Available Language Translation Services

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Get the health information you need in any language

Waterloo Wellington is home to many cultures and languages. The WWRCP aims to offer care that respects and reflects this diversity.

If you would like to speak a language other than English, our team can connect you with a professional interpreter. The interpreter can join you during any stage of care at the cancer centre (at follow-up appointments, treatments, or in counselling). This way you can feel comfortable and understood in your care.

VOYCE Translation Service

The professional service used at most WWRCP sites is called VOYCE. VOYCE is a Canadian based company. They offer healthcare interpretation in over 250 languages and dialects such as American Sign Language and Canadian Indigenous languages.

When your healthcare team sets up VOYCE they will use a tablet on a stand. This tablet lets your team connect directly to an interpreter. You can choose to have translation over the phone, or virtually face-to-face. The professional interpreter will help to translate your entire appointment including all:

Medical questions and information asked by your doctor, nurse or healthcare team
Health details
Treatment plans
General questions or concerns
Follow-up plans with your healthcare team

Black mobile medical tablet stand with four caster wheels and a coiled charging cable, holding a tablet in a clamp mount.

VOYCE is confidential and secure. Your health information will not be shared beyond your clinical appointment.

Learn more about VOYCE

Watch how Hamilton Health Sciences uses VOYCE

Transcript

One of the most difficult problems we have in terms of access to health care is a language barrier. We’re at our most vulnerable state when we’re trying to
access health services, and the inability to speak in our native tongue to our clinicians is an incredibly challenging barrier for us. And so, we’re so excited that

Voyce can help us overcome this barrier and create a much more seamless access to health care in our community.

I can communicate with the families in real time without any translation issues. The interpreter is there right away and it really helps to reassure the family, answer
their questions immediately, which I think is is a great step forward in terms of patient care.

The way I love this actually is, whatever I’m saying, I’m sure that it’s being relayed no matter how much I’m expressing, or the way that I’m expressing it. I’m sure that it’s being relayed in the same way.

Sometimes it feels like I’m the one who is speaking.

Having the Voyce translation, it really helps to promote allyship and inclusivity for a lot of our families who don’t speak English. Without the ability to interpret, properly for one thing, and timely, I find that is really impeding the care. Having the ability to pull Voyce into the room have the interpretation on hand with the family, addressing their concerns, especially in situations where it’s really critical .

It’s amazing. I think it’s really changed how we run rounds, for one thing, as well as in clinic.

Actually yes, I do need this service a lot because I know that with Aline’s condition that we need to come to the hospital a lot and she has a lot of appointments, so it’s very comfortable for me to have this service, and I feel like it’s also kind of bettering my language.

So, one of the most exciting elements of the Voyce translation service is how we can extend it into all aspects of Hamilton Health Sciences domain, including research and education, and to better understand our non-English speaking Community.

We’re very, very excited about the opportunities it’s going to bring us and we know there’ll be many, many great stories to come in the months to come.

How to Access an Interpreter

As soon as you get to the cancer centre tell a team member that you would like a translator.

You can let a team member know:

During your intake phone call before your in-person visit
At the main registration desk
When you start your appointment with the healthcare team member

Telling us this ahead of time lets your healthcare team get VOYCE ready for your appointment. This helps to make the most of your booked appointment time. VOYCE can be used anytime you come for an appointment.

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Translator Services at other regional sites

All WWRCP Regional Program Sites also have translation services. See the list below for the type of translator services available to you.

-                                        Location
+                                        Translator Service
-                                        Waterloo Regional Health Network 
 

WRHN @ Queens Blvd 
WRHN @ Chicopee
+                                        VOYCE
-                                        Cambridge Memorial Hospital
+                                        VOYCE
-                                        Guelph General Hospital
+                                        VOYCE
-                                        Wellington Healthcare Alliance  


Groves Memorial Hospital 
Louise Marshall Hospital 
Palmerston District Hospital
+                                        MCIS Language Solutions (Phone Interpretation)