Lost in translation: integrating medical interpreters into the multidisciplinary team

Shortly before his death in 1995, Kenneth B. Schwartz, a cancer patient at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), founded The Kenneth B. Schwartz Center at MGH. The Schwartz Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and advancing compassionate health care delivery that provides hope to the patient, support to caregivers, and encourages the healing process. The Center sponsors the Schwartz Center Rounds, a monthly multidisciplinary forum where caregivers reflect on important psychosocial issues faced by patients, their families, and their caregivers, and gain insight and support from fellow staff members. Professional medical interpreters play a crucial role in mediating language-discordant encounters between cancer patients and oncologists. Trained interpreters allow for timely information exchange that is both accurate and culturally sensitive. Rising numbers of immigrants will increase the demand for interpreters. Medical oncologists need to respond by establishing collaborative practices with interpreters or using remote interpretation services. The article provides specific recommendations for working with medical interpreters and reviews common areas of concern for patients and healthcare professionals facing language and cultural barriers.