Spanish Interpreter

University of Rochester•City of Rochester, NY

2d•$22 - $31•Onsite

About The Position

The Spanish Interpreter provides interpreting services for all clinical and professional University of Rochester Medical Center staff, patients, and family members/significant others who are with the patient. All Interpreters on staff generally provide these services at the Medical Center, Outpatient Clinics, and Hospital Affiliates. The role involves managing the flow of communication autonomously and efficiently between source and target language during medical and non-medical healthcare encounters across URMC’s diverse and numerous clinical specialties in inpatient and ambulatory settings. Interpreters carry a pager assigned by the hospital and respond to all pages, providing services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week over varied shifts. On-call interpreters are minimally expected to work two weekend coverage shifts of four hours apiece, or one shift of eight hours. Interpreters interpret all assignments, whether prescheduled or received via pager, in a timely and professional manner in accordance with hospital policy. They weigh the goals of each encounter in collaboration with clinical healthcare providers and non-clinical hospital staff to determine the situational context of the patient interaction, choose appropriate communication ground rules and methods, inform all parties of the interpreter's role, and brief healthcare professionals on any knowledge possessed by the interpreter regarding the patient or encounter. The role also involves assessing and recommending the most effective communication method for patients with barriers to communication, altered mental status, or other special communication needs, and verifying the patient’s preferred language is correctly identified. The interpreter selects the appropriate mode for optimal flow of communication (consecutive, simultaneous, sight-translation) and proposes the most suitable service delivery modality (in-person, video, telephone) based on the needs of the patient, and in the event of unforeseen communication barriers. Debriefing with healthcare professionals after the encounter, as necessary, is also part of the role to optimize the understanding of the conversational content and provide linguistic and cultural insights. The interpreter monitors for linguistic misunderstandings and recommends adjustments to the level of formality and style as needed. They prioritize, triage, and respond in a timely and appropriate manner to multiple service requests in order of critical urgency and patient acuity. The role supports cultural responsiveness by assessing for cross-cultural impact on communication (verbal and nonverbal) between patients and healthcare providers during highly complex interpersonal encounters, monitors for cultural misunderstandings, and devises appropriate interventions as needed to empower the patient to participate in decisions related to their care. The interpreter intervenes by confirming with all parties if a possible cultural misunderstanding has occurred by culturally mediating in order to avoid assumptions, disrespect, or immediate harm. They facilitate the understanding of cultural differences and promote direct communication to build trust and enhance patient satisfaction, and inform patients of available supports as appropriate (Social Worker, Case Manager, Care Coordinator, Financial Coordinator, Chaplain, etc.). The interpreter promotes inclusive and equitable communication during interactions with all parties. As an integral member of clinical and non-clinical healthcare teams, the interpreter provides interdisciplinary education to all team members for effective communication, as needed, during encounters, patient trainings, and teachings. They facilitate meaningful access to URMC health programs for patients with limited English proficiency to remain compliant with various regulations and standards. The interpreter identifies interpreting service needs based on patient/provider dynamics, best practices, and effective communication, and informs program leadership of recommendations for service enhancements. The role requires applying established national healthcare interpreter code of ethics and standards of practice, adhering to Joint Commission Standards, department policies, safety protocols, and infection control standards, and completing service provision documentation in the electronic medical record. Disclosing and justifying any potential limitations, conflicts, or need for recusal appropriately and timely, supporting and upholding patient confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA, and intervening impartially and transparently, when necessary, acting within appropriate professional boundaries to protect the autonomy, dignity, and safety of all parties are also key responsibilities. Maintaining interpreter performance-based skills assessed either at the time of hire or through direct observation, and enhancing skills by participating in activities for professional growth and development through interpreter webinars, conferences, annual trainings, and self-directed learning are expected. The interpreter completes scheduled training and other required staff activities, including yearly mandatory online policy and procedure training, yearly health updates, attending staff meetings, and other training/activities as necessary. Completing all documentation, paperwork, and administrative duties, including eRecord completion at the end of each patient interaction, database entries based on completed schedules and requests, yearly certification updates if applicable, professional development transcripts, and other paperwork and assignments as necessary, are also part of the role. Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Associate's degree required
Medical Interpreter Training Course, Minimum of 40 hour accredited in-person or online course required
Fluency in reading, writing and speaking both English and the target language required
Ability to independently travel to offsite locations required

