Interpretation Services

At Driscoll, we know that successful communication is a prerequisite for quality medical care. That's why our Interpretation and Translation Services Department is committed to facilitating communication between LEP (Limited English Proficiency) or hearing impaired patients and families, and their healthcare team. These services are provided in an accurate, complete, professional and confidential manner to ensure quality care and good health outcomes.

Interpretation Services, is fully staffed and ready to provide medical interpretation for any family that may need this service. With extensively trained medical interpreters on staff, available for interpretation from 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, our families are receiving the extra special touch they need to make their stay at our hospital as easy on them as possible. With over 40% of our families being more proficient in Spanish than in English, it's easy to see how valuable this service is.

All patients and families at Driscoll may have an interpreter at no cost to them.
For immediate assistance please call (361) 694-5811

If you require an interpreter at Driscoll

An interpreter can be requested either by a patient/family, by Driscoll hospital staff or by the healthcare provider. We have full-time staff interpreters here to serve you Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. On holidays interpreters are available from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

You are always welcome to call our department at (361) 694-5811 to request an interpreter, schedule an appointment, or to get more information. During working hours we are always available via pager too. Patients and families may ask unit clerk or healthcare providers to call for an interpreter.

Who are the staff interpreters at Driscoll Children's Hospital

DCH has several staff interpreters from diverse backgrounds, who are fluent in Spanish and familiar with medical terminology in both Spanish and English. Each is an educated and experienced professional who has been carefully selected to provide quality interpretation services.

Interpretation needs are also supplemented with services from outside agencies. For languages other than Spanish, or if an on-site interpreter is not available, hospital staff can call the Language Line, an over-the-phone interpreting agency. (For more information about this service, please contact us.) For American Sign Language (ASL), we contract with the Deaf Center in Corpus Christi, and ASL interpreters are available 24 hours a day (advance notice of 24 hours is recommended).