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Healthcare interpreters are often taught that simultaneous interpretation (simul) is used almost exclusively in encounters where there is a prolonged emotional utterance which compromises the interpreter’s performance. In other words, the interpreter is not given enough pauses to render an accurate consecutive interpretation (consec) during dialogue, which then provokes the interpreter to spontaneously change their practice from consec to simul.
The presenter will argue in favor of re-evaluating our field’s de facto position on this and encourage the use of simul in other dynamics, as well. She will argue that simul can be an effective practice when the interpreter has the opportunity to be more deliberate in planning for it.
The presenter will explore when and why we might choose to employ simul (and/or simul combined with consec) and how to negotiate its use with the other parties. She will explore its potential in certain settings to result in effective interpreter performance and accuracy, especially with language-discordant families (e.g., English-speaking patient and LEP caregiver) and prolonged unilateral teaching sessions (CPR, extensive home care teaching, etc.)
The presenter will ultimately share the limitations of short-term memory in complex consec and how to improve both consec and simul performance by understanding the role that long term memory plays with retention and recall.
About the presenter:
Andrea R. Henry, CHI-Spanish, practicing interpreter & researcher
Andrea is a full-time interpreter in a level-one pediatric trauma center. She has enjoyed working in the healthcare interpreting industry for over 28 years. Most of those years have been in face-to-face interpreting of dialogue in both adult and children’s healthcare settings. Interpreting on the frontlines is her biggest joy.
Additionally, Andrea has learned a great deal from many roles in this field having worked as a freelance interpreter, full-time OPI interpreter, interpreter coordinator for two healthcare organizations, interpreter trainer, full-time F2F interpreter in a level-one trauma center, and interpreter researcher.
She has extensive experience in written translation (e.g., English & Spanish home care instructions), public speaking, and mentoring novice interpreters. Andrea’s areas of interest and expertise include specialization (e.g., pediatric cancer, pediatric heart defects, etc.), outside-the-box methods for navigating technical speech and sociolinguistic bumps, and value-added scripting for improved encounter interaction.
Andrea is strongly invested in moving our field forward by sharing strategies that improve communication and the patient’s clinical outcome, as well as raise our perceived value. She is a member of the NCIHC and was a CCHI commissioner from 2021-2024.
Finally, Andrea is the principal investigator for grant-funded research on development and validation of a tool that measures complexity and mental fatigue in the healthcare encounter.