General Description:

Under the direction of the Interpreting Supervisor, the Medical Interpreter (MI) provides bilingual/bicultural interpreting services to patients, families, and staff members at Caring Health Center as well as the wider Be Healthy Accountable Care Organization (ACO) network. The MI works as a member of the care team through an integrated approach to care management; the MI works collaboratively with the Primary Care Providers, Behavioral Health Providers, Nurses, Medical Assistants, Community Health Workers, and more to provide high quality, culturally and linguistically appropriate health care. The MI facilitates communication between the patient and the health care system and supports patients in navigating and accessing care. The MI will work toward achieving the overall aims of Caring Health Center as well as the Be Healthy ACO network.

 This position requires compliance with Caring Health Center’s compliance standards, including its Standards of Conduct, Compliance Program, and policies and procedures. Such compliance will be an element considered as part of the Medical Interpreter’s regular performance evaluation.

Reports to:                 Interpreting Supervisor

Salary/Status:            Non-Exempt

Department:              Interpreting Services

 Education and Experience: 1. Associates Degree (area related to science or human services preferred) or High School Diploma or equivalent background and experience.

2.  One (1) to Two (2) years of interpreting experience, experience in a health care setting preferred. 

 License, Certification and Registration

• Satisfactory completion of Medical Interpreter Training - minimum of 40 hours 

 Minimum Requirements:

• High level of oral and written communication skills in target language and English.
• General knowledge of cultural backgrounds of patients to be served.
• High level of customer service and a positive approach to working with others.
• Understanding of basic components of cultural competency.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to interact professionally with culturally and educationally diverse staff and clients.
• Ability to work as an effective team member in a complex and fast-paced environment.
• Ability to handle unpredictable changes to schedule, workflow, etc. 
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to work independently, problem solve and make decisions for the well-being of the patient.
• Friendly, reliable, and professional both in behavior and appearance.
• Knowledge of computer systems (Electronic Health Record experience a plus).
• Willingness to work some weekend/evening hours depending on need.

 Principle Responsibilities and Duties:

• Work as an integral member of the Care Team, working collaboratively with the Primary Care Providers, Behavioral Health Providers, Nurses, Medical Assistants, Community Health Workers, and more to provide high quality, culturally and linguistically appropriate health care.
• Facilitate communication between the patient and all aspects of the health care system.
• Maintain an understanding of a variety of regional accents and linguistic styles (of target language) and registers and selects appropriate mode of interpretation for each situation.
• Interpret with highest degree of accuracy and completeness in consecutive, simultaneous, and sight translation modes; notice cues from encounter participants regarding level of understanding and/or need for clarification.
• Recognize underlying assumptions of each party about medicine, the encounter, the illness etc. and use this understanding to empower the patient and provider to better understand each other. 
• Intervene as intercultural mediator when culture-bound messages compromise communication; avoid generalizations and stereotyping.
• Use culturally appropriate behavior and choose appropriate time to clarify or interject by respecting the goals of the encounter.
• Possess awareness of own personal values, beliefs and cultural characteristics, which may be a source of conflict or discomfort in certain situations, with the ability to acknowledge these and/or to withdraw from encounters when these may interfere with successful interpretation. 
• Set tone of the patient/provider encounter to manage spatial configuration and flow of communication to preserve accuracy and completeness, and to assess and address potential areas of discomfort for patient (age, gender of interpreter, no previous experience with interpreters).
• Address concerns raised during or after an encounter by encouraging provider to make appropriate referral and assisting with making of appointment with right resource and booking interpreter as needed.
• Complete written translations as required in patient encounters such as filling out forms and medical instructions, and medication schedules; administrative translations such as letters to patients, documents, and patient materials.
• In collaboration with Community Health Workers and others, conduct Care Needs Screenings (CNS) with qualified patients and document in the EMR (CNS to be collected among all qualified patients at least once annually) to the extent of his/her capability.
• Help patients in identifying and utilizing community resources using Health Leads database.
• Document activities, service plans, and results in appropriate data collection tools and/or EMR in a clear and concise manner.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with the patients, providers, supervisors, managers and all staff.
• Support CHC by answering the phone, taking requests, calling patients to confirm appointments, verifying and assisting to schedule future appointments when necessary, general troubleshooting, filing, and photocopying. 
• Work with special projects and other duties as assigned. 
• Participate in staff meetings and complete necessary departmental reports.
• Follow Health Center policies on patient confidentiality, informed consent, non-discrimination; abide by interpreter’s code of ethics and standards of practice.

 Working Conditions:

1.  This position may require the ability to work long and arduous hours.

2.  This position requires the ability to use a computer workstation.

3.  Must be able to lift up to 15 lbs

4.  Viewing computer monitor for long periods of time

5.  Standing, walking and sitting for long periods of time. 

6.  Talking for long periods of time

 7.  Must be able to lift up to 15 lbs

8.  Viewing computer monitor for long periods of time

9.  Keyboarding for long periods of time

10. Reading data reports and other materials with small print for long periods of time

11. Use of telephone for long periods of time.

12. Standing, walking and sitting for long periods of time. 

13. Talking for long periods of time

JOB CODE: 10