Portuguese Medical Interpreter

Based in the heart of downtown Lowell, Massachusetts Lowell Community Health Center is currently seeking a Full-Time, benefited Medical Interpreter (NOT PER DIEM).

With over 400 employees, the Health Center has expanded and relocated to a new state-of-the-art facility as of December 2012. The Health Center is a diverse, community-based health care organization. Lowell Community Health Center programs have been recognized as national models. The Health Center was also named one of the top five health centers in the nation for excellence in cultural competency. The Health Center's employees speak 28 different languages and over 80 staff are trained in medical interpreting.

• Patients trust Lowell Community Health Center. Every year, we touch the lives of nearly 50,000 people – or almost half the population of the City of Lowell.
  
• More than 90% of Lowell CHC patients are low income, and 46% are best served in a language other than English.
  
• Since opening our new comprehensive facility in a renovated mill on Jackson Street in 2012, more than 9,000 additional patients have turned to Lowell CHC for a full range of primary care, including OB-GYN and behavioral health services for adults and children, with over 176,000 visits in 2014.
• We also have a Pharmacy serving health center patients and others in the community

The medical interpreter serves as an interpreter for patients and staff and supports the operations of the department.  The interpreter uses, consecutive, simultaneous, and sight translation modes.  Relays medical information between speakers of two different languages in compliance with all office and Lowell Community Health Center (Health Center) policies and procedures, particularly relating to patient confidentiality and informed consent, passing performance of competencies listed in the International Medical Interpreter Association (IMIA) Standards of Practice, and the Code of Ethics.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Helps facilitate successful delivery of services to linguistically diverse patients.
• Explains Health Center resources, office protocols, and limitations to providers, clinicians, and patients; makes appropriate referrals; serves as a cultural and linguistic resource to both patients and providers to contribute to successful outcomes. 
• Performs duties in a spirit of teamwork and cooperation.
• Adheres to Health Center policies on customer service.
• Understands the Health Center’s approach of service delivery.
• Completes written translations as required in patient encounters such as filling out forms and medical instructions, and medication schedules; administrative translations such as letters to patients, documents, and patient materials.
• Supports the office operations by answering the phone, taking requests, calling patients to confirm appointments, documenting encounters on the interpreter tracking system,  entering data, verifying and scheduling future appointments when necessary, general troubleshooting, filing, and photocopying. 
• Utilizes on-line computer systems such as Outlook, the Health Center’s Electronic Health Record, and other Health Center software. 
• Works with special projects and other duties as assigned.
• Participates in staff meetings and completes necessary departmental reports

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Fluency in English and Portuguese, both oral and written, with a minimum of Advanced Mid proficiency level  as evidenced through language assessment test results from a recognized body such as http://www.actfl.org/publications/guidelines-and-manuals/actfl-proficiency-guidelines-2012
•  Ability to work accurately in consecutive mode and sight translate into and from working/ target language(s).
• Ability to use both languages fluently and accurately on all levels pertinent to professional needs.
• A minimum of 3-5 years of experience in a healthcare setting as a medical interpreter with strong medical vocabulary (including vocabulary of medical specialties)
• Bachelor’s degree in any area related to science or human services preferred
• Proof of satisfactory completion of medical interpreter training - minimum of 40 hours
• High level of customer service and a positive approach
• Familiarity and ability to work with diversity of cultural/socio-economic backgrounds
• General knowledge of cultural backgrounds of patients to be served
• Good interpersonal, organizational, and time-management skills
• Knowledge of computer systems

 SKILLS/ ABILITIES/ COMPETENCIES REQUIRED:

 Strong linguistic skills:

• understands a variety of regional accents and linguistic styles and registers
• selects appropriate mode of interpretation for each situation
• interprets with highest degree of accuracy and completeness in consecutive, simultaneous, and sight translation modes
• self-corrects, understands own linguistic limitations, seeks clarification, and accepts correction
• notices cues from encounter participants regarding level of understanding and/or need for clarification
• possesses strong writing skills and understanding of translation process

 Strong cultural awareness competencies:

• understands language as an expression of culture, recognizes the underlying assumptions of each party about medicine, the encounter, the illness etc.; uses this understanding to empower patient and provider to better understand each other.
• intervenes as intercultural mediator when culture-bound messages compromise communication
• avoids generalizations and stereotyping
• uses culturally appropriate behavior and is able to choose appropriate time to clarify or interject by respecting the goals of the encounter
• possesses awareness of own personal values, beliefs and cultural characteristics, which may be a source of conflict or discomfort in certain situations, with the ability to acknowledge these and/or to withdraw from encounters when these may interfere with successful interpretation

 Strong interpreting skills:

• explains role of the interpreter to patient and provider (pre session)
• recognizes the complexity of the clinical encounter and added factor of linguistic barrier
• sets tone of the patient/provider encounter to manage spatial configuration and flow of communication to preserve accuracy and completeness, and to assess and address potential areas of discomfort for patient (age, gender of interpreter, no previous experience with interpreters)
• encourages and fosters direct communication between provider and patient
• maintains professional distance and integrity
• diffuses conflict between parties by remaining calm and impartial
• clarifies instructions, follow up steps in a diplomatic, effective manner

 Ethical competency:

• understands and abides by Health Center policies on patient confidentiality, informed consent, non-discrimination; abides by interpreters code of ethics and standards of practice 

Interpersonal and customer service skills:

• projects positive attitude about the department and the Health Center, and offers services to ensure positive experience
• works as a team with colleagues and providers
• addresses concerns raised during or after an encounter by encouraging provider to make appropriate referral and/or assisting with making of appointment with right resource and booking interpreter as needed

Organizational skills:

• works well under pressure to manage stressful situations
• demonstrates flexibility to meet scheduling needs and  often handles unpredictable changes
• exhibits sound judgment and confidence
• handles multiple tasks
• demonstrates attention to detail and accuracy
• Keeps time to all scheduled appointments- some evenings and weekends may be required to meet patient needs