Families who are not proficient in English have a new user-friendly resource to help them with their child’s health care needs.  Beginning March 1, Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota is offering dedicated interpreter phone lines that give Hispanic and Somali callers immediate access to trained healthcare interpreters who can connect them with any department or clinic at Children’s.
Interpreters have always been available at Children’s, but callers had to call a main line first where they would most likely reach someone who does not speak their language.  The family had to communicate the need for an interpreter and would be placed on hold while an interpreter was called.  Sometimes calls would be lost or the families would hang up.