Adapted from Working Effectively with an Interpreter - Think Cultural Health with input from people living with IBD and an expert steering committee
- Some individuals who require an interpreter may understand English well. Comments you make to others might be understood by the patient.
- If your patient declines language assistance services, ask them to sign a form that says they understand that language assistance is available and choose to decline these services.
- This form must be available and signed in their primary language, or completed orally if they are unable to read in their primary language.
- Document that the individual has been notified of these rights, as well as the patient’s preferences in utilizing language access services.
- These are precautions in case of issues regarding whether certain information was provided to and understood by the patient.
- Use a trained interpreter. Interpreters should be trained and certified in medical interpreting, especially when working in a clinical setting.
- Treat the interpreter as a respected healthcare professional.
- Allow extra time for the visit. Everything will be communicated at least twice (once by the speaker and once by the interpreter), unless using simultaneous interpretation.
- Ensure that there are no (or minimal) distractions, such as noises that may interrupt your full engagement with the patient.
- Give the interpreter a brief summary of the individual, goals, and/or procedures for the session.
- Document the name of the interpreter.
- Introduce yourself and have others in the room introduce themselves directly to the patient upon entering the room, allowing the interpreter to interpret the greeting. Do not address your introductions to the interpreter. Introductions help set the tone and establish you as the one directing the interaction.
- Use first person, and ask the interpreter to do the same.
- Face and speak directly to the patient. Even if the patient maintains eye contact with the interpreter, you should maintain eye contact with the patient, not the interpreter.
- Observe and monitor your and your patient’s nonverbal communication.
- Speak clearly, being careful not to raise your voice or shout.
- Use simple language and avoid medical or healthcare jargon.
- Use sentence-by-sentence interpretation. Multiple sentences may lead to information being left out.
- Allow the interpreter to ask open-ended questions, if needed, to clarify what an individual says.
- Observe what is going on before interrupting the interpreter. Interruption may be warranted, for example, if the interpreter is taking a long time to interpret a simple sentence, or if the interpreter is having a conversation with the patient outside their role.
- Ask the interpreter if they are filling in details for the patient. The interpreter may have interpreted for the patient before and be familiar with their history, or the interpreter may be filling in based on assumptions. It is important that the interpreter maintains professionalism, and that you obtain an accurate and current history each time the patient is seen.
- Use the “teach-back” method to rephrase and confirm that the patient understands your directions and recommendations.
- Allow time for the patient to ask questions and seek clarifications.
Related Patient Resources
Appointment Guide
Created by the Color of Gastrointestinal Illnesses, this downloadable PDF helps individuals prepare for and get the most out of their medical appointments related to IBD. The guide offers practical tips and checklists for organizing medical information, asking questions, tracking symptoms, and discussing treatment options during appointments.
Download
Effective Partnering
A webpage from the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation that focuses on the concept of effective partnering between patients and healthcare providers in the context of IBD. Emphasizes the importance of open communication, mutual respect, and shared decision-making between patients and their healthcare team.
Visit site
Shared Decision-Making
Focuses on shared decision-making in the context of IBD. Explains the concept of shared decision-making as a collaborative approach between patients and healthcare providers to make informed decisions about treatment options and management plans.
Download
Reference
- 1. Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Think cultural health. Working effectively with an interpreter. Accessed April 1, 2024. https://thinkculturalhealth.hhs.gov/assets/pdfs/resource-library/working-effectively-with-interpreter.pdf.