Communications Specialist I (Portuguese)

Purpose of Position

Facilitates effective communications services and communication in target language and/or dialect between clinicians and patients and facilities within Falmouth Hospital for whom English is not the primary language.

Responsibilities

• Consistently provides service excellence to all patients, family members, visitors, volunteers and co-workers.
• Serves as a medical interpreter for patients and staff and supports the operations of the department, in the consecutive, simultaneous, and sight translation modes.
• Relays medical information between speakers of two different languages in compliance with all office and hospital policies and procedures, particularly relating to patient confidentiality and informed consent, passing performance of competencies listed in the IMIA and NCIHC Standards of Practice, and the Code of Ethics.
• Assists department with on-the-job training and mentoring of interpreter internships.
• Responds and schedules requests for interpreters and effective communications services.
• Helps facilitate successful delivery of services to linguistically diverse consumers.
• Provides interpreting services between patients and clinicians during in-person and tele-interpreting, both written and orally.
• Provides written/site translations such as In-Patient discharge instructions, patient forms, medication instructions, medication schedules, and administrative translations (i.e., letters to patients, documents, and patient materials).
• Selects appropriate mode of interpretation for each situation.
• Interprets with highest degree of accuracy and completeness in consecutive, simultaneous and sight translation modes.
• Self-corrects, understands own linguistic limitations, seeks clarification and accepts correction.
• Picks up cues from encounter participants regarding level of understanding and/or need for clarification.
• 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.
• Intervenes as intercultural mediator when communication is compromised by culture-bound messages.
• Projects positive attitude about the department and the hospital and offers services to ensure positive experience and avoids generalizations and stereotyping.
• Addresses concerns raised during or after an encounter by encouraging provider to make appropriate referral and/or assisting with making of appointment with right resource and booking interpreter as needed.
• Organizes information regarding patient, visitors, families and employee interpreter encounters.
• Maintains strict adherence to patients’ rights, Hospital policies, and community services, including confidentiality.
• Supports office operations and community interpreter services dispatching system by answering the phone, taking requests, calling patients to confirm appointments, documenting encounters on the interpreter tracking system, data entry, verifying and scheduling future appointments as necessary, general troubleshooting, filing and photocopying.
• Utilizes on-line computer systems such as Outlook, and other hospital software.
• Participates in diversity program implementation and design as directed by management.
• Maintains a strict adherence to the Department’s and International Medical Interpreter Association Standards of Practice.
• Assists with community outreach activities.
• Performs other work-related duties as assigned or requested.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED plus a minimum of one year basic technical training.
• Medical Interpreter course required. Must provide proof of a completed minimum 60 hours Medical Interpreter Course or National Certification per targeted language.
• Must pass department Medical Interpreters exam and demonstrate both oral and written proficiency in target language.
• Fluency in English and the required language (another language a plus), both oral and written required.
• Valid US Driver’s License. May be required to drive to various Falmouth Hospital locations.
• (Preferred) Two years of college.
• (Preferred) One or more years’ experience as a certified medical interpreter in a healthcare setting.
• (Preferred) Completion of a Medical Interpreting program offered at a college level.
• (Preferred) National Certification (e.g., NBCMI, CCHI, NCIHC).
• Strong Knowledge of medical vocabulary.
• Strong writing skills and understanding of translation process.
• (Preferred) Translator course.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Outstanding customer service, organizational and time management skills.
• Knowledge and ability to serve patients with diverse, cultural and/or socio-economic background.

Schedule Details

• 60PP (30hrs per week), Monday-Friday, 11a-5p, Occasional Weekends and Holidays

Organization

Falmouth Hospital Association

Primary Location

Massachusetts-Falmouth

Department

FHA-Interpreter Services