Interpreter Services

The Interpreter Services department guarantees access to health care for non-English speaking patients and makes cross-cultural communication and health care delivery as seamless as possible.

Tufts Medical Center and Floating Hospital for Children have one of the largest interpreter services departments in the region, making translation services available in over thirty-seven languages, as well as video sign language interpreting. Interpreters handle an average of 3,800 “interpreter encounters” each month. MassHealth, a state program which provides comprehensive health insurance (or helps pay for private health insurance) insures approximately 80% of those served.

 

The hospital is committed to ensuring that patients receive prompt attention, so when an interpreter is not available or the need is more urgent, hospital staff can help patients or family members use the AT&T language phone line service to deal with emergency situations.

 

Patients can request an interpreter by asking the secretary on the unit to call 617-636-5547.

 

At night and on weekends, interpreters are available for emergencies only.

 

Most commonly requested language services:

Intérprete de español

617-636-5618

 

Asian Information and Medical Referral Line
617-636-5331

 

Vietnamese Interpreter Services
617-636-5765

 

Entèprèt ki pale kreyòl

617-636-5171

 

Russian Interpreter Services 
617-636-1386

 

Interprète de français

617-636-5171

 

Intérprete de português

617-636-5618