Spanish Medical Interpreter - The Dimock Center

Spanish Medical Interpreter - Full time, with one evening shift per week.

You are a caring, hard-working individual who thrives in a team environment and is committed to excellence. You have experience in a medical setting and are comfortable interacting with patients, as well as managing administrative responsibilities.

The Dimock Center is a federally qualified community health center that heals and uplifts individuals, families and communities. Our vision is to redefine the model of a healthy community by creating equitable access to comprehensive health care and education. We promote a culture of respect, excellence, equal opportunity, and commitment to our employees and the communities we serve.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Summary/Objective:
Under the direction of the Director of Operations and supervision by Practice Managers, the Spanish Medical Interpreter serves as an interpreter for patients and staff and supports the operations of the department. The interpreter uses, consecutive, simultaneous, and sight translation modes. They will relay medical information between speakers of two different languages in compliance with all office and Dimock Community Health Center policies and procedures, particularly relating to patient confidentiality and informed consent, passing performance of competencies listed in the International Medical Interpreter Association (IMIA) Standards of Practice, and the Code of Ethics.

Essential Functions

1. Helps facilitate successful delivery of services to linguistically diverse patients.

2. Explains Health Center resources, office protocols, and limitations to providers, clinicians, and patients; makes appropriate referrals; serves as a cultural and linguistic resource to both patients and providers to contribute to successful outcomes.

3. Understands language as an expression of culture, recognizes the underlying assumptions of each party about medicine, the encounter, the illness etc.; uses this understanding to empower patient and provider to better understand each other.

4. Intervenes as intercultural mediator when culture-bound messages compromise communication.

5. Performs duties in a spirit of teamwork and cooperation.

6. Adheres to Health Center policies on customer service.

7. Understands the Health Center’s approach of service delivery.

8. Completes 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.

9. Supports the office operations by answering the phone, taking requests, calling patients to confirm appointments, documenting encounters on the interpreter tracking system, entering data, verifying and scheduling future appointments when necessary, general troubleshooting, filing, and photocopying.

10. Utilizes on-line computer systems such as Outlook, the Health Center’s Electronic Health Record ECW, and other Health Center software.

11. Works with special projects and other duties as assigned.

12. Participates in staff meetings and completes necessary departmental reports.

13. Exhibits sound judgment and confidence.

14. Demonstrates attention to detail and accuracy.

15. Keeps time to all scheduled appointments.

16. Other duties as assigned.

Competencies

1. Familiar with medical home model, chronic care management, outpatient substance abuse/mental health.

2. Works well under pressure to manage stressful situations. Self-starter with ability to take initiative.

3. Demonstrates flexibility to meet scheduling needs and often handles unpredictable changes; is a skilled multitasker.

4. Team-oriented with excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Avoids generalizations and stereotyping.

5. Uses culturally appropriate behavior and is able to choose appropriate time to clarify or interject by respecting the goals of the encounter.

6. Understands a variety of regional accents and linguistic styles and registers.

7. Selects appropriate mode of interpretation for each situation.

8. Interprets with highest degree of accuracy and completeness in consecutive, simultaneous, and sight translation modes.

9. Self-corrects, understands own linguistic limitations, seeks clarification, and accepts correction.

10. Notices cues from encounter participants regarding level of understanding and/or need for clarification.

11. Possesses strong writing skills and understanding of translation process.

Work Environment
Fast-paced clinical and office environment, with frequently changing priorities. Emotionally challenging, as some interactions may be highly stressful requiring maturity, composure and sound judgment.

Physical Demands

Physically demanding with a lot of walking and standing time.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
Mon-Fri : (Mon, Thurs and Fri 9-5pm, Tues 8:30-4:30, Wed 11-7p,)

Required Education and Experience

1. High School Diploma and/or G.E.D. equivalent required.

2. Minimum two years’ experience as a medical interpreter required.

3. Medical Interpreting Certificate required.

4. Bilingual in English and Spanish.

Other Duties
Note this job description is not designed to cover a comprehensive listing of duties that are required of the employee for this job. Duties and responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice.

Compensation

The expected range is $22 to $25 per hour

EEO Statement

The Dimock Center values diversity and its committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of age, color, disability, ethnicity, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other status protected by law.

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Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)