings, we’re ready to help.

Request a quote:
https://www.montereylanguages.com/request-a-quote.html

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.

Patients often describe neurological symptoms using everyday sensory language. In neurological encounters, interpreters must convey these descriptions accurately and completely so clinicians can evaluate nervous system function without loss or distortion of meaning.

General terms such as “dizziness” may refer to a range of sensations with different clinical implications. Accurately conveying the patient’s exact description allows the clinician to determine whether the symptom may be consistent with vertigo or another condition.

Neurology also includes conditions that resemble neurological disorders but have different underlying causes.

• PNES (Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures): Events that resemble epileptic seizures but are not associated with abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

If qualifiers such as “psychogenic” or “non-epileptic” are omitted, clinical decision-making may be affected, potentially leading to treatment approaches that are not indicated and may expose the patient to unnecessary risk.

Interpreters must also accurately render commonly used neurological abbreviations and terminology, including:

• TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack): A temporary neurological event that resolves but indicates increased risk of stroke.
• CVA (Cerebrovascular Accident): The medical term for a stroke.
• LP (Lumbar Puncture): A procedure used to collect cerebrospinal fluid for diagnostic evaluation.
• MS (Multiple Sclerosis): A chronic disease affecting the central nervous system.

The nervous system regulates essential functions including movement, sensation, speech, and consciousness. In neurological encounters, incomplete or generalized interpretation can compromise patient understanding and clinical assessment.

When clinicians discuss conditions such as a subdural hematoma versus an epidural hematoma, the interpreter must ensure the information is conveyed fully and accurately, without additions, omissions, or substitutions. Precision is critical in neurological care.

Distinguishing between aphasia and dysarthria is particularly important in stroke-related encounters. Although both may be described as “difficulty speaking,” they reflect different neurological mechanisms.

• Aphasia: A disorder of language processing that may affect the ability to find, understand, or produce words, despite intact speech muscles.
• Dysarthria: A motor speech disorder in which weakness or incoordination of the muscles used for speech affects clarity and articulation, while language formulation may remain intact.

If a patient states, “I can’t say the words,” and this is rendered as “the patient’s speech is slurred,” critical information about the nature of the speech difficulty may be altered. This can influence how the clinician evaluates the symptom, potentially shifting attention from a language-processing impairment to a motor speech issue.

Accurately conveying how the patient describes their speech difficulty—without interpretation or substitution—is essential in stroke care.

Neurological evaluation focuses on the function of the nervous system rather than isolated organs. Clinicians assess how signals are generated, transmitted, and processed within the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS).

When a neurologist questions a patient, the goal is to determine whether symptoms may involve central or peripheral nervous system pathways. The interpreter’s role is to accurately and completely render both the patient’s descriptions and the clinician’s questions to support this assessment.

Broad terms may be insufficient in neurological contexts. For example, the term “seizure” encompasses multiple event types with distinct clinical implications, treatment approaches, and potential outcomes.

• Generalized tonic-clonic seizure: A seizure involving both hemispheres of the brain, typically associated with loss of consciousness and bilateral motor activity.
• Focal onset seizure: A seizure that begins in a specific area of the brain and may occur with preserved or altered awareness.

Faithfully rendering the specific terminology used by clinicians and accurately conveying the patient’s description of events supports clinical evaluation. Generalizing, substituting, or simplifying terminology may obscure distinctions that are relevant to diagnosis and treatment planning.

Medical terminology comes on top. Medical interpretation requires a strong understanding of medical terminology in both the source and target languages. It is important to know the meaning of medical terms and jargon in order to accurately convey information. If an interpreter doesn’t understand a word, he or she should ask for a simpler explanation, so that the conversation between the doctor and the patient is flawless.

In addition, it’s best to always use clear and concise language when interpreting medical information. Using straightforward, easy to understand language will help ensure that the patient understands the information being provided. Do your best to avoid medical jargon or technical terms that the patient may not be familiar with. But if you do end up having to use it, be sure you understand what it means so you can explain it if necessary.

That being said, be sure to be in the know-how of how the medical field works. Whether it’s of internal medicine, neurology, radiology, pediatrics, cardiology, outpatient surgery, gastroenterology, urology, intensive care, orthopedics, physical therapy, community health, emergency, gynecology and more, an interpreter should be prepared and understand each specialty. This can help you as an interpreter to better understand the medical information being provided and to accurately convey it to the patient.

There are a lot of cultures out there that deal with medical visits differently. You may have  mastered the source and target languages in the medical field, but you also need to be culturally sensitive and can bridge the gap between the two cultures you are interpreting in. Something important beyond what is being said, the interpreter should serve as an advocate to bring that underlining meaning out to all parties involved. This can help the doctor and the patient understand each other better. Medical interpretation is unique in this sense. To communicate fully in order to provide and receive the best treatment.

As an interpreter, you should always keep whatever occurs in the appointment confidential. Medical interpreters should always respect the confidentiality of the patient and not share any personal or medical information without the patient’s consent or unless required by law. A medical interpreter should always remain impartial and avoid giving personal opinions or advice to the patient regarding make their own decisions and conclusions.

Medical interpretation is a valuable service to the community. It’s a very rewarding experience for us at Monterey Language Services. We have a great sense of helping others by providing medical interpretation to LEP (Limited English Proficiency) patients. Our goal is to put their mind at ease that their words are being understood, and they are understanding the words being said to them as well. This is what we call the essence of medical interpretation.

If you are available and have completed 100 hours of CCHI approved interpreter training, could you briefly let us know your experience, rate, and how far you are from CA 94804, so we can follow up with you?

Please feel welcome to refer colleagues as well. Thank you!

Language: English/Spanish

Hours (two days a week):
Monday (10am – 4:30pm)
Thursday (9am – 3:00pm)

Location: Richmond, CA 94804

Subject: Prenatal and Productive Health Care

Email can be sent to Director of Translation, Mei-Ling Chen at the following address.
mei-ling@montereylanguages.com

Language List:

Arabic, Armenian, Cambodian, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), Farsi, Hindi, Hmong, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Mien, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, and Vietnamese

If you are interested, could you briefly let us know your language, experience, rate, and how far you are from CA 94553, so we can follow up with you. Please also feel welcome to refer colleagues.

Emails can be sent to Director of Translation, Mei-Ling Chen at the following address.
mei-ling@montereylanguages.com

Thank you!

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.

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

Registration form (click to download)

(no need to pay right away)

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