Patients at TMC Urgent Care Clinic in Tecumseh can now get help in their own language when they visit the doctor. The clinic at 13278 Tecumseh Rd E has launched free on-site translation and interpretation services this July for people who don’t speak English.
The new program covers seven languages: Arabic, Chaldean/Assyrian, Polish, French, Hindi, Urdu, and Greek. It aims to help international workers and other residents who often face language barriers when trying to access urgent medical care.
“Introducing our upcoming program in July: Translation/Interpretation Services for International Workers/Patients. If you require assistance in this regard, we are here to help,” the clinic announced on its website.
The need is clear in the Windsor-Essex region, where Arabic is the second most common mother tongue after English, with 13,580 residents citing it in the 2016 census. In Tecumseh, non-English mother tongues include Italian, Arabic, and Croatian, according to 2011 data.
The region also hosts 8,000 to 10,000 migrant farm workers who face health care barriers like language and cultural differences. The WE Spark Health Institute has noted that these workers often struggle with poor health literacy and rely on overstressed rural facilities.
TMC Clinic has been serving the area since 2012 and is open 365/366 days a year. The clinic’s hours are Monday to Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Local groups like the Multicultural Council of Windsor and Essex County also provide interpretation, showing the community’s effort to bridge language gaps.
