Health Care Interpreter (HCI) Program

Upcoming Webinar for Oregon Health Care Interpreters (HCIs)

Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2026
Time: 4–5 p.m. PT

Health Care Interpreters (HCI) on the Oregon HCI Registry, and interpreters interested in joining the registry, are invited to a one‑hour webinar focused on listening, learning, and open conversation.

This session is a chance to:

Meet and talk directly with OHA's HCI Program staff and the Oregon Council on Health Care Interpreters (OCHCI) leadership, who advise OHA
Hear brief, high‑level updates about the HCI Program and interpreter-related topics
Take part in an open forum discussion

During the forum, HCIs are encouraged to:

Ask questions
Share concerns or challenges
Offer recommendations
Recognize what's working well and where there are opportunities to improve health care interpretation services and language access in Oregon

Important to Know

This webinar focuses on program‑level topics related to getting and keeping an Oregon HCI credential and provides a forum for conversation and feedback. Issues such as reimbursement rates, billing, or late cancellations are outside the scope of this session.

Register early — space is limited

Space is limited. Registration priority will be given to HCIs on the Oregon registry, but interpreters interested in learning more about the program are encouraged to register.

Please make accommodation requests related to disability or requests for interpreter services by February 20, 2026, to hci.program@odhsoha.oregon.gov or 971-673-3378. We accept all relay calls. We will make every effort to provide services to requests made after February 20. Please submit your request as early as possible.

For questions about this webinar, please contact Edna Nyamu, Program Manager, edna.nyamu@oha.oregon.gov, or David Simnitt, DS Consulting, dsimnitt.dsc@gmail.com.

WALK-IN:

New Location for HCI Drop-In Officer Hours:

Drop-in Office Hours: The 1st Wednesday of the month from 11:00 AM- 3:00 PM at the Portland State Office Building, 800 NE Oregon St. Portland, OR, 97232, room 1C-30. (Except on Holidays)

You can also have all your HCI questions answered by calling 971-673-3378 (v.m.) or 971-219-9987, or by emailing HCI.program@odhsoha.oregon.gov.

Health Care Interpreter Program

Everyone has a right to know about and use Oregon Health Authority (OHA) programs and services. OHA provides free help. For assistance, contact the Health Care Interpreter Program at HCI.Program@odhsoha.oregon.gov or by phone at (971)673-3378 at least 48 hours before a meeting.

Some examples of the free help OHA can provide are:

Sign language and spoken language interpreters
Written materials in other languages
Braille
Large print
Audio and other formats

The Purpose of the Health Care Interpreter (HCI) programs

Help HCIs in Oregon become trained and qualified or certified to meet current requirements;
Diversify the health care workforce in Oregon;
Provide high-quality health care interpretation to Oregon's growing diverse populations; and
Promote health equity.

Who are HCIs?

HCIs are specialized interpreters trained for the health care setting. They are proficient in English and one or more other languages, and maintain professional and ethical standards. They assist people in Oregon and in their communities by providing high-quality health care interpretation.

Becoming a Qualified or Certified HCI

Learn more about becoming a qualified or certified HCI.

Renew your Qualified or Certified Qualification

Renewing your Qualified or Certified Letter

Helpful Links
See if you or someone you would like to hire is on the list of registered HCIs.

Interested in taking a health care interpreter course or a language proficiency test?

Are you interested in finding out how to have your training program approved by OHA-OEI?

Additional Resources

If you need assistance or have HCI application/program related questions, please send an email to HCI.program@odhsoha.oregon.gov or call (971)673-3378 and we will respond to your message as soon as we are able, thank you.