How does getting an interpreter work?

[HelloNurse]

hey, have/do any of you use ASL interpreters, specifically for medical purposes?

I was wondering how it works. Do you call up an interpreter from some sort of interpreter company, or does the hospital/Dr office/etc employ an interpreter and call them in when needed, or does the hospital call an interpreter company when one will be needed?

Are there freelance interpreters?

 

[DDU]

depends. if a medical center gets a lot of deaf they will have someone on hand. or the deaf will request a terp when making an appt and then the medical center will look up an agency to handle the job. a freelance may be used if recommended .
a hospital may have someone on call.

 

[Reba]

Like DDU posted, "it depends" is the answer.

It depends on the hospital, the doctor's office, type of visit, appointment, emergency, location, availability of interpreters, cost, time of day/night, deaf patient's needs, etc.

Some hospitals and doctors are more willing to get terps than others. Some use private practice (freelance) terps, some use state or private agencies, and some (wrongly) try to get family members to interpret. Some say, "read my lips."

There is no one answer that covers every situation.

 

[DDU]

"There is no one answer that covers every situation. "
$$$$$ speaks volumes