Official Languages
Atlantic Health Sciences Corporation (AHSC) is committed to providing all available services to patients and the public in the official language of choice wherever the service is provided and in accordance with all provincial government requirements. For the purpose of this policy 'language of choice' means either English or French.
As a result, AHSC has instituted several positive initiatives in our facilities to accommodate this mandate.
- Free French language training offered to staff and physicians
- Official Languages Coordinator on staff to promote the understanding of and adherence to the Official Languages Act
- Bilingual signage posted throughout AHSC
- In public areas, active offer signage is clearly visible
- All postings, publications and documents intended for the general public are published in both official languages
- Full time translation services provided to AHSC
- Implementation of MedBridge™ a translation software used as a bridge until an interpreter is available
- Production of a bilingual recruitment video for the recruitment of healthcare professionals to our region.
- Partnership with the Médicentre in Saint John
- French greeting cards available at the General Store of the Saint John Regional Hospital
- The Saint-Jeannois, a French local newspaper, newsstand available in the lobby of the Saint John Regional Hospital
- NBHC was awarded the Lieutenant Governor Prix Dialogue Award for community organizations or public institutions in 2006. The award was given for outstanding efforts in promoting understanding between New Brunswick’s two official linguistic communities.
Projects for Official Languages in 2008-09:
- AHSC will implement a system where the patient’s language of choice is identified on the hospital ID bracelet as well as in the medical chart
- Continue to promote the Active offer to all staff
- Meet and provide information to all managers and front-line staff.
- Roll out an Active-Offer e-learning tool
- Use AHSC’s website as a tool to inform public of Official Languages activities
- Update AHSC’s activities on website regularly
- Post links to various Official Languages related websites
- Ongoing monitoring and tracking of staffing complements through an up to date linguistic profile that contains recent French language testing of all personnel by a Language Evaluation Coordinator from the Department of Training and Employment Development in Fredericton.
- Meet with managers to develop linguistic profiles and contingency plans
Official Languages Policy at AHSC
Atlantic Health Sciences Corporation is committed to providing all available services to patients and the public in the official language of the patient's/public's choice wherever the service is provided and in accordance with all provincial government requirements. For the purpose of this policy 'language of choice' means either English or French.
Do you have any questions about this policy? Any comments or
concerns? We want to hear from
you.
Official Languages Act link:
http://www.gnb.ca/0062/regs/o-00-5reg.htm
Revision Date: January, 17, 2005