CoreCHI case studies
CoreCHI · Put your knowledge to work in context.
CoreCHI™ (Core Certification Healthcare Interpreter™) is a knowledge-based credential from CCHI, the Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters, designed to measure the core professional knowledge that a medical interpreter needs regardless of the language pair they work in. Because it is not tied to a single language, it is open to interpreters of all languages, including those working with less commonly taught and refugee languages, and it complements the performance-based credentials CCHI also offers. The exam covers foundational healthcare interpreting content such as safety protocols, universal precautions, and HIPAA, and it assesses the interpreter's critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and cultural responsiveness as applied in any healthcare setting. CCHI reports that its CoreCHI™, CoreCHI-P™, and CHI™-Spanish certifications are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), and that these are the only accredited interpreter certifications in the United States. The CoreCHI case studies are 5 cases and about 3,439 words.
1The Sedated Consent
You are the Spanish interpreter in a busy pre-operative holding area. A 58-year-old patient is scheduled for an urgent laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 40 minutes.
712 words, about 4 min2The Coughing Patient and the Mask
You are called to interpret for a 34-year-old Mandarin-speaking man in a crowded urgent care waiting room. He has had a fever of 38.9°C (102°F) for three days, a productive cough, and just returned from a region with an active tuberculosis outbreak.
709 words, about 4 min3The Brother Who Answers for Her
You are interpreting for a 71-year-old Vietnamese-speaking woman in an oncology clinic. She has newly diagnosed stage III colon cancer.
734 words, about 4 min4The Word That Has No Word
You are interpreting in a prenatal visit for a 29-year-old Somali-speaking patient who has lived in the U.S. The obstetrician explains that a screening test came back indicating an increased risk for a chromosomal condition and recommends diagnostic testing.
633 words, about 3 min5The Husband Who Won't Leave
You are interpreting for a 24-year-old Arabic-speaking woman in an emergency department. She came in with abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding.
651 words, about 3 min