Students enrolled at Maine College of Health Professions (MCHP) are not permitted to formally translate or interpret for patients during clinical, laboratory, or educational activities.
Formal medical interpretation must be provided by qualified, institution-approved interpreter services in accordance with healthcare facility policy and patient safety standards. Students may not assume the role of interpreter regardless of personal language proficiency.
Students may engage in basic, non-clinical communication (e.g., greetings or comfort measures) when appropriate and permitted by the clinical site; however, this does not replace or substitute for professional medical interpretation.
Failure to adhere to this policy may result in corrective action and will be addressed in accordance with MCHP and clinical site policies.
Approved:______________________________________________________________________
Monika Bissell, DBA
President