Description of methods available for interpretation for non-English-speaking clients in children's hospitals

This thesis describes the methods available in children's hospitals to communicate with non-English-speaking or marginally fluent client and families. Thirty children's hospitals were randomly selected from the American Hospital Association Guide to the Health Care Field. A representative of each hospital was contacted via telephone to assess their non-English-speaking population and the methods used to interpret for these clients. Many methods for aiding with interpretations are used in the sample facilities. The most frequent methods are utilizing employees not specifically hired or trained to interpret, utilizing family members to interpret, hiring professional interpreters from agencies on an as-needed basis, providing printed information and educational material in various foreign languages, and utilizing community volunteers as interpreters. A workable system that other health care facilities could model did not emerge from this research. A list of methods helpful in communicating with non-English-speaking clients was discovered. These methods could be useful for health care facilities in their attempts to communicate with non-English-speaking clients. In addition, an understanding of the population served, documentation of the needs of the facility, and a commitment to all patients are necessary for instituting a service for interpretation.