The mission of our translators and interpreters is to facilitate and promote effective communication among our patients, families, staff members and community.
- Interpreters convert one spoken language into another
- Translators convert written materials from one language into another
- Interpreters and translators facilitate the cross-cultural communication by converting one language into another.
Our translators have been HIPAA trained and will follow HIPAA rules and regulations while translating. They are considered part of the Treatment Team and whatever is discussed between them and the patient/physician is to remain private.
In the medical setting, it is essential that patients actively participate in a dialogue with their health care providers. The need to understand information, diagnoses, and directions accurately is crucial before making medical decisions that affect one’s own treatment or that of a loved one. While many patients and their families use English in other settings, it may not be the language they prefer to utilize for medical care.
In addition, feelings of anxiousness or fear about a diagnosis or illness can affect communication. This often happens in emergency situations when a person may be too nervous to communicate clearly in anything other than his/her primary language. An interpreter may bridge linguistic and cultural gaps that may exist between a patient and the medical provider while maintaining strict patient confidentiality.
If you have any questions about Language Line Interpreter Service, please contact Ms. Kerri Caronongan, Chief, Patient Accountability Branch at 912-435-6746/6747/6748/6915.
