Medical Interpreter - Portuguese

Tufts Medicine•Boston, MA

2d•$23 - $29•Onsite

About The Position

Under general supervision, the Medical Interpreter provides accurate interpretation for patients and families with Limited English Proficiency (LEP), interpreting spoken language and culture between English and Portuguese to support accurate communication in a medical environment. The position may also translate written documents between English and the target language and act as a culture broker when cultural differences contribute to misunderstandings between providers and patients. Services are performed in designated areas in accordance with department and hospital policies, procedures, philosophy, and objectives. The interpreter works cooperatively with the department and other services to support quality health care. This is a full-time, in-person position scheduled for 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday. On-call requests may be required for emergencies at night and on weekends. The role requires a high school diploma or equivalent, qualifying medical interpreter certification, at least one year of relevant interpreting experience, and bilingual proficiency. The pay range is $23.04–$28.80, based on full-time equivalent.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Medical Interpreter Certification from an accredited college or university, or certification from a Medical Interpreter training course and successful completion of a third-party medical interpreter competency exam.
At least one year of relevant interpreting experience.
Bilingual proficiency.
Ability to read, write, and communicate in both languages.
Ability to provide effective and clear interpretation and communication.
Advanced knowledge of interpreting techniques, medical terminology, basic anatomy and physiology, diagnostic procedures, and treatments in both English and the target language.
Courtesy and tact when communicating with patients and families about sensitive or confidential patient-related information.
Excellent interpersonal skills.
Ability to function well in very busy situations.
Responsibility and reliability.
Good organizational skills.

Nice To Haves

National Certification for Medical Interpreters.
Three years of relevant experience.

Responsibilities

Interpret spoken language from English into Portuguese and from Portuguese into English for patients, physicians, and staff.
Interpret both culture and language to support clear communication.
Participate in family meetings with social workers to assist with forms, financial aid, patient transfers, and related matters.
Contact non-English-speaking patients to obtain consent signatures, provide appointment notifications, and explain procedures, diagnoses, and medical history.
When needed, accompany non-English-speaking patients to the operating room or other departments and participate in patient/client care conferences.
Translate correspondence, brochures, documents, and special diagnostic procedures between English and the target language.
Respond to on-call requests for emergency availability at night and on weekends, when required.
Maintain collaborative team relationships with peers and colleagues and contribute to a positive work environment.
Follow applicable policies and procedures related to patient/client care and personnel qualifications.
Understand what corporate compliance concerns to report to the CEO or Chief Compliance Officer.
Comply with applicable regulatory guidelines and Home Health Foundation policies and procedures.
Maintain confidentiality in accordance with agency principles and federal HIPAA/HITECH guidelines.
Participate in mandatory in-services.