Hospitals throughout New York now are required to provide skilled translators for patients to avoid the chance that friends or family who translate will garble or intentionally withhold information. Even though no state or federal standards for a “skilled” translator exist, the Associated Press reports that most hospitals will probably rely on volunteers, bilingual staff, and telephone translation agencies to meet the new requirements. The regulations will be enforced through the state’s regular onsite visits and investigations of patient complaints to a state hotline.
Previously, the broad wording of requirements for hospitals to provide interpreters for patients allowed children and relatives to serve as translators. Patients can still choose to have a friend or relative translate, but only after refusing the hospital’s translator. The new regulations require hospitals to appoint language coordinators and note on medical records the patient’s primary language. Children under age 16 cannot serve as an interpreter, except in emergencies.
