A new language interpretation service at Bluewater Health features more than 240 languages.
Voyce's on-demand app offers remote video and audio interpretation for patients facing a language barrier.
Hospital VP of Clinical Support Services Shannon Landry said in 2021, 773 patients reported their preferred language as other than English or French. She said it's evident that Sarnia-Lambton's population is becoming more diverse.
"It's reflective in the hospital that we're seeing more and more people who are more diverse and even in their languages, English or French aren't their first and second languages."
Landry said prior to the app's launch, Bluewater Health was using an older version of language services that did not include video.
"So, the patients who are speaking [on the new service] can see the person on video and perhaps that's even more comforting than just on a telephone conversation."
Landry said the goal is to provide an equitable experience for all patients at Bluewater Health.
"We want to ensure that we can provide services to help our patients who may not speak English nor French and ensure that we're providing that equitable care, giving them the resources that they need to be able to get the information that they need from us when they're in the hospital."
Landry said the app includes sign language and Indigenous languages such as Cree and Ojibway. It was launched on September 15.
Bluewater Health is the first hospital in southwestern Ontario and among the first in Canada to adopt the technology, joining hospitals like Ottawa’s CHEO and Kitchener’s St. Mary’s Hospital.