Interpreting Services

What We Do
FMH Interpreting Services provides on site language accessibility for all patients so that they can participate fully in their own healthcare and in the healthcare of their loved ones.

Onsite interpreting is available for American Sign Language (ASL) and Spanish.  In addition, we provide telephonic interpreting for over 170 spoken languages.  Services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to all patients and their families for appointments, procedures and hospital stays. There is no cost to patients or families for interpretation.

In case of the unavailability of an on-site interpreter, telephone interpreting is available for spoken languages, and video remote interpreting is available for American Sign Language.

Meet Our Interpreters

Rosario Merchant	Gloria Sutton	Maria Shuck	Theresa Posthuma
Yaleni Ceballos	JoAnn Griffin	Elisa Garza	Melba Rodriguez-Martinez

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get an interpreter?
When scheduling your hospital appointment or service, please let us know that you need an interpreter. In the Emergency Department let hospital staff know you need an interpreter as soon as you arrive.  We have on-call interpreting available overnight and on weekends as well as Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) and telephonic interpreters provided by a company named Sorenson and Z-VRS that works with hospitals all over the country.

Is it ok if I use my relative as my interpreter?
We want your friend or family member to be there to support you during your time at FMH but not to act as your interpreter.  For Spanish and Sign Language, we can provide qualified interpreters who are specially experienced in medical settings.  For other languages, we will do our best to obtain qualified interpreters in the language you best understand. Conversations between you and your care provider will be kept confidential.

How much does it cost to have an interpreter?
There is no cost to the patient or the patient's family for FMH interpreting services.  This includes the use of any interpreting equipment, VRI and telephonic interpreting for spoken languages.

Contact Us
When possible, make your request in advance by calling Scheduling (240-566-3400) to make arrangements

• Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services
• Patient Rights in American Sign Language
• Patient Rights in Spanish

Staff
Nan Principe-Crockett, Manager
240-566-3565
npcrockett@fmh.org

Judy Williams, Supervisor
240-566-3300 Ext. 3090
Jwilliams6@fmh.org

Maria Shuck, Staff Interpreter, Spanish and coordinator
mshuck@fmh.org

Gloria Sutton, Staff Interpreter, Spanish / Prenatal Center
msutton@fmh.org

JoAnn Griffin, Staff Interpreter, Sign Language
jgriffin@fmh.org

Theresa Posthuma, Staff Interpreter, Sign Language
tposthuma@fmh.org

Resources
Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf
http://www.rid.org/

CSD of Maryland
http://www.c-s-d.org/Maryland/Home.aspx

LifeLinks Video Interpreting Services
http://lifelinks.net/

Mid-Atlantic ADA Center
http://www.adainfo.org/

National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters
http://certifiedmedicalinterpreters.org/

CyraCom Telephonic Interpretation
http://cyracom.com/

Federal Government Limited English Proficiency Information
http://www.lep.gov/

DiversityRx
http://www.diversityrx.org/

His Sign
http://hissign.com/

Video Remote Interpreting
https://intranet.fmh.org/videos/training/interpretingservices/vri_3B.wmv