When working in their community offices, specialists can access free spoken language interpreting services as part of a 1-year pilot project, funded by the Specialist Services Committee (SSC)—a partnership of Doctors of BC and the BC government.

SSC is providing $50 000 for this pilot project in response to physicians’ feedback about supporting the delivery of safe and equitable patient care to diverse populations. Previously, this service was available to specialists who chose to pay privately or who work within the boundaries of health authority sites.

Accessible through the Provincial Language Service, professional interpreters offer services that are available:

• Via telephone.
• 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• On demand.
• In roughly 240 languages.

How specialists can connect with an interpreter:

1. Call 1 833 718-2154 (toll free).
2. Select a language.
3. Enter your access code, which was emailed to you by your section head, or contact SSC at sscbc@doctorsofbc.ca [9].
4. Indicate you are a member of Doctors of BC.
5. Wait 30 to 60 seconds to connect with an interpreter.

For more information, visit www.phsa.ca/health-professionals/professional-resources/interpreting-services [10].