Table 2.
Patterns of Interpreter use for Three Types of Clinical Encounters Among Patients (N = 234) at Two Hospitals in the San Francisco Bay Area, 2005-2008
| With physician at admission N (%) | With physicians since admission N (%) | With nurses since admission N (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interpreter present | 130 (57) | 137 (60) | 85 (37) |
| Hospital interpreter | 37 (17) | 30 (14) | 10 (4) |
| Family member, friend or other patient | 63 (28) | 50 (23) | 42 (18) |
| Nurse, clerk or physician | 26 (12) | 52 (23) | 31 (14) |
| Interpreter not present | 100 (43) | 90 (40) | 146 (63) |
| Preferred to speak English | 10 (4) | 13 (6) | 20 (9) |
| Physician or nurse spoke your native language well | 42 (19) | 26 (12) | 14 (6) |
| Too long to wait or none available | 15 (7) | 17 (8) | 26 (11) |
| “Got by” or the physician/nurse barely spoke to you at all | 31 (14) | 34 (15) | 86 (38) |