Primary Location:

University Hospital - UMC

Address:

530 South Jackson Street Louisville, KY 40202

Shift:

Job Description Summary:

This position will provide spoken language interpreter services for patients, families, staff, visitors, physicians, and others regarding consents, medical treatments, discharges, instructions, and other concerns as needed. The interpreter in this position will accurately and completely convey information between patient and provider; manage the flow of communication; facilitate rapport between the provider and patient; recognize and address clarifications both cultural and in language to ensure accurate and complete understanding. These duties enable patients and families to effectively communicate, which allows UofL Health to achieve optimal patient outcomes. Other duties include assisting the manager in problem-solving with patient and family communication needs and proactively identifying opportunities for improving services to our limited English proficient (LEP)/Deaf/ HOH patient and family population

Job Description:

• Perform spoken language interpretation for limited English proficient (LEP) patients, families, staff and visitors. Interpreted information includes, but is not limited to, giving directions and instructions for medical care, explaining hospital policies and procedures, informing and obtaining medical consents, and providing other verbal interpretation as needed to ensure a positive patient and family experience. Communicate effectively with persons from various educational and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Must follow and adhere to national interpreter standards of practice and ethical codes of conduct.
• Must be able to clearly communicate instructions, questions, and answers in both English and target language based on the patient, family member, or employee’s preferred language.
• Serve as cultural broker to educate and provide clarification to hospital staff, physicians, clinicians and patients/families on differences between LEP community culture and culture of medicine.
• May be asked to assist in translation and/or editing both medical and non-medical hospital documentation from English to target language (may on occasion need to translate from target language to English), as directed by manager.

Educate hospital staff, physicians and clinicians on the importance of using interpretation and

• translation services when needed.  Services may include the proper use of over-the-phone, video remote and in-person interpreters, as well as accessing translated forms and/or other auxiliary aids.
• Make recommendations as appropriate for additional language assistance and corresponding programs, marketing, and services.
• Ensure that patients and families understand the information presented, seeking assistance and clarification when needed. Act as an advocate for patients and ensure that they are comfortable with what is happening in their medical treatment and that anxiety is reduced.
• Maintain positive working relationships with staff and physicians, including manager and fellow interpreters.
• Appropriately and regularly document time spent interpreting during encounters as directed by manager.
• Round on LEP/Deaf/HOH inpatients as needed, to confirm patient language needs and identify safety issues.
• Assist admissions staff, medical staff, and ancillary services in gathering background information on patients, as needed.
• Investigate and problem-solve communication issues for limited English-speaking persons.
• Maintain a professional presence with patients and families.  Does not speak for or about patients and families but facilitates the conversation between them and their care team.
• Remain current on the latest developments, advancements, and trends in the field of language assistance/interpretation/translation and incorporates appropriate ideas into a clinical setting. 
• Maintain knowledge of applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, etc. that impact language assistance and ensure compliance in all areas.
• May be asked to conduct, prepare, assist or participate in internal medical interpretation and translation classes and/or other educational programs to enhance cultural competency and language services compliance of the general hospital population.
• Must acquire continuing education credits of at least 4 hours per year or the amount required for national certification renewal, if applicable.
• Travel, as needed, to other locations within UofL Health.
• Provide mentorship and training to interpreters in the form of mutual shadowing. May assist in annual peer observations.
• Participate in peer interview process with interested candidates for open positions.
• Research CEU opportunities to share with the team.
• Provide guidance, mentorship and promote interpreters towards earning national certification.
• Assist manager in maintaining updated training materials for staff and may assist in service-learning workshops with staff.
• Effectively represent the department at and participate in meetings, committees, and projects as assigned by manager.
• Assist in the management of day-to-day operations of staff.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education:

• High school diploma (required).
• Successful completion of hospital approved interpretation training program, such as Bridging the Gap, 40 hours minimum (required)
• Documentation of successful completion of a hospital approved language proficiency assessment. (required)
• Associates or Bachelor’s degree in a social science field or language.  (preferred)

Experience:

• Prior experience in medical interpretation (required)
• Minimum two years’ experience in medical interpretation (preferred)

Certification:

Successful completion of a nationally recognized certification process, either CMI (National Board of Medical Interpreters) or CHI (Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters) national certification (preferred) (if not completed upon hiring, must be completed within one year of date of hire)

Additional Job Description: