Interpreter Services
Georgia Regents Medical Center recognizes and supports the needs of Limited English Proficient (LEP)and deaf and hard-of-hearing patients who require assistance in communicating with hospital and clinic staff. Interpreter Services is dedicated to help healthcare providers bridge the gap with LEP and hearing impaired patients through accurate interpretation.
We value the uniqueness of all individuals by recognizing their distinct beliefs, culture, needs and strengths. We are commitment to support Georgia Regents Medical Center's mission of serving the community and providing the highest quality care.
Why Interpreter Services?
As the local population becomes more diverse, we find ourselves increasingly interacting with patients from distinct cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Given the vital implications of culture and language in the delivery and receipt of health care services, it is important that our staff is able to identify and respond to the needs and preferences of these patients.
Interpreter Services has an array of services, as established by policy 14.58, to support our mission. We have trained Spanish Medical Interpreters available 24/7. For languages other than Spanish, we have contracted CyraCom International, a transparent language service that specializes in medical interpretation in over 150 different languages. Interpreter Services also coordinate access to licensed American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters for the hearing impaired.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health issued the following 15 National CLAS standards:
Principal Standard
1) Provide effective, equitable, understandable and respectful quality care and services that are responsive to diverse cultural health beliefs and practices, preferred languages, health literacy and other communication needs.
Governance, Leadership and Workforce
2) Advance and sustain organizational governance and leadership that promotes CLAS and health equity through policy, practices and allocated resources.
3) Recruit, promote and support a culturally and linguistically diverse governance, leadership and workforce that are responsive to the population in the service area.
4) Educate and train governance, leadership and workforce in culturally and linguistically appropriate policies and practices on an ongoing basis.
Communication and Language Assistance
5) Offer language assistance to individuals who have limited English proficiency and/or other communication needs, at no cost to them, to facilitate timely access to all health care and services.
6) Inform all individuals of the availability of language assistance services clearly and in their preferred language, verbally and in writing.
7) Ensure the competence of individuals providing language assistance, recognizing that the use of untrained individuals and/or minors as interpreters should be avoided.
8) Provide easy-to-understand print and multimedia materials and signage in the languages commonly used by the populations in the service area.
Engagement, Continuous Improvement and Accountability
9) Establish culturally and linguistically appropriate goals, policies and management accountability, and infuse them throughout the organizations’ planning and operations.
10) Conduct ongoing assessments of the organization’s CLAS-related activities and integrate CLAS-related measures into assessment measurement and continuous quality improvement activities.
11) Collect and maintain accurate and reliable demographic data to monitor and evaluate the impact of CLAS on health equity and outcomes and to inform service delivery.
12) Conduct regular assessments of community health assets and needs and use the results to plan and implement services that respond to the cultural and linguistic diversity of populations in the service area.
13) Partner with the community to design, implement and evaluate policies, practices and services to ensure cultural and linguistic appropriateness.
14) Create conflict- and grievance-resolution processes that are culturally and linguistically appropriate to identify, prevent and resolve conflicts or complaints.
15) Communicate the organization’s progress in implementing and sustaining CLAS to all stakeholders, constituents and the general public.
Department Manager
Vivian Rice
706-721-6929
706-721-6962 - fax
[email protected]
Medical Interpreters
Volunteers
Josefina Hernandez - Trained Medical Interpreter
Carolina McGowan - Trained Medical Interpreter
Alma Tuttle - Trained Medical Interpreter
How to Contact your Interpreters
| Monday - Friday (On-Site) |
7:30 AM - 10:00 PM |
706-721-6929 / 706-721-6927 |
| Monday - Friday (On-Call ) |
10:00 PM - 7:30 AM |
706-721-6929 (To page the Interpreter) |
| Weekends (On-Site) |
7:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
706-721-6929 (To page the Interpreter) |
| Weekends (On-Call ) |
6:00 PM - 7:00 AM |
706-721-6929 (To page the Interpreter) |
| Holidays (On-Call ) |
|
Page the On Call system |
Please, have the following information ready if possible:
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Your name & phone extension
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Location & room number
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Language required
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Patient's name & Medical Record Number
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Name of attending physician
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A brief explanation of the medical concern
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An estimated length of time
All Languages Other Than Spanish
In order to serve those patients who speak any other language besides Spanish please use the CyraCom Phones (commonly known as the Blue Phones) to have access to over-the-phone interpretation service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If you need the Blue Phone, please either call the Interpreter Services at 706-721-6929 and ask to have a set deliver to your clinic when the international patient checks-in; or ask your department's Manager for the location of the nearest Blue Phone.
For emergency room patients (Including Labor & Delivery) contact the Charge Nurse to access CyraCom language service.
Please note the placements of CyraCom (Blue Phones) at the Main Hospital & Children Hospital:
Main Hospital
| 2nd Floor |
As Needed |
| 3rd Floor |
3 N, 3W, 3S |
| 4th Floor |
4S, 4W |
| 5th Floor |
5S, BMT, 5N, 5W |
| 6th Floor |
6S. CCu. 6N, CIU, CATH LAB |
| 7th Floor |
7 Perinatal, 7S |
| 8th Floor |
8W, EP LAB, 9N |
| SCC-ICUs |
STU, SI/CTICU, MICU, A&B |
Children's Medical Center (CMC)
| 3rd CMC |
PICU, OR, PACU |
| 4rd CMC |
4C, 4E, SLEEP STUDY |
| 5th CMC |
WHOLE FLOOR |
| NICU |
WHOLE FLOOR |
Sign Language Interpreters
American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters are available by appointment only.
Arrangements for this service must be made as much in advance as possible. Contact Interpreter Services Monday-Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM to schedule a Sign Language Interpreter. Notify the Interpreter Service department immediately of any cancellation or rescheduling of appointments.
In case of an emergency, and to ensure access to qualified sign language interpreters 24/7, Georgia Regents Medical Center has contracted the services of DT Interpreting. With their Deaf-Talk system they have become pioneers in the field of Sign Language interpretations using tele-video conferencing technology. The system is available through the Interpreter Services.
Interested in taking the Basic Couse in American Sign Language (ASL)? Then click the below links:
1) 2015 Class Schedule
2) Registration Form PDF
Please contact us at 706-721-6929.