Position Summary
Under minimal supervision from the Director of Nursing, provide Spanish-English interpretations for patients, providers, and other ancillary center staff for in-person appointments (including in-patient rounds, family meetings and educational teachings), as well as interpretation during telehealth visits.
Essential Functions, Duties, and Responsibilities
- Participate as a neutral party in the role as conduit of information that must flow between clinic staff and patients.
- Ensure that information pertaining to the patient's acute and chronic conditions, complaints and concerns, past medical and surgical history, hospitalization, (i.
e. advance directives, consents from treatment, diagnosis and prognosis, treatment plan, follow-up appointments and Health Care Education) are accurately communicated.
- The patient's questions / concerns regarding this information is to be appropriately addressed and documented or conveyed to the clinical staff.
- Provide interpreter services, and convey the exact message as opposed to summarizing the information in a way that is subjective.
- Maintain accurate daily records on all requests for service as well as the provision of services. Maintain accurate and timely documentation within program database.
- Promote customer satisfaction; notify Supervisor of any issues that may be problematic for patients or staff.
- Participate in continuing education programs and competency training to enhance professional role of interpreter. Ensure that all policies and procedures related to process, service, and employee work rules are followed.
Maintain confidentiality in all matters related to patient care and visitor issues on non-English speaking patients / families / escorts.
- Participate in on call coverage to provide interpretation / translation services during non-business hours and business hours as assigned.
- Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Ability to work with diverse populations from various backgrounds and age groups.
- Ability to work as an effective member of a dedicated team. Ability to work in a fast-paced Health Care environment with a variety of customer service needs.
- Accurate and appropriate interpretation skills at all times.
- Strong communication, both verbal and written, in Spanish and English
- Ability to learn quickly new techniques for interpretation and medical information that is continuously being updated.
Successful applicants will be professional, courteous, and team-centered.
Needs to be able to comply with interpreter Code of Ethics, HIPPA, Joint Commission, infection control, and other policies for inpatient and ambulatory populations.
Education, Training and Experience
- Minimum High-School Diploma
- Successful completion of conversation / translation competency testing in secondary language Knowledge of Medical Terminology
- Knowledge of electronic medical record
- Previous experience in a Health Care setting preferred
- 2-year of previous medical translation and interpretation is strongly preferred.