Medical Interpreter - Evenings Full-time in Lawrence, Massachusetts at Merrimack Health

Position Summary: Medical Interpreter, Full-time 40 hours per week. Evenings 2:30 pm to 11 pm and every other weekend. Lawrence campus

As the Medical Interpreter, you will relay medical information between speakers (includes patients, staff and visitors) of two different languages in compliance with all office and hospital policies and procedures. Understands and abides by all published Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics for Medical Interpreters. Understands a variety of regional accents and linguistic styles and registers.

• Explains hospital resources, office protocols, and limitations to staff and patients; serves as a cultural and linguistic resource to both patients and providers in an effort to contribute to successful outcomes.
• Arranges interpretation for other languages, including American Sign Language, through freelance interpreters or independent agencies.
• Provides written translations, as required, during patient encounters, such as filling out forms, medical instructions, and medication schedules.
• Supports the office operations by answering the phone, taking requests, calling patients to confirm or set up appointments, documenting encounters on the interpreter tracking system, and providing monthly encounter' statistics. Provides general troubleshooting, filing and photocopying.
• Understands language as an expression of culture and recognizes the underlying assumptions of each party about medicine, the encounter, the illness; uses this understanding to empower the patient and provider to better understand each other.
• Encourages and fosters direct communication between provider and patient; maintains professional distance and integrity.

Minimum Requirements:

• High School Diploma or equivalent and proof of medical interpreter training (minimum 40 hours)
• National Board Certification for Medical Interpreters
• 1 year of experience in a health care setting as a medical interpreter, with strong medical vocabulary (including vocabulary of medical specialties).
• Fluent in English and one or more foreign languages, both oral and written.
• Ability to accurately work in consecutive mode and sight translate as needed into and from working language(s).
• Customer service skills with a positive approach
• Ability to work with a diversity of cultural and/or socio-economic backgrounds
• Knowledge of cultural background of patients to be served