Understanding the critical role interpreters play in hospitals, the MHA Health Foundation recently contributed funding to support the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) in conducting a needs assessment of Michigan’s interpreter landscape.
Through a partnership with Innivee Strategies, LARA’s assessment focused on understanding current challenges and identifying solutions to make the state’s interpreter system more equitable, responsive and sustainable. Key findings, include:
- Interpreters cited the state certification infrastructure, education and challenges with workforce entry/advancement as barriers within the profession, as well as a lack of professional development opportunities, compensation and unregulated hiring practices.
- Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing (DDBHH) individuals stressed the overuse of video remote interpreting services, rural service area gaps and a lack of accountability and enforcement from the state as barriers to care.
- Western and Northern Michigan were identified as interpreter “service desserts,” which has resulted in delayed or denied services, limited community engagement and gaps in healthcare, education, legal and everyday life contexts.
- There is a shortage of interpreters that are qualified and specialized. Interpreters with more experience are more likely to have the advanced skills and credentials needed for high-risk environments. However, given the shrinking workforce, there is concern that institutional knowledge will be lost, leaving a gap in specialized skills.
- Training for interpreters to work in healthcare settings was identified as the highest need, as DDBHH individuals indicated that this was the environment where these services are most frequently used.
Findings from the assessment drive home that a strong interpreter environment requires regulatory infrastructure, accountability and sustainable workforce development to best serve DDBHH patients and communities. The LARA intends to use these findings to inform improvements in access to interpreter services across the state.
Members with questions should contact Lauren LaPine-Ray at the MHA.
