Language support for every step of your care.
At ECU Health, we are committed to providing clear communication for every patient and family member. Interpreter services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at no cost to patients who have limited English proficiency, are deaf or hard of hearing, or require other communication assistance.
Professional interpreters help patients understand their health conditions, treatment options, medications, procedures and care instructions so they can make informed decisions about their health.
Interpreter services are available for inpatient stays, outpatient visits, emergency care, virtual appointments and other healthcare services throughout ECU Health.
If you have questions about language access services, please ask an ECU Health Team member for assistance.
When to Request an Interpreter
Patients and families may request interpreter services when they:
- Prefer to communicate in a language other than English
- Need assistance understanding medical information
- Have questions about diagnosis or treatment options
- Need help communicating with their care team
- Are deaf or hard of hearing
- Require American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation
- Need translated written materials
How Interpreter Services Can Help
Professional interpreters can assist with:
- Medical appointments
- Hospital admissions and discharge instructions
- Surgical procedures
- Emergency department visits
- Medication discussions
- Care planning conversations
- Consent forms
- Patient education materials
Interpreter services are confidential and provided by trained professionals who help ensure accurate communication between patients and healthcare providers.
Who Can Use Interpreter Services?
- Patients
- Family members involved in care discussions
- Caregivers
- Parents or guardians of pediatric patients
Patients do not need to bring their own interpreter. ECU Health provides language assistance at no cost.
Ways We Provide Interpretation
ECU Health offers interpreter services through:
- In-person interpreters
- Telephone interpretation
- Video remote interpretation
- American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation
- Translation of select patient documents
Your Right to Language Assistance
Every patient has the right to receive important health information in a way they can understand. ECU Health provides interpreter services to help patients participate in decisions about their care and communicate effectively with their healthcare team.
Professional Interpretation You Can Trust
ECU Health uses qualified medical interpreters and language service partners trained to accurately communicate healthcare information. Interpreters follow strict confidentiality standards and help patients and care teams communicate effectively while maintaining privacy.
Family members and friends may offer support, but professional medical interpreters are often the best option for discussing diagnoses, treatment plans, procedures and other important healthcare decisions.
Language access can play an important role in patient safety and patient experience. Read how ECU Health’s Language Access Services team helped support a family through a cancer journey.
Request an Interpreter
Need Language Assistance?
Patients and families who need interpreter services should:
- Inform the scheduling team when making an appointment
- Notify registration staff upon arrival
- Ask any member of the care team for language assistance
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Interpreter services are provided at no cost to patients and families.
Yes. Patients may request interpreter services when scheduling an appointment or upon arrival.
Interpreter services are available in numerous languages through our language access resources. Availability may vary by location and service.
While family members may support communication, ECU Health encourages the use of professional medical interpreters for important medical discussions to help ensure accuracy.
Yes. American Sign Language interpretation services are available upon request.
