*Health issues>>>Dental Health issues

I have a patient coming to see me who doesnt speak english?

Issue
although her husband does, I need to take a full medical history from her. How "legally" do I handle this situation, and what problems could arise.

Best Tip

Wow, do I have a resource for you!!!

Go to www.metdental.com

Click on the link for "resource center" and about halfway down that page you'll see "tools for patients and offices to share" and under that heading is "multi-language health forms".

Many people speak a little English, but reading is difficult. You'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader, a recent version, but if you don't have it, it is a free download. There are many languages available, maybe 20??

Find and download the patient's native language form, and then download the English version also. The questions are mostly "yes" and "no", so you'll be able to understand their responses.

Bookmark this site - it's been a life-saver for us.

Others
Coming from the patient end... My fiance doesn't speak English... Anyway, when he went to the dentist a few months ago for an infection, they had a translator on staff. But they gave us the choice of using her, or having me translate. Unless your patient is hiding something from her husband, I don't think there's anything wrong with having him translate.
If she brings her husband into the consultation room, then you can assume that she is happy for him to hear anything she has to say. If you feel uncomfortable with this, then you should book an interpreter.
if its not a major problem send her to another doctor who speak her language
Well, you have at least two options. She can authorize her husband to translate for her or there are translators available by phone. Ask your employer for the phone number for the medical translators. Good luck with it, though. sometimes they are hard to reach. I take it from your question you are in Home-Health. The only problem I could see is if the husband didn't tell everything, but I have found sometimes family members can fill me in on things the patient has forgotten.
If she came in alone and not speaking English, you'd get a translator, right? When she comes in, ask her if she objects to her husband acting as your translator - you should probably be able to find something on the net that will tell you how to ask that if you don't have anyone on staff who knows the language (try the babelfish translator at altavista.com).

She says yes, and you're covered on the legal front and will be able to get the information you need without violating confidentiality laws. If she says no, be prepared to contact the nearest embassy for her country and request a translator. You might need to do it over the phone, but it should cover you and still get the info.
Yes, the family members can help, but often medical terminology is not easily translated (or just not in the vocabulary), and certain information conveyed from the unprofessional translator to the patient can be well, wrong. You can get sued for this. I suggest using a registered interpreter.