Information for patients who speak a foreign language

INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS WHO SPEAK A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

       Dear Visitors and Patients of Public Institution Vilnius City Clinical Hospital (VMKL), in order to ensure access to personal healthcare services for patients who speak only a foreign language, please note the following:
       1. Provision of healthcare services in the official language
       VMKL employees are required to provide personal healthcare services in the official language of the Republic of Lithuania, i.e. Lithuanian.
       VMKL's document management is conducted in Lithuanian, and medical documentation, including medical histories, outpatient medical records, procedure orders and other relevant documents, is completed in Lithuanian. Medical diagnoses, medication orders and prescriptions may be written in either Latin or Lithuanian.
       2. Assistance for patients who speak only a foreign language
       VMKL recommends that patients who speak only a foreign language attend scheduled healthcare appointments accompanied by an interpreter or by a person who speaks both Lithuanian and the language spoken by the patient.
       VMKL maintains a list of doctors and other healthcare professionals who are able to provide healthcare services in foreign languages. During their working hours, and where circumstances permit, these specialists may assist patients who speak a foreign language in receiving healthcare services at VMKL.
       The list of healthcare professionals who speak foreign languages is available on the VMKL website at www.vmkl.lt.  
       Where possible, communication with the patient may be facilitated through the use of mobile translation applications.
       3. Requests, complaints and suggestions
       Requests, complaints and suggestions submitted to VMKL must be provided in the official Lithuanian language.
       If a patient does not speak Lithuanian and VMKL does not have an employee who understands the foreign language spoken by the patient, the patient must be accompanied when making a verbal request or complaint by a person who is able to translate the request or complaint into Lithuanian.
       The patient seeking assistance from VMKL is responsible for arranging for such a person or an interpreter to be present.