Language and Communication Services for Patients

Communication and language services are available for free to all patients and their family members and legal guardians. Services are offered to Limited English Proficient (LEP) patients, as well as deaf and hard of hearing patients.

If you, a family member or legal guardian will need an interpreter or other communication services, please tell your healthcare provider when you make your appointment.

For more information, please contact our Office of Communication and Language Services at (804) 628-1116, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or email us at languageservices@vcuhealth.org.

Spoken Language Interpreters (on-site, virtual)

Spoken language interpreters are free and available for all patients and their families. Patients who need spoken language interpretation can ask for:

1. Martti tablet on wheels (Video)
2. Martti on Zoom (Virtual)
3. Two-handset blue telephone set (Over-the-phone)
4. In-person interpreters

If you need an in-person interpreter, please ask for this service when you make your appointment.

Sign Language Interpreters (on-site, virtual)

Sign language interpreters are free and available for all patients and their families. Patients who need sign language interpretation can ask for:

1. Martti tablet on wheels (Video)
2. Martti on Zoom (Virtual)
3. In-person interpreters (Visual, tactile, and Deaf interpreters available)

If you need an in-person sign language interpreter, please request this service when you make your appointment.

All sign language interpreters are qualified through the National Association for the Deaf and screened through the Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

Combination Text Telephone (TTY) and Amplified Phones

Combination Text Telephone (TTY) allow two people to type messages rather than speaking and listening. TTYs can be helpful to patients or family members who are deaf, hard of hearing or cannot speak.

Amplified phones increase the volume of phone calls.

These resources are provided for free to all patients and VCU Health staff.

Language Cards (English, Spanish, Arabic)

Cards with pictures and symbols for basic needs and health needs are available for temporary use during inpatient stays and outpatient visits.

Sign Language Cards

Cards with pictures and signs for basic needs and health needs are available for temporary use during inpatient stays and outpatient visits.

Bilingual Staff Assessment

VCU Health sees 5,000 to 6,000 limited English proficient patients a month, including Deaf and hard of hearing patients who require an American Sign Language interpreter. The Department of Language Services provides free and accessible resources to patients via professionally trained interpreters.

Bilingual employees can also be vetted by our department. After passing our Bilingual Staff Assessment, bilingual employees can use their language skills to directly communicate with their patients within their designated roles.

The Department of Language Services partners with Language Services Associates (LSA) to proctor our Bilingual Staff Assessment.

Please contact our office at (804) 628-1116 or LanguageServices@vcuhealth.org for more information about the Bilingual Staff Assessment.