Medical Translator

Overview

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At Emory Healthcare we fuel your professional journey with better benefits, valuable resources, ongoing mentorship and leadership programs for all types of jobs, and a supportive environment that enables you to reach new heights in your career and be what you want to be.  We provide: 

• Comprehensive health benefits that start day 1 

• Student Loan Repayment Assistance & Reimbursement Programs 

• Family-focused benefits  

• Wellness incentives 

• Ongoing mentorship, development, and leadership programs  

• And more

Description

Job Summary

The Foreign Language Medical Translator translates, reviews, proofreads, and delivers hospital documents and materials from English into an assigned target language to support effective communication with patients, families, and other stakeholders. This role uses computer-assisted translation tools and established language resources to ensure linguistic accuracy, consistency, and quality across translated materials. The position also supports translation project coordination, interpretation services, quality improvement, and organizational initiatives related to language access and service excellence.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Translation and Language Services

• Translates, edits, and formats hospital documents into the target language using computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools and programs, such as SDL Trados
• Translates materials that may include medical record forms, patient and family education materials, marketing materials, and other organizational documents
• Consults appropriate language resources during the translation process to ensure linguistic accuracy and consistency throughout translated materials
• Reviews, proofreads, and edits translations using CAT tools and programs
• Updates and maintains the hospital's translation memory to promote consistent vocabulary, terminology, and style across translated materials

Translation Project Coordination and Documentation

• Assists in prioritizing translation projects and completing work according to established priorities and timelines
• Assists with tracking and coordinating translation projects using CAT tools and programs
• Maintains accurate records of translation projects, including project name, English form number and type, requestor, date requested, and project status
• Provides timely updates to translation requestors regarding project status and potential delays in delivery

Interpretation and Customer Service

• Provides customer service and support to individuals requesting translation services
• Provides consecutive and/or simultaneous medical interpretation services for limited English proficient (LEP) patients and/or families and hospital staff
• Communicates effectively with managers, clients, customers, patients, families, staff, and other stakeholders regarding translation and interpretation services

Quality Improvement and Professional Development

• Supports and participates in the continuous assessment and improvement of the translation services program
• Participates in hospital-wide quality improvement activities related to interpretation and translation services
• Participates in educational and professional development opportunities to support professional growth and service excellence

Collaboration and Organizational Integration

• Collaborates with hospital operating unit leaders and Emory University academic departments to support the integration of clinical quality management, regulatory compliance, patient safety, and risk management efforts across Emory Healthcare
• Presents information and responds to questions from managers, clients, customers, and the general public

Metrics, Data, and Quality Reporting

• Maintains knowledge of relevant organizational metrics, including QPS goals, drive/watch metrics, and other operational metrics used by applicable rating and ranking systems
• Reviews key metrics, identifies trends, discusses findings with hospital leaders, and supports improvement opportunities
• Provides input on clinical quality data strategy in collaboration with data analytics and information technology teams
• Reads, analyzes, and interprets human services periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, and governmental regulations
• Prepares reports, action plans, business correspondence, policies, and procedure manuals

Regulatory, Accreditation, and Compliance

• Supports organizational efforts related to regulatory standards and compliance, including hospital-wide surveys conducted by The Joint Commission, DCH, and other regulatory bodies, as well as disease-specific certifications
• Practices proper safety techniques in accordance with hospital and departmental policies and procedures
• Immediately reports mechanical or electrical equipment malfunctions, unsafe conditions, or employee, patient, or visitor injuries and accidents to the Manager

Additional Duties

• Performs other duties as assigned by supervision

Minimum Required Qualifications

Education

• Associate degree from an accredited institution

Experience

• 2+ years of experience translating, proofreading, and editing medical materials from English into the target language or vice versa

Certification

• Must have an American Translators Association (ATA) certification or equivalent

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (Required)

• Demonstrated proficiency in English and the target language with advanced knowledge of medical terminology and vocabulary in both the source and target languages
• Demonstrated understanding of and adherence to the American Translators Association (ATA) Code of Ethics and Professional Practice
• Knowledge of professional translation, proofreading, editing, and quality assurance practices for medical and healthcare materials
• Ability to use computer-assisted translation tools and programs, including tools such as SDL Trados
• Knowledge of translation glossaries and translation memory systems and their application in maintaining terminology and style consistency
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and word-processing applications
• Knowledge of cultural humility and healthcare system navigation
• Ability to provide consecutive and/or simultaneous medical interpretation services to limited English proficient patients and families and hospital staff
• Ability to organize, prioritize, coordinate, and accurately document multiple translation projects
• Ability to analyze information, identify trends, and communicate findings and recommendations to appropriate stakeholders
• Ability to read and interpret professional journals, technical procedures, and governmental regulations and prepare reports, action plans, business correspondence, policies, and procedures
• Strong communication, organizational, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to demonstrate professionalism and effective communication while supporting teamwork, compassion, ownership, accountability, and service excellence

Preferred Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution

Physical Requirements Medium Max 25 lbs. Up to 25 lbs., 0-33% of the workday (occasionally); lifting up to 25 lbs. maximum; carrying objects up to 25 lbs.; occasional to frequent standing and walking; occasional sitting; close visual work (computers, typing, reading, and writing). Physical demands may vary depending on the assigned work area and work tasks. Environmental Factors Factors affecting environmental conditions may vary depending on the assigned work area and tasks. Environmental exposures include, but are not limited to, blood-borne pathogen exposure, biohazardous waste, chemicals, gases, fumes, vapors, communicable diseases, electrical shock, floor surfaces, hot and cold temperatures, indoor and outdoor conditions, latex, lighting, patient care/handling injuries, radiation, shift work, and travel as required. Use of personal protective equipment, including respirators, may be required. Environmental conditions may vary depending on the assigned work area and work tasks.

Additional Details

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by state or federal law.

ACCOMMODATIONS: EHC will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to request a reasonable accommodation, please contact the Office of Leave and Accommodations. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: (Medium-Heavy) 36-75 lbs., 0-33% of the work day (occasionally); 20-35 lbs., 34-66% of the workday; (frequently); 10-20 lbs., 67-100% of the workday (constantly); Lifting 75 lbs. max; Carrying of objects up to 35 lbs.; Occasional to frequent standing & walking; Occasional sitting; Close eye work (computers, typing, reading, writing); Physical demands may vary depending on assigned work area and work tasks.  ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: Factors affecting environmental conditions may vary depending on the assigned work area and tasks. Environmental exposures include, but are not limited to: Blood-borne pathogen exposure; Bio-hazardous waste Chemicals/gases/fumes/vapors; Communicable diseases; Electrical shock; Floor Surfaces; Hot/Cold Temperatures; Indoor/Outdoor conditions; Latex; Lighting; Patient care/handling injuries; Radiation; Shift work; Travel may be required; Use of personal protective equipment, including respirators; environmental conditions may vary depending on assigned work area and work tasks.