Use of Untrained Interpreters in the Inpatient Setting: What Does the Record Show?
Ad hoc interpreter use was relatively common among inpatients with NELP, particularly for less common languages and longer lengths of stay, and was most often provided by family members. Gaps in documented rationales for ad hoc interpreter use reveal systemic issues in language access workflows and underscore the need for improved access to professional interpretation, standardized documentation, and greater use of qualified bilingual staff to ensure equitable, policy-compliant communication for all language groups.
Authors
- Leonor Fernández (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2675-7533)
- Miguel Linares (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1938-0770)
- Yilu Ma
- John Novoa-Laurentiev
- Nuoya Jiang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9462-0651)
- Li Zhou
- Alexander Chaitoff
Institutions
- Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (US)
- Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (US)
- Harvard University (US)
- University of Michigan (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of General Internal Medicine
- Published
- 2026-03-12
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-026-10248-2
- Primary Topic
- Interpreting and Communication in Healthcare
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00