/ Language Services

Language services

You have the right to clear, complete and understandable health information. Depend on Spectrum Health to help you communicate easily and accurately with your care team.

Services we offer

Language services are available at all Spectrum Health locations. Ask about:

Qualified healthcare interpreters for spoken languages as well as American Sign Language (ASL)
Written information translated into several languages

In-person interpretation

Spectrum Health staff healthcare interpreters provide interpreting services between English and:

American Sign Language (ASL)
Arabic
Burmese
Mam
Spanish
Vietnamese

Community interpreting agencies may be able to provide in-person interpretation at Spectrum Health facilities in additional languages.

Remote interpretation

More than 200 languages are available through our phone interpreting service.

Cost

All health care interpreting and translation services at Spectrum Health are free of charge for our patients and their families.

Why use a health care interpreter?

When you partner with a health care interpreter, the communication between you and your doctor is clear, accurate, impartial and confidential. If you prefer to have an adult family member or friend help you communicate with providers, you must sign a waiver. Children are not allowed to facilitate bilingual communication in health care settings.

How to request language services

Tell us about your communication needs when you make your appointment, if possible. Interpreting services are available for all appointments and emergency visits.

See our nondiscrimination policy