Communicating with patients and families in their native language in a
health setting is important for the delivery of safe and appropriate health
care. Increasingly, health organizations provide resources for non-English
speaking patients and their families. These resources are discussed,
including use of common words or phrases, a telephone interpretation
service, a medical interpreter on site, and family members. All of these
resources are helpful for non-English speaking individuals needing to explain health symptoms or to understand a medical condition and treatment.