Certified medical interpreters for examinations, evaluations, and clinical settings.
Healthcare settings require interpreters trained in clinical terminology, patient privacy, and the dynamics of a medical conversation. AMS supplies medically-trained interpreters for independent medical examinations, psychological evaluations, surgical consultations, and patient appointments, with the same anytime online scheduling that supports our legal practice.
What we handle
Independent medical examinations (IMEs)
Interpreters matched to the specialty (orthopedic, neurological, psychiatric, pain management) and familiar with IME report flow.
Psychological and neuropsychological evaluations
Interpreters trained for the longer, more nuanced format of psych and neuropsych assessments.
Patient examinations and consultations
In-clinic and bedside interpreting for primary care, specialist consultations, pre-op, and discharge instructions.
Workers-compensation medical visits
AME, QME, panel QME, and treating physician appointments interpreted with workers-comp context in mind.
Telehealth and video remote interpreting
Same-day video remote interpreting for telehealth platforms when on-site is not the right fit.
Hospital and emergency settings
Short-notice and after-hours coverage for emergency rooms, inpatient consultations, and family meetings.
How it works
- 01
Send the appointment details
Date, time, language, specialty, and location. Call (800) 919-2029 for same-day requests.
- 02
We match a medically-trained interpreter
Selection criteria include medical certification, specialty experience, and availability.
- 03
We confirm and follow through
Written confirmation, on-site arrival ahead of the appointment, and our scheduling team available for questions.
Why healthcare clients choose AMS
Specialty matching
Interpreters matched to the clinical context, not just language. An ortho IME gets an interpreter familiar with ortho terminology.
HIPAA-aware practice
Interpreters work under confidentiality agreements. Protected health information stays protected.
Coverage when you need it
Anytime online scheduling for emergency consultations, after-hours admits, and last-minute IME reschedules.
Medical interpreting questions, answered
What credentials should a medical interpreter have?
Two national certifications are recognized in U.S. healthcare: CCHI (Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters), which is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), and the legacy NBCMI program. Hospitals and IME companies should verify the credential, the language pair, and the issue date. AMS supplies CCHI-certified and equivalently-credentialed interpreters in all common medical-encounter languages.
Why can a family member not serve as the interpreter?
Federal language-access guidance under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act treats family interpreting as inappropriate except for life-threatening emergencies with the patient's consent. The risks are concrete: untrained bilinguals miss false cognates, omit clinical detail, and inadvertently inject their own opinions. The Willie Ramirez case is the most-cited example: a single mistranslated word from family ("intoxicado") was rendered as "intoxicated," leading to a missed brain hemorrhage and a $71 million settlement.
Can interpretation be done by video instead of on-site?
Yes for many encounters: medication counseling, routine follow-ups, discharge instructions, and most outpatient consultations. Video remote interpreting (VRI) typically connects in under 60 seconds for common languages. For independent medical examinations, psychological evaluations, and high-stakes legal-medical encounters, on-site interpreting is generally preferred because the interpreter can observe nonverbal cues and read documents alongside the examiner.
How quickly can AMS schedule a medical interpreter?
Availability depends on language, location, and timing. Call our office at (800) 919-2029 and we will confirm what is available for your date. We have 25+ years of short-notice IME and hospital coverage experience across California and Nevada.
Is the interpretation confidential? Do interpreters sign HIPAA agreements?
Yes. AMS interpreters operate under written confidentiality agreements that explicitly cover protected health information (PHI). Interpreters are trained on the boundaries of their role and do not record, copy, or retain patient information beyond the encounter.
What languages does AMS cover for medical encounters?
AMS routinely supplies medical interpreters in Spanish, Mandarin and Cantonese Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Russian, Armenian, Farsi, Tagalog, Arabic, Punjabi, and American Sign Language. Rare-language and indigenous-language coverage is available with advance notice, frequently via vetted video remote interpreting.
What does a medical interpreter cost?
Rates vary by language, location, proceeding type, time of day, and on-site versus VRI. For a written quote, call our office at (800) 919-2029 or use the Quote form.
Further reading
Willie Ramirez: the most expensive interpreting error in U.S. medical history
How one mistranslated word in a South Florida ER led to a $71 million settlement and reshaped U.S. medical-interpreting standards.
Read the articleSection 1557 healthcare language access, explained
What hospitals, clinics, and IME companies must do to satisfy federal language-access obligations under the Affordable Care Act.
Read the articleCCHI vs. NBCMI: medical interpreter certification compared
Which national medical-interpreter credential matters in 2026, and what each one actually tests.
Read the articleBilingual staff vs. certified interpreters: where the line is
Federal guidance allows bilingual staff in some roles and requires qualified interpreters in others. Here is where the line falls.
Read the articleCultural broker vs. interpreter: when each role is appropriate
The distinction that determines whether your patient gets clinical accuracy or cultural mediation, and why hospitals often need both.
Read the articleVideo remote interpreting (VRI): when it works and when it does not
A practical guide to choosing between on-site, telephonic, and video remote interpreting for healthcare encounters.
Read the articleSchedule with AMS
Request a quote or reach our scheduling team. AMS will assign the right linguist for your matter.