UWHC INTERPRETER SERVICES

(See UWHC Policy Below)

If you need an interpreter, please call the following number:

Patient Relations ---------------------------------------------------------- 3-8009

For immediate and/or urgent needs:

Coordinator of Interpreter Services --------------------------------------- pager# 5455

 

Spanish ----------------------------------------------------------- pager# 550-7000*

Sign language ------------------------------------ --------------- pager# 551-0430*

All other languages ------------------------------------------ Nursing Coordinator

Pager#7576

*Note: These are not UWHC internal pagers. Please enter 7-digit callback number.

When no face-to-face interpreter is available, use Language Line Services:
  1. Dial 1-800-523-1786
  2. Request the language
    3.
  3. Give Client ID (ask Interp services for this)

    4. Organization name: University of Wisconsin Hospital

    Personal code: caller’s full name

  4. Brief the interpreter
    5.

Use speakerphone or pass the phone back and forth

MEMO to UWHC Personnel:

From: Sue Sanford-Ring, Director of Patient & Family Services

Shiva Bidar-Sielaff, Coordinator of Interpreter Services

Date: 09/25/00

Re: Interpreter Services

The Department of Health & Human Services - Office for Civil Rights issued a new guidance memorandum on August 30, 2000 pertaining to services provided to limited English speaking patients. This new guidance memorandum provides more specific details concerning the obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to provide language assistance free of charge to all of our limited-English speaking patients. Enforcement of Title VI is expanding and the consequences of non-compliance are serious for our institution including the loss of all Federal funds.

UWHC is committed to providing appropriate language assistance to limited-English-speaking patients to assure that their needs are met effectively. This memo outlines the steps that need to be taken to assure that this is accomplished.

To assure that appropriate language assistance services are provided to our patients, all patient contact staff:
    1. should be aware of our Interpreter Services Policy (UWHC policy 7.53).
    2. should know how to request an interpreter (see attachment 1)
    3. should know how to use Language Line Services when making a call to or receiving a call from a limited-English speaking patient (see attachment 1)
    4. should be aware that encouraging or suggesting the use of a friend or family member as an interpreter is a violation of OCR guidelines and hospital policy. If, after informing a patient of the right to a free trained interpreter, the patient insists on using a friend or family member as an interpreter, please contact the Patient Relations Dept. to request a "Refusal of Free Interpreter Services Form." This form must be filed in the patient’s medical record. Even if a patient refuses the use of a hospital-approved interpreter, we strongly recommend that the interpreter sit in on the appointment to ensure accurate interpretation.

We also have an obligation to provide written materials routinely provided in English in regularly encountered languages (i.e. Spanish.) Please identify these materials and e-mail Shiva Bidar-Sielaff with your request for translation.

Please feel free to contact Shiva Bidar-Sielaff if you would like a copy of the OCR guidelines’ executive summary or have any questions regarding this memo. Shiva can be reached at 265-7424 or s.bidarsielaff@hosp.wisc.edu.