Loyola Medicine Offers American Sign Language Interpreters for Telehealth Appointments
April 18, 2022Categories: Loyola Medicine
Tags: Loyola Medicine
MAYWOOD, IL – As part of Loyola Medicine's commitment to making health care accessible to all, Loyola has added American Sign Language (ASL) to the interpreter services available for individuals making telehealth appointments. Loyola already provides medical interpretation in 250 languages for virtual visits. "We are excited to offer ASL interpretation to our deaf and hard of hearing patients making telehealth appointments," said Richard Freeman, MD, MBA, FACS, regional chief clinical officer at Loyola Medicine. "The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically increased the demand for telemedicine and underscored the importance of making it available to as many people as possible."
Loyola Medicine employs a total of 18 qualified medical interpreters who speak Spanish, Polish, and ASL, supplemented by 24-hour interpreting service over the phone and video. In fiscal year 2021, Loyola Medicine cared for patients from around the world who speak 58 languages. "Our medical interpreters are essential members of the healthcare team," said Guadalupe Garcia, regional manager of interpreter services at Loyola Medicine. "They know that they're making a difference in patients' lives by making sure they understand their diagnosis and instructions on how to take their medication and take care of themselves."
The service is easy to use and available through Loyola's myChart self-scheduling tool. During the scheduling process, when a patient indicates that English is not their primary language, the system automatically asks, "would you like an interpreter free of charge?" Patients can also schedule interpreter services by calling (888) 584-7888.
About Loyola Medicine
Loyola Medicine, a member of Trinity Health, is a nationally ranked academic, quaternary care system based in Chicago's western suburbs. The three-hospital system includes Loyola University Medical Center (LUMC), Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, MacNeal Hospital, as well as convenient locations offering primary care, specialty care and immediate care services from nearly 2,000 physicians throughout Cook, Will and DuPage counties. LUMC is a 547-licensed-bed hospital in Maywood that includes the William G. and Mary A. Ryan Center for Heart & Vascular Medicine, the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, the John L. Keeley, MD, Emergency Department, a Level 1 trauma center, Illinois's largest burn center, the Nancy W. Knowles Orthopaedic Institute, a certified comprehensive stroke center, transplant center and a children’s hospital. Having delivered compassionate care for over 50 years, Loyola also trains the next generation of caregivers through its academic affiliation with Loyola University Chicago’s Stritch School of Medicine and Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing.
Established in 1961, Gottlieb Memorial Hospital is a 247-licensed-bed community hospital in Melrose Park that includes the Judd A. Weinberg Emergency Department, the Loyola Center for Metabolic Surgery and Bariatric Care, Loyola Cancer Care & Research at the Marjorie G. Weinberg Cancer Center, acute rehabilitation, a transitional care center, childcare center and fitness center. Founded in 1919, MacNeal Hospital is a 374-licensed-bed teaching hospital in Berwyn with advanced medical, surgical and psychiatric services and a 68-bed behavioral health program.
For more information, visit loyolamedicine.org. You can also follow Loyola Medicine on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram or X (formerly known as Twitter).
About Trinity Health
Trinity Health is one of the largest not-for-profit, faith-based health care systems in the nation. It is a family of 127,000 colleagues and more than 38,300 physicians and clinicians caring for diverse communities across 26 states. Nationally recognized for care and experience, the Trinity Health system includes 93 hospitals, 107 continuing care locations, the second largest PACE program in the country, 142 urgent care locations and many other health and well-being services. In fiscal year 2024, the Livonia, Michigan-based health system invested $1.3 billion in its communities in the form of charity care and other community benefit programs. For more information, visit us at www.trinity-health.org, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X (formerly known as Twitter).