Providing Medical Care in Other Languages
HPSM Assists Providers in Communicating with Limited English Proficient Members
HPSM is available to assist provider offices in communicating with members whose primary language is not English.
Providers serving HPSM members are required by federal law to offer their services in members’ preferred languages.
The use of bilingual relatives, friends, and children as interpreters in the clinical setting is not recommended.
HPSM Offers the Following:
- Telephone Interpreters
- Physician Office Outreach: Staff Training on Culturally Responsive Care
- Order Materials and Tools
Contact Health Education to ask about telephone interpreters and staff Training 650-616-2170
Telephone Interpreters
Pacific Interpreters provides telephone interpreters 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,
free of charge to providers.
Instructions on how to access language interpreters
Physician Office Outreach
Training on Culturally Responsive Care
HPSM’s health educator can provide an office-based training to discuss how to identify and address the linguistic
needs of patients whose English proficiency is limited. This includes the use of tools and services available to
HPSM providers and members.
- How to Identify Language Needs
- How to Work Effectively with Interpreters
- How to Identify Low Health Literacy and Assist
Patients with Low Literacy Skills
Materials Available by Request
Call Health Education at 650-616-2165 to request the following materials.
Tip Sheets: Better Communication, Better Care for Diverse Populations
Sign Language Interpreters
Sign language interpreters are available to accompany HPSM members to their provider
appointments and health education classes through the Bay Area Communication Access
(BACA) program.
Instructions on How to Schedule a Sign Language Interpreter
Earn Online CME Credit for Learning about Culturally Competent Care
Family Physician’s Guide to
Culturally Competent Care
HPSM can also provide you with a free DVD.