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Interpreter Services

Our interpreters are professionally trained in medical and healthcare interpretation. We want to make sure you get the care you need and understand everything.
Patient and doctor communicating with virtual interpreter services

Care in your language

An interpreter is someone who orally (speaks out loud) or signs messages from one language to another. They help you understand what someone is saying when they speak a different language. 

These services can help you communicate better with your doctor and bridge cultural differences. Interpreter services are available at no cost and around the clock (24 hours a day). They can support you whether you are in the emergency department, preparing for surgery or have a scheduled appointment with a doctor. Ask your care team to document your preferred language in your medical record so we can provide you with the best care. 

Services are available:

  • On-demand: when you show up to the emergency department, urgent care or services aren't arranged in advance
  • By appointment: you can ask for an interpreter when you make the appointment
  • In-person: whenever possible an interpreter will come to you
  • Over the phone or by video: when we do not have an interpreter available who speaks your preferred language, we offer video or phone services to provide interpretation

We will not allow family and friends to interpret to protect your privacy and ensure accuracy.

Your prefered language is available

We offer free interpreter services to all patients, 24 hours a day in over 240 languages including: 

  • American Sign Language (ASL)
  • Armenian
  • Arabic
  • Cambodian
  • Cantonese
  • French
  • German
  • Gujarati
  • Haitian Creole
  • Hindi
  • Hmong
  • Italian
  • Japanese
  • Korean
  • Laotian
  • Mandarin
  • Polish
  • Portuguese
  • Russian
  • Spanish
  • Swahili
  • Tagalog
  • Thai
  • Vietnamese
medical-person

How to arrange for an interpreter

We value your communication needs and preferences. Please inform your care team or contact us about how we can best support you.

Lowell General Hospital
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Interpreter services
MelroseWakefield Hospital
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Interpreter services
Tufts Medical Center
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Interpreter services

Deaf, hard of hearing and Deafblind

If you are deaf, hard of hearing or deafblind, we are dedicated to ensuring you feel completely at home at Tufts Medicine. We offer free ASL, tactile and CDI (certified deaf interpreters) interpreting. You can also access video interpreting (VRI) around the clock and schedule an in-person interpreter by appointment.

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