Third National Annual Salary Survey for Medical Interpreters Underway

WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- A new 2009 IMIA Salary Survey will offer
key insight into the medical interpreting profession. The strongest
participation ever is anticipated, based on trends in this fast-emerging
profession. Last year, more than 400 interpreters and managers from forty-two
states participated in the International Medical Interpreters Association
(IMIA) Annual Salary Survey; that participation was significantly higher than
in the previous year. This 2009 survey promises to provide the data needed to
start looking at profession trends, and to be a research tool that
interpreters and managers can use to make decisions related to medical
interpreter wages.

The 2009 survey promises to yield the strongest data yet, thanks to improved
research technologies provided by Cvent, a robust survey software, which will
better assess the aggregate data.

"The compensation rates reflect the current standards of recruitment, training
and hiring of medical interpreters. National certification will ensure
competency and therefore ensure patient safety and equal access to health care
in diverse populations," explained Izabel Arocha, IMIA president. "Certified
ASL interpreters earn higher wages than spoken language interpreters, who are
not nationally certified. This will change soon with national certification
becoming available for medical interpreters. As awareness for minimum
competency increases, the profession will become more attractive for those
that are looking to enter a credentialed profession." Demand for qualified
medical interpreters continues to grow at a higher rate than in other
professions, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Abbott Thayer, operations manager of the IMIA who worked to develop the 2009
survey, reflected, "We encourage everyone committed to language access and
cultural competence to participate, to quantify the working conditions of
medical interpreters. The results of this survey will paint a picture of our
profession, with the type of strong, factual data that is foundational for the
advancement of the profession worldwide."

About the IMIA

The International Medical Interpreters Association (IMIA) is committed to the
advancement of professional medical interpreters as the best practice to
equitable language access to health care for linguistically diverse patients.
Founded in 1986, with over 1,600 members, most providing interpreting services
in over 100 languages, the IMIA is the oldest and largest medical interpreter
association in the world. While representing medical interpreters as the
experts in medical interpreting, associate membership to the IMIA is open to
those interested in medical interpreting and language access in health care.
IMIA has a division of providers, corporate members, trainers and
language-specific groups. (http://www.imiaweb.org)

Contact: Abbott Thayer, athayerimia@gmail.com

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SOURCE International Medical Interpreters Association

Abbott Thayer of IMIA, +1-626-483-2655, athayerimia@gmail.com