St Joseph’s to launch novel approach to interpreter services You are here:HomeNewsroomNews St Joseph’s to launch novel approach to interpreter services 21 Feb 2023 St Joseph’s Hospital will be amongst the first public health services in NSW to use a live video service for interpreter consultations through myVirtualCare. Launching on March 6th, St Joseph’s will commence the use of both the interpreter video system and a new online booking system, which will streamline patient and clinician access to an interpreter as and when needed. Currently, 80% of St Joseph’s interpreter services are delivered via phone, and while telephone interpretation offers both cost and time efficiencies, it has been shown to be less effective for capturing visual cues to aid in clinical interpretation, particularly during complicated or complex consultations. With an annual average of 750 occasions of interpreter use at St Joseph’s alone, Majid Shahi, Virtual Care Manager and Tami Ebner, Diversity & Health Literacy Coordinator, sought to improve patient experience by optimising the organisation’s interpreter service. Partnering with Western Sydney Local Health District, the team have already piloted video interpreting during allied health sessions at St Joseph’s, both patients and clinicians are reporting improvements in clinical sessions. Following go-live at St Josephs, the video interpreter service will be rolled out at Parklea Correctional Service, followed by St Vincent’s Darlinghurst.