Use of Family Members or Patient Provided Interpreters Sample Clauses

Use of Family Members or Patient Provided Interpreters. If the LEP patient declines the hospital’s offer of an interpreter and instead requests that a family member, companion, advocate, case manager, friend or other person be used to facilitate communication, such other person may be used if a staff member reasonably ascertains that the person is willing and able to provide for effective communication. Staff should be alert to situations in which use of a family member or friend to interpret might invade that patient’s privacy or impede communication of medical information. Staff should make a notation in the patient’s record that an offer of an interpreter was made and declined and enter the name of the person serving as interpreter at the patient’s request. LEP patients who have opted to use a family member or companion in lieu of a Hospital provided interpreter shall be informed they have the right to change their mind and request a Hospital provided interpreter at any subsequent time. The use of minors as interpreters should be avoided unless in emergent or urgent circumstances or where the communication is limited to simple, straightforward matters such as scheduling an appointment or confirming a patient’s address and telephone number. When MMC staff have reason to believe that an LEP person's preferred interpreter is hampering effective communication between MMC staff and a LEP person, MMC shall provide interpreter services.