The bedside interpreter intervention has been previously described.8 (link),12 (link),20 (link) It consisted of placing a dual-handset interpreter telephone at the bedside of every patient who preferred a non-English language for their health care starting in late December 2012 in one academic health center. A programmed button provides rapid 24-h access to professional medical interpreters for more than 100 languages.
The dual-handset allows the patient to speak into one handset, the clinician to speak into the second handset, and the professional interpreter (vendor-based or in-house staff) to facilitate the conversation from a remote location. Before the intervention, up to three dual-handset interpreter telephones were available on most units, located on mobile carts, and kept at the nursing station or in locked cabinets until needed.
In-person professional interpreters could be scheduled during weekdays (8 am to 5 pm) before and throughout the intervention period.
The dual-handset allows the patient to speak into one handset, the clinician to speak into the second handset, and the professional interpreter (vendor-based or in-house staff) to facilitate the conversation from a remote location. Before the intervention, up to three dual-handset interpreter telephones were available on most units, located on mobile carts, and kept at the nursing station or in locked cabinets until needed.
In-person professional interpreters could be scheduled during weekdays (8 am to 5 pm) before and throughout the intervention period.
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