Sight Translation in Healthcare

• Sight translation is a mode of interpreting used occasionally in medical settings.
• It involves reading a written document out loud in the target language as if it were originally written in that language.
• Sight translation gives a Limited English Proficiency (LEP) person access to information only available in written English format.
• Sight translation is a form of interpreting, despite the name suggesting translation.

Topics Covered

• Types of documents patients may receive in healthcare.
• What makes a document appropriate or inappropriate for sight translation.
• Alternatives to sight translation.
• Special considerations for informed consent documents.

Types of Healthcare Documents

• Four general categories of documents that patients receive in healthcare settings include institutional documents, patient education materials, patient care instructions and Legal documents.
• Institutional documents provide general information about how an institution functions.
  • These include HIPAA notices, patient rights & responsibilities pamphlets, and appointment policies.
  • Patients often provide e-signatures to acknowledge these notices.
  • Patient questionnaires and health history forms are also included.
• Patient educational materials give information about a particular condition, procedure, or treatment.
  • These documents are not tailored for individual patients.
  • They offer general information about a subject, that patients may want to refer to later.
• Patient care instructions provide information for a particular patient on topics.
  • Examples include pre-op instructions, discharge instructions, usage of prescription medicines, and follow-up instructions.
• Legal documents include financial agreements, consent forms, advanced directives, and living wills.

Appropriate Documents for Sight Translation

• Not every document is appropriate for sight translation, even with a skilled interpreter.
• Sight translations are generally suitable when the document is short (less than one page).
• It should be written in straightforward language that the interpreter understands.
• It should not already be available as a professionally translated version.
• First, scan the document to determine if it is appropriate for this mode.

C.A.L.L. Method

• A way to determine if the document is appropriate determine this is using the CALL method.
• C - Complex?
  • Does the document describe a complicated idea or process?
• A - Advanced?
  • Is the writing advanced, using high register terms and complicated sentence structure?
• L - Legal?
  • Is the document supposed to be signed by the patient or doctor, such as consent for surgery?
• L - Long?
  • Is it longer than a page?
  • Is there sufficient time to review the document in the setting, like at the reception desk or during the appointment?

Alternatives to Sight Translation

• Refusing a sight translation request is not the best course of action, even if the document doesn't pass the CALL assessment.
• Suggest an alternative that will provide the LEP person with access to the information.
• Ask if the document is available in the LEP person's language.
  • Many institutional documents are available in several languages.
  • Frequently used patient educational materials may also already be available in several languages.
• If the patient is not literate in their primary language, offer to read the Spanish-language document to them, if there is one.
• Ask the provider to explain the information in the document and interpret that explanation.

Informed Consent

• Specific rules dictate how providers must obtain informed consent, especially before surgery.
• Providers need discussing the procedure with the patient, including details, risks, benefits, and alternatives.
• The patient must have an opportunity to ask questions before signing.
• If a medical provider asks you to sight translate a consent form, you must refuse and suggest alternatives:
  • The provider should explain the form as they would to an English-speaking patient.
  • Offer a Spanish-language translation. The interpreter may read this aloud if the patient wishes, in addition to the provider's explanation.
• The provider must answer any questions, and stay present during the process.
• The interpreter may be asked to sign the consent form to document their presence.
• Never sign as a witness.
  • A witness must be an uninvolved party.
  • If there is no line for the interpreter, add your name, signature, title, and date at the bottom or in the margin.

Explore sight translation in healthcare, where written documents are read aloud in another language. Learn about appropriate documents for sight translation, alternatives, and special considerations for informed consent. Discover document categories like institutional, patient education, care instructions, and legal documents.