Multilingual Services

BIDMC serves a large Russian, Cape Verdean, and Spanish speaking population.

We have Spanish, Russian, Cape Verdean, and Chinese interpreters among other languages available through the blue phones or iPads. A request can be placed through Epic via an order titled "Inpatient Consult to Interpreter Services"

During business hours (Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), BIDMC interpreters are available via TEAMS for Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Cape Verdean/Portuguese, Haitian Creole, and Vietnamese. Each iPad is labeled with a unique name. When requesting an interpreter in EPIC, type TEAMS VIDEO and enter the iPad's name (i.e. "iPad21EDCORE.") ; the interpreter will then connect through TEAMS. Please refer to the attached Tip Sheet for further details.

Additionally, the AMN interpreter app is available on the iPads for use outside business hours, languages not supported by BIDMC interpreters, or during emergencies.

At other times, and with other languages, call the language line at 617-632-0050.  Interpretation will be provided over the phone, so use a Telcom phone on speakerphone.

We also have American Sign Language services. They can be found through the hospital paging system.

• English is a SECOND language for most Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf Blind people. 

• Sign Language is NOT a written language.

• Statistically, in Massachusetts, the average Deaf person reads English at a 3rd grade level. Please keep this in mind when handing out information in written English, using the TTY or writing back and forth.

Also, as another point of reminder Cape Verdean Creole is NOT the same Brazilian Portuguese, so if someone speaks Cape Verdean Creole, please use BIDMC Interpreter Services.