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All interpreters work with us on an "on-call" basis. Please keep in mind that we do not have interpreters stationed at the PALS for Health offices. We respectfully request at least a 48 -hour notice for all requests.
To assist us in matching your client with the most appropriate interpreter, health care providers should be prepared to furnish PALS for Health staff with the following patient information:
1. Ethnicity and language(s) or
dialect(s)
2. Gender and date of birth
3. Nature of service (physical therapy, ultrasound, HIV testing, etc.)
4. Date, time and place of the appointment
5. Name and telephone number of the patient and health care provider
The above information is required to help us better serve you and your patient, and will be kept strictly confidential.
If you require an interpreter for a follow-up
appointment, please call PALS for Health directly instead of scheduling directly
with the interpreter. This policy is observed to avoid any conflict in each
interpreter's availability.
PALS for Health is currently vendored with various health care facilities and
school districts. A partial list of our clients include:
1. Asian Pacific Health Care Venture
2. Cedars Sinai Medical Center
3. Children's Hospital of Los Angeles
4. Gateways Forensic Community Treatment Program
5. Harbor Regional Center
6. Little Tokyo Service Center
RATES
For rates of service, please call Tina Vasinamakin at (213) 553-1818. Please bear in mind
that the interpretation assignment begins the
moment the interpreter checks in with the reception desk. A minimum of one
hour is charged for all appointments and last minute cancellations. PALS for
Health must be contacted 24-hours in advance during our business hours with any
cancellations (please see About Us for hours of
operation). We bill on a monthly basis and provide all required supporting
documentation such as provider signature acknowledging each interpretation
session. We will be glad to work with you on a convenient billing schedule.
SURVEYS
PALS
Client Satisfaction Survey (.pdf format, 321kb)
Interpretation services are a crucial component of
medical care for clients who are limited-English proficient,
yet there are no known evaluations of the impacts of such interpretation
services on the attitudes, beliefs and behaviors of clients. This project
assessed the knowledge, attitudes and opinions of adult Chinese (Mandarin and
Cantonese speaking), Korean, Thai and Vietnamese clients who have used the
interpretation services of the Pacific Asian Language Services Program during
receipt of medical care in Southern California. The project aims were twofold:
1) to assess clients' perceived quality of the interpretation services; and 2)
to assess clients' perceived impacts on increased knowledge of information
provided at their medical appointment, and increased follow-up with recommended
medical services.
PALS
Healthcare Provider Satisfaction Survey (.pdf format, 162kb)
While interpretation
services are a crucial component of medical care for clients who are
limited-English proficient, medical providers face many challenges in providing
such interpretation services for their patients. Medical providers are able to
access interpretation services through the PALS for Health Program. Requests to
PALS for Health, however, usually come from provider staff, such as case
managers, office managers, receptionists, etc. (Clients may also request service
from PALS for Health directly, usually through their multilingual line.) PALS
outreaches to medical providers through a variety of strategies, including mass
mailings, provider trainings, ethnic media, community based organizations,
community health fairs and cultural events, and word-of-mouth. In general, 25%
of requests come from provider staff, and 75% from clients.
This survey assessed the knowledge, attitudes and opinions of 102 providers who
rendered medical services to patients during the months of January-March 2001.
The project aims were twofold: 1) to assess providers’ perceived quality of
the interpretation services; and 2) to assess the capacities of providers and
their medical organizations to provide interpretation services for Asian
American and Pacific Islander (API) clients.
If you want to know more about
requesting a PALS for Health interpreter, please call
213-553-1818.