When people ask what it’s like to be a medical interpreter, they often focus on the words, fluency, vocabulary, and medical terminology. But those of us in the field know it’s so much more than that, especially when the call takes an emotional turn. And one of the biggest factors shaping how we experience these calls? Whether we’re interpreting over the phone (OPI) or through video remote interpreting (VRI).
The difference is more than just visual, it affects the whole experience, especially when the topic is something as sensitive and emotionally raw as end-of-life care.
OPI vs. VRI: The Basics
- OPI (Over-the-Phone Interpreting): Audio only. You can hear the voices but you can’t see facial expressions, gestures, or body language.
- VRI (Video Remote Interpreting): Audio and video. The interpreter appears on a screen, often on a tablet or monitor in the room, and can see both the patient and the provider.
What Makes Emotional Calls Different
1. The Human Connection
In VRI, you can look someone in the eye. You can match their body language, nod in understanding, soften your tone while reflecting the emotional gravity of the moment. When a family is crying or holding the patient’s hand, you can see that. And as an interpreter, you feel it.
In OPI, those visual cues are gone. You rely entirely on tone of voice, silence, breathing patterns. You’re constantly reading between the lines, guessing, Is she crying? Did the patient just nod or shake their head? Are they looking at the doctor or someone else in the room? That guesswork can be mentally and emotionally exhausting. It also creates a layer of distance, sometimes helpful, sometimes alienating.
2. Presence and Empathy
In emotional moments like end-of-life conversations, presence matters. In VRI, your presence is visible. Families often glance at the screen, sometimes even speak directly to you, because you’re part of the room, even virtually. There’s comfort in being seen and seeing.
In OPI, you’re more of a ghost voice. You may say something tender in the target language, but no one sees the look on your face. You can be pouring empathy into your voice, but you’re still invisible. It can make the call feel colder, more clinical, sometimes exactly what a family doesn’t need when facing a heartbreaking decision.
3. Managing Silence
In emotional conversations, silence plays a powerful role. A patient might pause to cry. A family member might struggle to speak. A doctor might give the family space to absorb devastating news. On VRI, you can see these silences, and you know why they’re happening.
On OPI, silence can be confusing. Did the call drop? Is someone talking, just not close enough to the mic? Should you say something? You’re holding your breath, waiting for a sign, and you often have none. You’re forced to navigate emotional nuance without any visual support.
4. Emotional Impact on the Interpreter
These calls stay with us. Whether it’s a child interpreting for their dying parent, or a family struggling to decide whether to move to hospice care, we carry those moments long after we clock out.
But the mode matters.
- VRI can be more intense. You see the pain. You feel it viscerally. The tears, the touches, the unspoken tension in a room, it hits harder.
- OPI can feel more isolating. You might hang up and feel like you never got closure. You don’t know what happened after the call. It can leave you emotionally suspended.
So, Which Is “Better” for Emotional Calls?
There’s no perfect answer.
- VRI is ideal for nuanced, emotional discussions, end-of-life care, mental health counseling, family meetings. It allows for better human connection, richer communication, and deeper understanding.
- OPI is more accessible in urgent situations or in areas with limited tech, but it can be more challenging emotionally and contextually.
Ultimately, what matters most is how we show up as interpreters, whether through a screen or a phone line. In these moments, we’re not just converting language. We’re carrying emotions, honoring culture, and holding space for grief, fear, and love.
No matter the modality, we are witnesses to the most human moments of someone’s life. And that’s something I never take lightly.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in these blog entries are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the company. Any content provided by the author is of their opinion and is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything.
