South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore has replaced a team of in-person interpreters that has helped Spanish-speaking patients navigate health care with digital and phone services, sparking concern among language access advocates.

Interpreters said they found out in mid-September their unit was being shut down after 22 years. Members of the 12-person unit were offered other positions at the hospital, officials said.

"Professional interpreters know the community, know the nuances in the different cultures," said Cheryl Keshner, a Central Islip-based coordinator of the Long Island Language Advocates Coalition. "To replace them with telephone interpreters or iPads is not sufficient."

The hospital also plans to use bilingual staff to help. Kushner said that would shortchange patients

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