Paula Yomona has gone through two tough times with her health: having surgery on her leg and dealing with heart problems. Being able to talk clearly with her doctors was very important during these challenges.

Paula is one of many people in the U.S. — about 68 million or one in five people — who speaks a language other than English at home. In fact, people speak more than 350 different languages in the U.S. Here in Colorado, most people who speak a language other than English speak Spanish.

Medical interpreters are very important in health care because they help people who speak different languages understand each other. They use technical skills, kindness and care to make sure patients feel supported and understand everything their doctors are telling them.

Specially trained interpreters help doctors and patients communicate well, even when they don’t speak the same language. Clear communication helps doctors build trust with their patients and ensures that patients understand everything their doctor is telling them.

Good communication is essential to safe and high-quality health care. It’s not just something nice to do. It can make a big difference in how well patients recover and stay healthy.

“Doctors use special words, especially when talking about surgeries, which are very precise procedures,” Paula said. “That is why it’s best to have a trained interpreter. Even if a family member speaks English well, they can still misunderstand something important.”

Studies show that using a trained medical interpreter helps patients stay healthier and reduces the likelihood that they’ll need to come back to a hospital or ER.

Patients also feel better about their care.

This is why UCHealth provides professional medical interpreters at all patient appointments, at no charge.

Patients’ family members and friends who are bilingual can still come with patients to doctors’ visits to provide support. But when the doctor or nurse talks with the patient, a trained medical interpreter will help with the conversation to make sure patients understand everything clearly.

Paula has worked with many medical interpreters at UCHealth’s University of Colorado Hospital, including one named Mario Flores.

“I liked how Mr. Mario interprets,” Paula said. “I like it when the interpreter speaks smoothly and says the words just like I said them.”

Helping patients get better care by improving communication

Hospitals must follow a law called the Affordable Care Act. It says everyone should get fair and equal medical care, no matter their race, language, age, gender, or disability. It’s the law’s way of making sure all patients are treated with respect and get the care they need.

“We help by interpreting what the doctor says, and what the patient says,” Flores explained. “We constantly learn new medical words so we can do our job well.”

Professional medical interpreters, like Mr. Flores, help patients by giving clear, fast, and unbiased interpretations. This helps patients understand their care better, follow their treatment plans, and stay healthier.

Sometimes, patients who don’t speak English will want a family member or close friend to help with interpreting. But this can be risky for their health if something is misunderstood.

It’s much better to use a professional interpreter than to depend on a family member

Flores encourages people who speak a language other than English to use free help from medical interpreters.

“It’s the best choice for the patient,” he said.

Flores explained that medical interpreters help make hard medical information easier to understand, which leads to better care.

Using a family member instead can cause confusion or mistakes. That’s much less likely to happen when patients use certified medical interpreters who are trained to understand and explain medical words in two languages.

Professional medical interpreters, like the ones at UCHealth, have a duty to translate exactly what is said. They give clear and correct translations every time, so patients fully understand their health and treatment plans.

“As an interpreter, I have a moral and legal duty to translate exactly what is said,” Flores explained. “We give accurate and trustworthy translations during every session.”

Growing demand for interpretation services

The need for interpreters is growing fast — with about 25-to-30% increased demand each year. That’s why it’s especially important to have help from interpreters in communities that are home to many cultures and people who speak diverse languages.

“UCHealth provides about 75,000 interpretation sessions every month,” said Scott Suckow, UCHealth’s director of Language and Cultural Services. “These sessions happen by phone, video or in-person.”

Studies show patients who don’t speak English well are 25% less likely to get regular checkups and 50% more likely to have serious health problems. Language services can help fix these problems and make health care more fair,” Suckow said.

“Language services help break through language and cultural barriers so everyone can communicate clearly and get the best care possible,” Suckow said.

“If you’re a patient who prefers a language other than English, UCHealth will give you a professional interpreter every time you visit,” said Suckow.

“They are highly trained, experienced, and motivated. We hire the best of the best,” he said.

“It’s much better to use a professional interpreter, just like you would trust a trained expert for any other health care service,” Suckow said.

Caring for those who care for others

“Even though we have a great team of caring interpreters, health care can be tough,” Suckow said. “Interpreters are often there during hard times, like when a baby doesn’t survive, when someone has been hurt, or when a patient learns they have cancer.

“Interpreters speak as if they are the patient, using first-person words,” Suckow explained. “Because of this, they sometimes feel the patient’s pain and stress. That’s why it’s important for interpreters to take care of their own mental health too.”

To help interpreters deal with stress, UCHealth has a wellness team that offers coaching and support. When staff feel happy and motivated, they can do their jobs better and take great care of patients.

Breaking down barriers to health care

Money can be one of the biggest problems when trying to get health care. To help with this, patients who don’t speak English well or who have trouble hearing or seeing don’t have to pay anything to receive help from interpreters.

“I tell patients that interpretation is free,” said Flores. “They don’t have to worry about paying for it. It won’t cost them anything.”