Offering Qualified Medical Interpreters
Interpreter Services Office
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Phone: 206.606.6419
Email: interpreter@fredhutch.org
Or Evelyn Guerra at eguerra@fredhutch.org
At Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, we believe that equal access to health care is very important. One way that we can help people get care is by having free interpreters for our patients if English isn’t your first language or if you are deaf or hard of hearing.
We know that you and your physician need to be able to communicate. That’s why we offer access to qualified medical interpreters in over 100 languages, by phone, video or in-person at all Fred Hutch locations. This is a free, no-cost service for our patients.
Call 911 if you are having an emergency and need immediate medical care.
How Can I Ask for an Interpreter for My Appointment at Fred Hutch?
Please let us know if you will need an interpreter for your appointment at a Fred Hutch clinic. We can get an interpreter for patients or family members who do not speak English.
How Does an Interpreter Join My Appointment?
In-Clinic Appointments
If you are already a patient at Fred Hutch, you will automatically be assigned an interpreter based on the information you provide at registatration. You will be assigned an interpreter in one of these three ways:
- In person – the interpreter is in the room with you at your appointment
- By telephone – the interpreter joins the appointment by phone
- By video call – the interpreter joins the appointment by video (similar to FaceTime or WhatsApp), but secure
Telehealth Appointments
An interpreter can be added to the Zoom call with your physician when you have a Telehealth appointment.
How Can I Call Fred Hutch with an Interpreter on the Phone?
If you need to call Fred Hutch with an interpreter on the phone, and you speak Korean, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish or Vietnamese:
- Dial 855.670.9798 and listen for your language (for example, “dial ‘1’ for Spanish”)
- Follow the instructions you hear
If you need to call Fred Hutch with an interpreter on the phone, and you speak a language that is not Korean, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish or Vietnamese:
- Call the number given to you by your nurse or provider, or dial 855.557.0555 and when prompted, dial "0" to reach the operator
- Say “interpreter” in English
- Say the language you need
- An interpreter will join the call
I’m Deaf or Hard of Hearing. How Can I Get an Interpreter?
We work with local agencies to provide in-person interpreters for patients who are deaf or hard of hearing. We can do remote interpreting by video call, too. For more information on interpreters for patients who are deaf or hard of hearing, call the Interpreter Services Office at 206.606.6419.