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree strongly preferred
Experience in a health care setting preferred
One year interpreting in a healthcare setting strongly preferred
Knowledge of human anatomy, physiology, pathology, clinical tests and procedures in working languages strongly preferred
Strong customer service and communication skills strongly preferred
Certification in healthcare interpreting through CCHI or IMIA strongly preferred at time of hire or within 18 months of hire preferred
Translation certification preferred

Responsibilities

Manages flow of communication autonomously and efficiently between source and target language during medical and non-medical healthcare encounters across URMC’s diverse and numerous clinical specialties in inpatient and ambulatory settings.
Interpreter carries a pager assigned by the hospital responding to all pages established in NYS Code of Rules and Regulations 405.7 (20 minutes for outpatient/inpatient, 10 minutes for Emergency Department. Services are provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week over varied shifts. On-call interpreters are minimally expected to work two weekend coverage shifts of four hours apiece, or one shift of eight hours.
Interprets all assignments, whether prescheduled or received via pager, in a timely and professional manner in accordance with hospital policy
Weighs the goals of each encounter in collaboration with clinical healthcare providers and non-clinical hospital staff to determine the situational context of the patient interaction.
Chooses appropriate communication ground rules and methods, informs all parties of the role of the interpreter, and briefs healthcare professionals on any knowledge possessed by the interpreter regarding the patient or encounter.
Assesses and recommends most effective communication method for patients with barriers to communication, altered mental status, or other special communication needs. Verifies patient’s preferred language is correctly identified.
Selects appropriate mode for optimal flow of communication (consecutive, simultaneous, sight‐translation).
Proposes most suitable service delivery modality (in‐person, video, telephone) based on the needs of the patient, and in the event of unforeseen communication barriers.
Debriefs with healthcare professionals after the encounter, as necessary, to optimize the understanding of the conversational content and provide linguistic and cultural insights.
Monitors for linguistic misunderstandings where they exist and recommends adjustments to level of formality and style as needed.
Prioritizes, triages, and responds in a timely and appropriate manner to multiple service requests in order of critical urgency and patient acuity.
Supports cultural responsiveness by assessing for cross-cultural impact on communication (verbal and nonverbal) between patients and healthcare providers during highly complex interpersonal encounters
Monitors for cultural misunderstandings where they exist and devises appropriate intervention as needed to empower the patient to participate in decisions related to their care
Intervenes by confirming with all parties if a possible cultural misunderstanding has occurred by culturally mediating order to avoid assumptions, disrespect, or immediate harm
Facilitates the understanding of cultural differences and promotes direct communication to build trust and enhance patient satisfaction
Informs patients of available supports as appropriate (Social Worker, Case Manager, Care Coordinator, Financial Coordinator, Chaplain, etc.)
Promotes inclusive and equitable communication during interactions with all parties.
Provides interdisciplinary education to all team members for effective communication, as needed, during encounters, patient trainings and teachings
Facilitates meaningful access to URMC health programs for patients with limited English proficiency to remain compliant with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 13166: Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency, Medicaid Managed Care Requirements (42 C.F.R. 438.10) The US Department of Health and Human Services National Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Service (CLAS) Standards, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Section 1557, The NYS Code of Rules and Regulations 405.7, NYS Executive Order 26, and The Joint Commission
Identifies interpreting service needs based on patient/provider dynamics, best practices, and effective communication, and informs program leadership of recommendations for service enhancements
Applies established national healthcare interpreter code of ethics and standards of practice. Adheres to Joint Commission Standards, department policies, safety protocols and infection control standards, and completes service provision documentation in electronic medical record
Discloses and justifies any potential limitations, conflicts or need for recusal appropriately and timely
Supports and upholds patient confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA
Intervenes impartially and transparently, when necessary, acting within appropriate professional boundaries to protect autonomy, dignity, and safety of all parties
Maintains interpreter performance‐based skills assessed either at time of hire or through direct observation
Enhances skills by participating in activities for professional growth and development through interpreter webinars, conferences, annual trainings, and self‐directed learning
Completes scheduled training and other required staff activities
Yearly mandatory online policy and procedure training
Yearly health updates
Attends staff meetings
Other training/activities as necessary
Completes all documentation, paperwork and administrative duties
eRecord completed at the end of each patient interaction
Database entries based on completed schedules and requests
Yearly certification update if applicable
Professional development transcripts
Other paperwork and assignments as necessary
Other duties as assigned