Location Sharing:
Enabling this provides you with more accurate distances to providers and locations
Language services
You have the right to clear, complete and understandable health information. Depend on Spectrum Health to help you communicate easily and accurately with your care team.
Services We Offer
Language services are available at all Spectrum Health locations. Ask about:
- Qualified healthcare interpreters for spoken languages as well as American Sign Language (ASL)
- Written information translated into several languages
Due to current Covid-19 measures, in-person interpreting services are currently limited.
In-Person Interpretation
Spectrum Health staff healthcare interpreters provide interpreting services between English and:
- American Sign Language (ASL)
- Arabic
- Burmese
- Mam
- Spanish
- Vietnamese
Remote Interpretation
More than 200 languages are available through our phone interpreting service.
Cost
All healthcare interpreting and translation services at Spectrum Health are free of charge for our patients and their families.
Why Use a Healthcare Interpreter?
When you partner with a healthcare interpreter, the communication between you and your doctor is clear, accurate, impartial and confidential.
If you prefer to have an adult family member or friend help you communicate with providers, you must sign a waiver. Children are not allowed to facilitate bilingual communication in healthcare settings.
If you prefer to have an adult family member or friend help you communicate with providers, you must sign a waiver. Children are not allowed to facilitate bilingual communication in healthcare settings.
How to Request Language Services
Tell us about your communication needs when you make your appointment, if possible. Interpreting services are available for all appointments and emergency visits.