South Shore University Hospital has phased out its in-person Spanish interpretation program and transitioned to a digital and phone-based system that Northwell Health already uses for other languages.

The Language Access Services unit was founded in 2003 by Berta Cevallos, who helped build a team dedicated to assisting Spanish-speaking patients with medical interpretation.

“We were able to cover from six in the morning to midnight, seven days a week,” Cevallos said. “We had an excellent team of interpreters, and that’s what we started.”

After 23 years, that program has come to an end.

In a statement, Northwell Health said the hospital has “transitioned from live Spanish interpretation services and will continue to use Language Line, a fast, accurate and 24/7 system already deployed across Northwell for all other languages.”

But Cevallos says phone and video interpretation can’t replace the accuracy and cultural understanding of an in-person interpreter.

“You cannot interview someone accurately if you don’t have a person there,” she said. “You cannot use a phone to interview a patient who’s having mental health issues.”

She worries the change could discourage some Spanish-speaking patients from seeking care, especially those who already feel anxious about visiting hospitals or clinics.

“Technology, AI is not going to replace the sensitivity, the culture and the nuances that an interpreter already knows and is prepared to understand,” Cevallos said.

Northwell says it remains committed to serving Spanish-speaking communities as it continues expanding its digital translation services.