Spanish Medical Interpreter

Full-Time On-site position in Springfield, MA 01103, USA. Non-Exempt status, 40 hours per week.

Requirements

• Associates Degree or High School Diploma or equivalent background and experience.
• Complete fluency in English and Spanish.
• Experience in a broad medical field or completion of a medical Interpreter training program.
• High level of oral and written communication skills in both languages; ability to prepare effective reports.
• Ability to make effective presentations to large groups.
• Ability to positively interact with patients, staff, visitors, and the general public.
• Discretion in handling confidential information.
• Ability to work independently, problem solve, and make sensible decisions for patient well-being.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Proficiency in using computers to track patient flow, word process, and schedule patients.
• Friendly, reliable, and professional behavior and appearance.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, individuals seeking assistance, and the public.

Responsibilities

• Understand a variety of regional accents and linguistic styles in Spanish.
• Select appropriate mode of interpretation for each situation.
• Interpret with the highest degree of accuracy and completeness in verbal interpretation, sight interpretation, and written translation.
• Self-correct, understand own linguistic limitations, seek clarification, and accept corrections.
• Pick up cues from encounter participants regarding level of understanding or need for clarification.
• Demonstrate strong writing skills and understanding of the translation process.
• Exhibit cultural awareness by understanding language as an expression of culture and recognizing underlying assumptions of each party about medicine, the encounter, and illness.
• Use cultural understanding to empower patient and provider to better understand each other.
• Intervene as an intercultural mediator when communication is compromised by culture-bound messages.
• Avoid generalizations and stereotyping.
• Use culturally appropriate behavior and choose appropriate times to clarify or interject, respecting the goals of the encounter.
• Be aware of personal values, beliefs, and cultural characteristics that may cause conflict or discomfort; acknowledge these or withdraw from encounters when necessary.
• Explain the role of the interpreter to patients, providers, and other medical staff.
• Recognize the complexity of clinical encounters and the added factor of linguistic barriers.
• Set the tone of patient-provider encounters to manage spatial configuration and flow of communication, preserving accuracy and addressing potential discomfort.
• Encourage and foster direct communication between provider and patient.
• Maintain professional distance and integrity.
• Diffuse conflict between parties by remaining calm and impartial.
• Clarify instructions and follow-up steps diplomatically and effectively.
• Understand and abide by health center policies on patient confidentiality, informed consent, non-discrimination, and interpreter’s code of ethics and standards of practice.
• Address concerns raised during or after an encounter by encouraging appropriate referrals to patient navigators or informing managers.