In-Person Interpreters
Bilingual and bicultural interpreter Duke staff are available on site at Duke University Hospital, Duke University Hospital clinics, and Duke Regional Hospital. Staff interpreters at Duke University Hospital and at Duke University Hospital clinics are fluent in Spanish, Arabic, and French. For other languages and locations, including Duke Raleigh Hospital, your appointment scheduler can arrange for an in-person interpreter when you make your appointment (with 48 hours advanced notice).
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Duke University Hospital and Duke University Hospital clinics have reduced hours.
- Spanish interpreters are available from 7:00 am to midnight seven days a week.
- Arabic and French interpreters are available from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm every weekday and provide on-call coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
At Duke Regional Hospital, in-person Spanish interpretation is provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All other language interpretation is supported by phone or video services over the phone or via video.
Phone Services
When in-person interpreters are not an option due to appointment location or availability of staff, our in-house Spanish, Arabic, and French interpreters are available via phone. For other languages, we use a telephone interpretation service, which supports 150 languages 24/7. It is best for your appointment scheduler to arrange phone interpretation services before your appointment, if possible, so that we are prepared to meet your needs. New patients and patients whose records do not include language preference information can request this service prior to their appointment.
Video-Based Services
When in-person staff are not available for interpreting at Duke University Hospital, Duke University Hospital clinics, and Duke Regional Hospital, they may be able to interpret via video, usually on a Duke iPad. For other languages and locations, contract interpreters are available via video on iPads and other mobile devices.
For telehealth (virtual) appointments, language services are provided through a video conferencing platform like Zoom. Your session will include you, your doctor, and the interpreter. All video-based services can be set up by your scheduler when you make your appointment.
Sign Language
Your scheduler can arrange for an in-person sign language interpreter when you make your appointment at any Duke Health location. If an in-person interpreter is not available, Duke can provide video-based ASL interpreter services.