Date
of Last Review 10/13/08
SME: Director of Social Services
At UTHCPC, patients are entitled to communicate in a language that they understand.
Interpretation services are available when a patient has limited English proficiency or has sensory impairment preventing communication with the treatment team.
An interpreter is a person who speaks languages other than English or a sign language.
The following interpretation services are available at UTHCPC:
 | AT&T Language Line |
| Language Competency Program Participants |
| International Translation Services |
| Sign Language |
Use for all languages except for Spanish, Korean ,and Vietnamese. Available 24 hours per day, all year.
| Interpretation is provided only by telephone |
| The requester calls the AT&T language line direct at 1-800-532-1786 |
A pair of units is assigned personnel that participate in the Language Competency Program. When an interpreter is needed, unit personnel or the department needing the service, contacts the staff that is assigned to cover the specific area.
|
Each team of interpreters is considered part of the area team and equally participates in supporting the assigned area, as the duties of their primary job permit |
|
The team of interpreters will coordinate their planned absences to accommodate the support. If circumstance warrants, an interpreter may and will be asked to interpret outside their assigned area. |
|
On second shift there is one interpreter per designated area. An interpreter may on occasion have to be covered by an interpreter from another area |
|
If an interpreter is unavailable internally, then Language USA is contacted for an outside interpreter. |
|
On second, third shift, and weekends the Language Line will need to be utilized. |
|
Services for interpretation other than Spanish or Vietnamese will need to be accessed from an outside agency |
Language competency program participants
Program participants are UTHCPC employees who are certified and hired to interpret. This service is for Spanish and Vietnamese speaking patients.
| Interpretation is provided in person, or may be accomplished by telephone/conference call |
| If the interpreters that are assigned to your team are not available, an alternate form of service should be accessed |
Reporting Unavailable Interpreter Service
If an interpreter is unavailable to provide translation services, the unavailability should be noted on the Translation Unavailability Form.
| Language Line Services | 1-800-523-1786 |
| International Language Svc. | 713-783-3800 |
| Sign Shares, Inc. | 713-869-4373 |
International translation services
This service provides an interpreter in person and may be requested by physician order.
| If an interpreter is needed after 3:30 p.m. for a language other than Spanish or Vietnamese, contact the AT&T language line at 1-800-532-1786 |
This service uses the American Sign Language method.
| Contact Sign Shares at 713-869-4373 to schedule the needed service |
| Provide the following information: |
 | Name of patient |
| Amount of time interpreter is needed |
| What specific duty you need the interpreter to perform (example: discharge planning, family meeting) |
| If an interpreter cannot be reached, use the American Sign Language reference books in room 2B44 (Nursing Supervisor's office) and fill out the sign-out book |
To maintain a quality and efficient service, Social Services requests that the users of the Language Competency Program complete the UTHCPC Translation Services Survey (English) or UTHCPC Translation Services Survey (Spanish).
For further information, staff may contact the the program administrator at the following:
Social Services Department
Office: UTHCPC 3C05
Phone: 713-741-3825
The Joint Commission : Management of Human Resources
If you have questions regarding the content of this site please contact the Policy and Procedure Committee. If you experience any technical problems please contact the MIS Department.
