Legislation as a Backdrop for the Professionalisation and Training of the Healthcare Interpreter in the United States

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of the state of affairs of the healthcare interpreter in the United States of America through a legislative lens. The aim of the study is to qualitatively measure the professionalisation and training of the healthcare interpreter at both a national level and with particular focus on four states, California, Texas, New York and Washington, gauging their progress and comparing different geographical locations in homogeneity. This is achieved through an in-depth analysis of the federal and state legislation on language access to services for persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) and its impact on healthcare interpreter professionalisation and training at both levels.

Our analysis shows that recent legislation in the United States is moving towards better treatment of the LEP population. At the national level, the United States has developed specific legislation for regulating access to language services which has prompted the inception of two professional associations, the establishment of two similar codes of ethics and the proliferation of training programmes which share a series of common traits. At the state level, and with reference to the four states analysed, specific legislation also exists to regulate access to services by people with LEP, though the state of affairs is not homogeneous. However, although the outlook of healthcare interpreters as professionals looks positive, more efforts must be done to further organise the profession.