Hershey Medical Center’s new in-house medical interpreters will improve services for patients, staff

Hershey Medical Center hired two in-house Spanish interpreters to join the Patient and Guest Experience team, effective March 14.

When the interpreters are not working directly with a patient or family member, they will visit Spanish-speaking patients and families in the medical center inpatient units, emergency department and surgical services in a practice called “rounding on patients,” an evidence-based procedure improves patient experiences. They also may assist with document translation.

Medical Center employees and faculty should follow the existing process to request an interpreter or document translation as outlined in the interpretation services policy. When in-person interpretation is not required or available, staff should use video and telephone interpretation services through existing vendors.

The Medical Center created the new positions in response to recommendations from the Systemwide Interpreter and Translation Implementation team, which focuses on developing processes to streamline, enhance and standardize interpreter services across the health system.

Patient and Guest Experience will fill interpretation requests through on-site interpreters first, and if needed, will use external vendors for support. Leaders ask that staff follow the prescribed guidelines to ensure the program’s success.

Hershey Medical Center is committed to improving interpreter and translation services to meet the needs of a diverse patient population and ensure that care teams have adequate interpreter support to deliver the best possible care.

Contact Shanne Keeny, director, Patient and Guest Experience, with questions or concerns.

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