U

University of Rochester

Private research university in Rochester, NY

Interpreter - Spanish

Full-Time
$21.78 - $30.53
Mid
Bachelor's, Associate's
Rochester, NY, USA
In Person
Content & WritingTranslation & Interpretation

About the job

Requirements
  • A high school diploma and two years of post-high-school education, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Must be fluent in English and Spanish, with strong verbal and written skills in both languages.
  • Must have knowledge of human anatomy, physiology, pathology, clinical tests, and procedures in the working languages.
  • Must complete a 40-hour medical interpreting training course.
  • Must maintain interpreter performance-based skills assessed at hire or through direct observation.
  • Must uphold patient confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA and adhere to interpreter ethics, standards of practice, Joint Commission standards, department policies, safety protocols, and infection control standards.
Responsibilities
  • Manage communication flow autonomously and efficiently between source and target languages during medical and non-medical healthcare encounters across clinical specialties in inpatient and ambulatory settings.
  • Carry a hospital-assigned pager and respond to pages within the times established in New York State Code of Rules and Regulations 405.7; provide services across varied shifts, with expected weekend on-call coverage.
  • Interpret all prescheduled and paged assignments in a timely and professional manner in accordance with hospital policy.
  • Collaborate with clinical providers and non-clinical staff to understand encounter goals and patient-interaction context.
  • Choose communication ground rules and methods, explain the interpreter's role to all parties, and brief healthcare professionals on relevant knowledge about the patient or encounter.
  • Assess and recommend communication methods for patients with communication barriers, altered mental status, or other special communication needs, and verify the patient's preferred language.
  • Select the appropriate interpreting mode, including consecutive, simultaneous, or sight translation.
  • Recommend an appropriate service-delivery modality—in person, video, or telephone—based on patient needs and unforeseen communication barriers.
  • Debrief with healthcare professionals as needed to clarify conversational content and provide linguistic and cultural insights.
  • Monitor for linguistic misunderstandings and recommend adjustments to formality or style as needed.
  • Prioritize, triage, and respond to multiple service requests according to critical urgency and patient acuity.
  • Assess cross-cultural impacts on verbal and nonverbal communication during complex interpersonal encounters.
  • Monitor cultural misunderstandings, devise appropriate interventions, and confirm possible misunderstandings with all parties to avoid assumptions, disrespect, or harm.
  • Facilitate understanding of cultural differences and promote direct communication to build trust and patient satisfaction.
  • Inform patients of available supports, such as social workers, case managers, care coordinators, financial coordinators, and chaplains.
  • Promote inclusive and equitable communication among all parties.
  • Contribute as a language and culture specialist on clinical and non-clinical healthcare teams, including providing interdisciplinary communication education during encounters and patient trainings as needed.
  • Facilitate meaningful access to health programs for patients with limited English proficiency in compliance with applicable federal and state requirements and standards.
  • Identify interpreting-service needs based on patient-provider dynamics, best practices, and effective communication, and inform program leadership of service-enhancement recommendations.
  • Disclose and justify potential limitations, conflicts, or need for recusal appropriately and promptly.
  • Intervene impartially and transparently within professional boundaries to protect the autonomy, dignity, and safety of all parties.
  • Enhance skills through interpreter webinars, conferences, annual trainings, and self-directed learning.
  • Complete required training and staff activities, including annual policy and procedure training, annual health updates, staff meetings, and other required training.
  • Complete documentation and administrative duties, including recording each patient interaction in eRecord, entering database information based on schedules and requests, updating certification annually if applicable, maintaining professional development transcripts, and completing other assigned paperwork.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.
Desired Qualifications
  • An associate's degree or bachelor's degree is preferred.
  • One year of interpreting experience in a healthcare setting is preferred.
  • Healthcare interpreting certification through CCHI or IMIA is strongly preferred at hire or within 18 months of hire.
  • Translation certification is preferred.

About the company

U

University of Rochester

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The University of Rochester is a research university with programs spanning the humanities, health care, business, education, music, engineering, and the sciences.

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