Medical Interpretation Services for Healthcare Organizations
Healthcare organizations rely on accurate communication when clinical decisions, consent, and patient safety are at stake.
Certified Languages International (CLI) provides medical interpretation over telephone and video in 230+ languages, supported by experienced interpreters and structured quality assurance processes that help reduce risk and keep conversations clear.
Lower per-minute rates don’t always reduce total cost. When interpreters lack experience, calls take longer due to repetition, clarification, or errors. CLI prioritizes working with qualified interpreters with at least two years of experience, helping conversations move more efficiently and reducing total cost per encounter. This difference becomes noticeable in clinical environments, where small increases in time can significantly impact total spend and waste.
CLI uses a structured QA process where experienced linguists review interpreted encounters and document findings in clear, defensible reports. Compliance and language access teams gain visibility into performance, supporting audits and helping address issues quickly.
Hybrid interpreting models leverage in-person, video remote interpreting (VRI), and telephone interpreting based on the specific needs of each encounter. Choosing the right modality depends on the complexity of the interaction, whether visual communication is needed, and how quickly access is required.
On-demand telephone interpretation provides the broadest coverage with 230+ languages available, including languages of lesser diffusion. It’s useful for medication counseling, appointment scheduling, and routine follow-up
On-demand VRI is ideal for American Sign Language (ASL), when more than two people are present, telemedicine encounters, visual assessments, or ICU consultations. Use MERFi® from any internet-connected device to connect to an interpreter in 22 languages in under 30 seconds.
We’ll connect you in moments with no specialized equipment required. You can use MERFi® from any device that connects to the internet.
Case Study
“I just wanted to let you know that the Mara-speaking mom’s baby is back home after a successful procedure”
-University nurse
In 2020, CLI was contacted by a university hospital in dire need of a Mara speaking interpreter, to assist the mother of an infant in the pediatric intensive care unit. Their current interpreter services provider hadn’t been able to help.
Mara is a Language of Limited Diffusion spoken mostly by the Tlosaih tribe living in 30 villages of the Chhimtuipul district in India and Burma.
Healthcare organizations choose CLI when interpreter quality, response time, and compliance visibility directly affect operations.
All qualified medical interpreters who work with CLI must sign confidentiality agreements and complete annual HIPAA certification. We also implement rigid security policies to safeguard data privacy and integrity.
Interpreters who interpret in the top 40 languages must pass our rigorous assessment developed in coordination with Professor Emerita Dr. Jean Turner from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies.
Interpreters who successfully pass have usually completed training offered through colleges and interpreting organizations and have experience in medical interpreting.
Emergencies require immediate language support. Our on-demand interpretation services are available 24/7/365 by both phone and video. We connect you in under 30 seconds, so you can communicate successfully when timely interaction matters most.
AI translation tools can support simple instructive tasks, like asking for directions to imaging. But in healthcare, conversations often involve diagnosis, consent, or complex care instructions where errors or misunderstandings can have real consequences. Human interpreters have the cultural competency to help ensure patients fully understand their care, not just the words being said.
Testimonial
– Nonprofit Medical Center
CLI’s professional medical interpreters are bound by strict HIPAA regulations, signed confidentiality agreements, and a code of professional ethics. We are fully compliant with standards set by national healthcare accreditation organizations — including the Joint Commission and DNV — and we are active members of numerous medical interpreting organizations.
Simply call our access number or log into our VRI platform when you need an interpreter. No special training or complex setup is required for your staff to start using our services immediately.
We offer straightforward per-minute rates for both phone and video interpretation, and you get a personalized quote to help you plan effectively. You can also track usage in real time and receive detailed invoices that break down costs by department or service type for easy budget management.
Yes. CLI offers American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation through video remote interpreting (VRI), helping healthcare organizations support accessible communication for patients who are deaf and hard-of-hearing.
Absolutely. Many healthcare organizations use phone interpretation for routine appointments and consultations, while choosing video interpretation for situations requiring visual communication like ASL, patient education, or complex procedure explanations.
