4. PROVIDE SUFFICIENT PROFESSIONAL INTERPRETATION THROUGHOUT THE EASTERN HEALTH REGION
​
Interpretation remains one of the key challenges for both Indigenous and refugee patients. A number of recommendations for successful interpretation emerged from this research.
​
➤ Educate staff about the use of the telephone interpretation system
Interpretation for times when professional interpreters are not available requires a functioning telephone interpretation service that is widely known by, understood by, and accessible to, all providers within Eastern Health.
​
➤ Make the telephone interpretation service more widely available
Currently, the telephone interpretation service is limited in its availability. In particular, there is an urgent need to make the service available to community clinics and to pharmacists. Re-aligning resources to make this happen should be a priority.
​
➤ Train providers in how to work with interpreters
​
There are well-established best practices for health care providers to work with interpreters. It was clear from our interviews with interpreters that many physicians are unaware of how to work with interpreters. Training on this should be mandatory.
​
➤ Ensure in-person interpreters are professional (trained and paid)
​
For refugee patients, there is a process in place to have interpreters accompany patients to clinic visits when required, with professional interpreters arranged through the ANC. For refugee patients who are not
​
under the jurisdiction of the ANC, private sponsors are to arrange for professional (paid and trained) interpreters. For Indigenous patients, the APN program provides or arranges for interpretation when required. However, there are still massive gaps in the system, as described in this report. Physicians and other health care providers need to be educated on best practices when a professional in-person interpreter is not available and when the telephone interpretation system is not available.
​
➤ Expand availability of interpreters for Innu patients and Arabic speaking patients
​
Gaps exist for interpretation for Innu patients and Arabic speaking patients. There should be a roster of in-person interpreters who are trained and paid, and drawn from community. We are advocating that Eastern Health create an arrangement with community groups who would control interpretation, in a model similar to how Eastern Health subcontracts to First Light.