Language Assistance & Hearing Impaired Services
Ensuring patients and family members receive information about their healthcare in a timely and effective manner is an important priority. For persons needing language assistance services, Blessing Health System provides a variety of options. Should you or a loved one need assistance, please inform a member of your healthcare team.
- Many languages are available through Blessing Health System’s contracted interpreter services partner. Services include virtual real-time audio and audio-visual interpretation.
- This service is offered at no charge to patients and their loved ones, accessible on designated tablets throughout our healthcare locations.
- An audio language line is also available by calling the Operator.
- For Hearing Impaired Interpreter Services:
- Blessing Health System relies on certified ASL interpreters through our contracted partner.
- Equipment is available and can be accessed by any staff member, 24/7/365.
- When using the interpreter devices for ASL, or any audio-visual service, remember the following:
- Position the device at eye level, where the patient can fully see the interpreter on the screen. Make sure nothing is blocking the patient’s line of vision.
- Staff and providers should speak slowly, clearly, and loudly for the interpreter to fully understand information. Allow pauses for them to share information to and from the patient.
- Patients and visitors have the right to request face-to-face interpreter services.
- There are limited individuals with the appropriate level of certification required for healthcare-related interpreting, and the availability of these individuals varies.
- To request in-person interpreters for hearing impaired persons, contact inpatient care coordination or Jenny Eling at 217-223-8400, ext. 7907
- Other assistive communication options are available such as language boards, closed captioning, and telephone amplifiers. Please work with a member of your healthcare team to find an assistive device that meets your needs.
*Patients have the right to refuse our provided interpreter services for basic communication and use their own family or friends for interpreting, only if that refusal is expressed to staff and is documented in the patient record.