Interpreter - PRN

St. Josephs Medical Center•Houston, TX

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Interpreter serves as a medical interpreter for patients and staff under the direction of the Manager of Interpreter Services. The role provides consecutive, simultaneous, or sight translation for patients and family members who are limited English proficient (LEP), Deaf, or hard of hearing. The interpreter relays medical information between speakers of different languages in accordance with hospital policies and procedures, especially those concerning patient confidentiality and informed consent, and complies with the IMIA Standards of Practice and applicable Codes of Ethics. The position helps reduce language barriers and supports communication between patients, families, and care providers. It also supports department operations through appointment coordination, encounter documentation, data entry, equipment troubleshooting, and other administrative tasks. The listed schedule is PRN days, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., with rotating weekends.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Proof of at least 40 hours of medical interpreter training.
Strong linguistic skills, including understanding regional accents and linguistic styles and selecting an appropriate interpretation mode.
Ability to interpret accurately and completely in consecutive and sight translation modes.
Ability to self-correct, recognize linguistic limitations, seek clarification, accept corrections, and identify when encounter participants need clarification.
Strong writing skills, preferably in English and the target language(s).
Cultural awareness and ability to use culturally appropriate behavior, recognize cultural assumptions, and mediate when culture-bound messages compromise communication.
Ability to recognize personal values, beliefs, or cultural characteristics that may interfere with interpretation and acknowledge them or withdraw from an encounter when appropriate.
Working knowledge of computer systems.
Ability to work PRN day shifts from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with rotating weekends.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree or equivalent preferred.
One year of experience in a healthcare setting as a medical interpreter with strong medical vocabulary preferred.
National Board Certification for spoken interpreters.

Responsibilities

Interpret medical information between speakers of two different languages using face-to-face, telephone, and/or video modalities.
Reduce linguistic barriers for patients and family members who are LEP, Deaf, or hard of hearing.
Facilitate the delivery of services to linguistically diverse patients and families.
Explain hospital resources, office protocols, and limitations to clinicians and patients; make appropriate referrals.
Serve as a cultural and linguistic resource to patients and providers.
Follow hospital policies, including those concerning patient confidentiality, informed consent, customer relations, and hospitality, and comply with interpreter standards and codes of ethics.
Support office operations by answering phones, taking requests, calling patients to confirm appointments, documenting encounters in the interpreter tracking system and EMR, entering data, and verifying or scheduling future appointments when necessary.
Troubleshoot iPad/IPOP devices and perform filing and photocopying.
Use Outlook and other hospital software and online computer systems.
Work on special projects as assigned.
Work cooperatively and as part of a team.