Interpreter Services

St. Joseph’s Interpreter Services

It is part of St. Joseph’s Health Centre’s strategic commitment to deliver an exceptional experience for all of our patients that live in the multi-linguistic communities that surround our hospital.

For our inpatients and outpatients whose primary spoken language is not English, on the request of your health care provider we can arrange for professional interpreter services.  For persons of the hard of hearing, deaf and deafened community we work hard to provide an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter.

We know how important it is for you to be understood by your health care team and to be able to communicate in a language that you are most comfortable with while receiving services at St. Joseph’s.

Spoken Interpreter Services provided:

• access to trained and qualified interpreters either over the phone or face to face;
• over 170 languages;
• free of charge;
• available 24/7; and
• private and confidential service.

Signed Interpreter Services provided:

• access to trained and qualified face to face American Sign Language interpreters
• free of charge;
• available 24/7; and
• private and confidential service.

How to request either a spoken or signed interpreter:

1. Let your physician and staff know that you need an interpreter when you
   • come to our Emergency Department
   • are an in-patient on any of our hospital units
   • book an outpatient or follow-up appointment
2. Tell staff what language you speak.
   • Download and print out a list of different spoken languages so you can point to your preferred language and show your health care provider
   • To ensure that you get the correct information from us and that we get the correct information from you.
   • To make sure that you clearly know your diagnosis and can take part in your treatment plan.
   • To help you understand what health care you wish to receive.

What to do if you did not have a good experience with your professional interpreter:

Let your physician or health care provider know, and they will inform St.Joseph’s Interpreter Services Team about your concerns.

You can also contact Patient Relations to share your concerns by either calling  416-530-6652 or email at patientrelations@stjoestoronto.ca.