Interpreter and Hearing-Impaired Services

Interpreter services are available to patients and families to take a little fear out of medical care, overcome language barriers and communicate effectively. Interpreter services are available to patients and families to take a little fear out of medical care, overcome language barriers and communicate effectively. We provide 24-hour, on-site Spanish language-interpreting services within The University of Kansas Hospital. On-site Spanish language-interpreting services are available during weekday business hours and on an on-call basis over the weekend at Olathe Hospital. and dispatch-interpreting services in approximately 200 foreign languages is available. American Sign Language services are available at Olathe Hospital during weekday business hours and an on-call basis over the weekend. At The University of Kansas Hospital, this service is also available via prior arrangements or video.

Our goals in interpretive services are to ensure our patients have equal access to occupational health services and workers' compensation medical treatment for our limited English proficiency (LEP) population and always remain in compliance with the laws governing the provision of interpreting/translating services. We use the Propio ONE app to connect patients, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing, to interpreters who are fluent in more than 350 languages. Occupational health medical staff will connect the patient to Propio ONE via a clinic iPad for translation services. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

 At Olathe Hospital and Paola Hospital, we provide a free interpreter service called Hear For You for our deaf and hard-of-hearing patients and their families. A network of skilled interpreters is available during weekday business hours and on call during weekends to assure medical care will progress unhindered by communication problems. Propio ONE is also provided at these locations, ensuring 24-hour access to interpreting services for patients who are deaf, hard of hearing or prefer a language other than English. For deaf services (TDD available), call 913-791-4224. For Spanish or other spoken language interpretation, call 913-324-8646.

We also, when appropriate, educate staff, patients and community as to the role and function of interpreters and the importance of using professional interpreters instead of family members, friends or untrained persons.

Ongoing training is provided for our interpreters. In addition, voice amplification devices are available at The University of Kansas Hospital 24 hours a day for our patients who are hard of hearing. Please contact Patient Relations for this.

We are committed to recognizing your right to understand all issues related to your healthcare. We facilitate this commitment by providing unbiased, accurate interpretation/translation services. This way, you may actively participate in decision making relating to your own care.

Read our policy of nondiscrimination.