Direct Interpreting Services holds minimum, quarterly training sessions for its all, medical and legal interpreters. Competent, professional trainers give quarterly training. Direct Access Interpreting Services is also in the process of developing a comprehensive, multi-lingual index of both social and medical terminology. Finally, Direct Access Interpreting Services has planned to enroll some of its interpreters into the University of Minnesota and Supreme Court certification programs.

Direct Access Interpreting Services:

strives to improve professional development of its interpreters. We train our team on issues that are equally important in interpreting. We also emphasize to our interpreters the importance following the code of ethics in interpreting, and standard of practice in interpreting. National Council on Interpreting in Health care developed these guidelines. A brief example of those guidelines we put into practice are:

• Accuracy: To enable other parties to know precisely what each speaker has said.
• Confidentiality: To honor the private and personal nature of the health care        interaction and maintain trust among all parties.
• Impartiality: To eliminate the effect of interpreter bias or preference.
• Respect:    To acknowledge the inherent dignity of all parties in the interpreted encounter.
• Cultural awareness: To facilitate communication across cultural differences.
• Role Boundaries: To clarify the scope and limits of the interpreting role, in order to avoid conflicts or interest.
• Professionalism: To uphold the public’s trust in the interpreting profession.
• Professional development: To attain the highest possible level of competence and service.
• Advocacy: To prevent harm to parties whom the interpreter serve.