Language Services

Children’s of Alabama believes that effective communication is crucial to providing family-centered care to all patients and their families who have limited English proficiency (LEP). It is the primary goal of the Language Services Department to facilitate communication between providers and families, through qualified interpreters and other resources, to ensure language needs are met in a timely, compliant, and accurate manner.

The presence of a language barrier can hinder the proper exchange of information, contribute to the risk of misdiagnosis, and limit the ability of an individual to comply with treatment. As part of our free services, we provide written translations, spoken and sign interpretation services to facilitate meaningful communication. Our resources include qualified staff Spanish interpreters, contracted interpreters and a nationwide network of video and phone interpreters. Remote interpreters ensure that someone is always available, even in the absence of a face-to-face interpreter.

The use of qualified interpreters helps us maintain compliance with federal guidelines, empowers patients and families, provides high quality care, and improves patient safety. Interpreters do more than just translate a language; they can also help bridge cultural gaps and enhance patient experience by mediating and translating cultural differences.

Contact Language Services
Email: interpreters@childrensal.org 
Phone: 205-638-9191
After hours, please page the on-call interpreter via the hospital operator at 205-638-9100.