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Overview:
Health Care Interpreting Services (HCIS) is a non-profit, community-based
program of Chicago Health Outreach (a partner agency of Heartland Alliance).
This program is dedicated to improving access of limited- and non-English
speaking populations to health and social service organizations within
Cook County.
Description of model:
Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights, through its health
care programs, is one of the city's premier providers of affordable health
care for poor and homeless Chicagoans as well as immigrants and refugees.
Heartland has developed HCIS as part of its comprehensive advocacy, outreach,
education, interpretation, and health services to these communities.
The creation of Health Care Interpreting Services (HCIS) in March, 1996, was a direct result of community activism and the pressing need for interpreter services in Chicago's health care service delivery system. Interpreters are recruited directly from immigrant and refugee communities, hired on a contract basis, and are specially trained in medical interpretation. Upon completion of their training and internship, they become part of a centralized pool of professional interpreters. This pool provides health care providers with an economically feasible means to accommodate their patients' language needs.
Intended audience/client base:
Health care providers and social service agencies in Cook County - Chicago,
Illinois. Top language groups served are Bosnian, Polish, Vietnamese,
Russian, and Khmer. Unique characteristics: A 30-hour medical interpreter
training program (conducted by the Associate Director) plus an 8-hour
internship is required of all potential interpreters. In-service training
on various medical disciplines is offered quarterly. Interpreter training
for mental health is provided. Provider training is also offered in how
to work with interpreters. Translation services are available. Instrumental
to the success of HCIS has been community involvement from the early planning
stages. Community groups sat on a Task Force which convened to create
a plan for a pooled interpreter service. HCIS now works closely with these
organizations to do community outreach relating to interpretation.
Resources that can be shared:
Systems information on how to start an interpreter agency, training programs,
and assessment tools. Advice and most materials are free; charges apply
to the training program.
Cost of service:
Services are provided on a fee-for service or retained basis. Total budget
- start-up costs = $120,000. Charge for services vary. Source of funding
is a combination of grant funding and fee-for-service revenues from provider
organizations.
Contact Information:
Karin Ruschke, Associate Director
Health Care Interpreting Services
1015 W. Lawrence
Chicago, IL 60640
Phone: 773- 506-9851 or 506-2876
Fax: 773-506-9872
E-mail: 76722.3651@compuserve.com
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| As with the rest of DiversityRx, this section is a work in
progress and we welcome information on other efforts, programs, and reports
that will expand upon the information offered here. Please
let us know if you have other examples to include here. | ||||||
essentials | models and practices | policy | legal
issues | networking | ||||||
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DiversityRx is sponsored by: |
 The National Conference of State Legislatures |
 Resources for Cross Cultural Health Care |
 Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation | |||
