Helping Patients Connect: Interpreter Appreciation Day
Has one of Cook Children's Language Services team members helped you make a connect with a patient family? Let us know in the comments below.
The Language Services team in Fort Worth and Prosper provides services for our Limited English Proficiency (LEP) patients and families to ensure that they receive communication in their language of choice.
“It’s already stressful being in a hospital setting. Imagine having to make decisions that affect the health of your child if you do not receive the information in your preferred language. I applaud our leaders and staff throughout the system for advocating to ensure our patients and families receive the resources they need to effectively communicate with our teams. Please join me by thanking our Language Services Team who are unsung heroes, connecting the dots for our patients and families,” said Ramonda Widemon Busby, DNP, MHA, RN, NEA-BC, CPN, Assistant Vice President, Case Management Services.
Language Services includes a Language Services Equipment Coordinator, Spanish Interpreters, and Certified Spanish Interpreters, that not only provide verbal medical communication, but also translate medical documents and prescription instructions. The department is also responsible for coordinating on-site interpreters and translation for other languages, including Sign Language. The top five languages used at Cook Children’s are Spanish, Arabic, French, Pashto, and Vietnamese. To arrange for on-site interpreters please contact InterpreterRequests@cookchildren.org.
The department also uses technology to assist with LEP interpretation across the system. They offer about 235 cordless "Blue Phones," which provide over-the-phone interpretation for over 200 languages, and 245 Video Remote Interpretation (VRI) carts, which provide interpretation services for 48 languages via video and over 200 audio languages via audio. VRI carts are affectionately known as “Green Machines.”
The department also partners with Health Equity to offer testing for employees who would like to use languages outside of English that they are proficient in for their role at work. To test, email HealthEquity@cookchildrens.org.
To celebrate National Interpreter Appreciation Day on May 1, the department is recognizing their teams with a lunch to celebrate their dedication and successes over the past year.
In 2023, Language Services:
• Arranged for 210 employees to be tested for languages outside of English.
• Provided a total of 66,712 face-to-face and translation requests.
• Blue Phone usage was 62,692 calls, totaling 555,758 minutes.
• VRI usage was 40,627 calls, totaling 700,367 minutes.