Health care interpreters facilitate communication between patients with limited English proficiency (
LEP) and the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and their physicians, nurses, lab technicians and other health care providers. Interpreters are always part of a three-person encounter; they do not "take care of"
LEP patients; they make it possible for you, the healthcare provider, to take care of
LEP patients despite the linguistic and cultural barriers.
Interpreters make it possible for every staff member to provide the same service and in the same manner to (
LEP) patients, in full compliance with Title VI and
National Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standards mandates. According to
CLAS mandates, health care organizations must provide language assistance services, including interpreters. Family and friends should not be used to provide interpretation services (except on requests by the patient/consumer), and even in such cases, NHRMC personnel may ask that a professional interpreter be present. If one is not available, then an iPad or OPI may be used.
If one of our onsite interpreters are not present, the Stratus Language Line is a premier over-the-phone interpretation service that is fully integrated with the Status Video Solution. Stratus provides services in over 180 languages! The telephonic interpretation system is easy to use. This service can be accessed by calling 1-855-231-4672.
Click HERE, for additional instructions on how to use this resource.
For additional information on interpretation services at NHRMC,
CLICK HERE.