Interpretation Services
Northwestern Medicine Interpretation Services
You have a right to receive care in a language that you understand. If your preferred language is not English, you will have access to a trained, qualified medical interpreter at no cost.
All interpreters hired at Northwestern Medicine are certified, qualified and trained in accordance with state and federal requirements. We consider your interpreter to be an essential part of your care team.
The Interpretation Services team provides patients and families equitable access to care using qualified medical interpreters and communication accommodations. We collaborate with your care teams, family and caregivers with the goal of achieving positive health outcomes and the best patient experience.
Certified and qualified medical interpreters improve patient safety and satisfaction by:
- Being proficient in medical terminology in the language(s) they support
- Interpreting everything being said
- Watching for body language or facial expressions that might indicate confusion or distress
- Working as patient advocates to ensure any questions or concerns are addressed
The Interpretation Services Department is proud to support you with a combination of services, based on your location. These may include face-to-face interpreters, video remote interpreting or interpretation over the telephone.