Information for Health Care Providers

This page has links to information for health care providers working with interpreters and providing care for patients who are Deaf, DeafBlind or Hard of Hearing.

Tips for Working With Interpreters

From the Minnesota Department of Human Services, these are some straightforward tips for effectively working with interpreters.

Laws Related to the Provision of Interpreting Services

Again from the Minnesota Department of Human Services, references to the legislation, both in Minnesota and on a federal level, that applies to providing qualified sign language interpreters.

Interpreter Credentials

From the Minnesota Department of Human Services, a description of the different certifications that an interpreter might hold.

The Importance of Qualified Interpreters

From the Cross Cultural Health Care Program, this page gives several sceanrios of what can happen if you are working with an interpreter who does not have adequate training or competency.

Guildelines for Use of Medical Interpreting Services

This is from the American Association of Medical Colleges: "The Organization of Student Representatives has developed a resource for medical students who need additional guidance in the use of a medical interpreter during interactions with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) patients. Students can use the medical interpreter card during encounters with LEP patients as a basic reference for interpreter options and their appropriate use."

Diversity Rx: Multicultural Health Best Practices Overview

This site provides inforomation about best practices in delivering medical services to people from a wide variety of cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

Deaf Access Program of Sinai Health System

This program is a model for other providers to consider in providing access to its paitients who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. It includes a survey Deaf adults entitled, "Improving Access to Health and Mental Health for Chicago's Deaf Community," which may prove informative for other health systems considering how to improve access.