Interpreter Services

Broadlawns Medical Center provides trained interpreters or agency interpreters for patients, family members or health care providers at no cost.  We also offer:

• Interpretation in over 200 languages
• American Sign Language (ASL)
• Assistance 24 hours seven days a week, on-site or phone.

Respect for cultural practices and beliefs and adherence to a strict code of ethics, which includes patient’s right to confidentiality and privacy, are upheld at all times.  Interpreters will encourage direct communication between patient and provider, as well as recognize and address instances that require intercultural inquiry to ensure accurate and complete understanding. This is why Broadlawns Medical Center has made it a priority to provide patients and family members with experienced interpreters by administering a language proficiency test prior to hiring.

Vision and Hearing Impaired

The Broadlawns Medical Center's TTY is (515) 282-4290. Amplified listening devices are available through the hospital's Switchboard. American Sign Language Interpreters are available. This is a free service to our patients.

Requesting/Scheduling an Interpreter

You do not have to use a family member or friend as an interpreter.  We recommend the use of an interpreter when seeing your doctor, specialist or health care provider. To request an interpreter for health care provider appointments or to attend one of Broadlawns Medical Center community education programs, you may contact the Interpreter Services Department at 282-3366 (TTY 282-4290) or send a request via email at clam@broadlawns.org. Please note that all messages left after business hours will be answered the following business day.

Our office hours are from 8am to 8pm Monday through Friday and 8am to 1pm Saturdays.

Patients have the right to:

• Request a medical interpreter anytime, even if they speak limited English- this should not be decided by hospital staff.
• Use or refuse the BMC medical interpreter, face to face or over the phone.

Office of Civil Rights

Title VI, of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits exclusion from services and discrimination on the grounds of race, color or national origin.  Since the President’s signing of Executive Order 13166 in August 2000, all public and private entities receiving federal financial assistance are required to examine the services that they provide, identify any need for services to those with limited English proficiency (LEP), and develop and implement a system to provide LEP persons with meaningful access to those services.