ASL Medical Interpreter- Full Time- DC

Provides medical interpretation and coordination for Deaf and hard-of-hearing patients and families. Identifies and triages these needs and issues to ensure language access and culturally sensitive and appropriate care for these patients and families in both inpatient and outpatient settings. The services will be provided in person. This person will assist the manager with program knowledge and initiatives.

Minimum Education
Bachelor's Degree (Required)
Master's Degree (Preferred)

Minimum Work Experience
5 years Minimum of five years experience interpreting in a clinical setting. (Required)

Required Skills/Knowledge
Fluent American Sign Language and spoken English language skills
Accurate interpreting skills
Knowledge of and adherence to the NAD-RID Code of Professional Conduct.
Highly proficient in medical terminology
Cultural knowledge about the deaf community

Required Licenses and Certifications
National Interpreter Certification through the Registry for Interpreters of the Deaf Upon Hire (Required)

Functional Accountabilities
Eliminates Language Barriers to Patient Care

• Facilitate communication among patients, families, and staff

• Interpret directly, and accurately, without omissions, additions, or interference with communication

• Manage assignments independently without close supervision

• Set limits appropriately; maintain professional boundaries as interpreter; maintain patient, family, and staff rights to confidentiality and privacy

• Maintain professional role and sensitivity during critical medical and psychological situations; respect all parties in the discussion and their roles

• Abide by the RID-NAD's Code of Professional Conduct & Ethics

• Demonstrates accurate, clear, and timely communications

• Provides cultural interface and assessment of Deaf and Hard of Hearing patients and families to alert and refer issues and concerns appropriately to management and clinical teams

Promotes Appropriate Utilization of Interpretation Services by Staff

• Educate staff in the process on how to request interpretation services appropriately

• Communicate with staff about staff needs and patient/family needs

• Work closely, interdepartmentally, providing recommendations by communicating information as requested and directed by medical provider/clinical staff

• Partner with program staff to share best practices and to ensure cultural and linguistic requirements are met

• Advocate for patients/families and staff to facilitate continuity of care

• Provide sound recommendations to departmental leadership to ensure adequate services to deaf and hard-of-hearing patients and families

Contributes to a Well-Organized Program

• Help to ensure interpretation assignments are coordinated accurately, effectively, and efficiently

• Maintain schedules and required logs/tracking system to track project progress and productivity

• Maintain departmental performance reports

• Manage time to maximize productivity

• Accurately document interpretation assignments in all systems and databases utilized and required by the program

• Facilitate the distribution, coordination, and assignment of day-to-day activities among fellow division staff and under the guidance of division leadership

• Independently execute various administrative and clerical tasks within the division in support of day-to-day operations

• Proactively engage with and leverage multiple hospital systems to enhance support for divisional or daily operational functions

• Assist with coordination and completion of projects (e.g., use periodic checks to assess and track the progress of a project's timeline and performance).

• Apply substantive knowledge to assist and represent the manager thoroughly in the scope, diversity, and complexity of project and organizational commitment

• The individual in this role may assume additional job duties beyond those outlined in this job description

Organizational Accountabilities
Organizational Accountabilities (Staff)
Organizational Commitment/Identification

• Anticipate and respond to customer needs; follow up until needs are met

Teamwork/Communication

• Demonstrate collaborative and respectful behavior

• Partner with all team members to achieve goals

• Receptive to others' ideas and opinions

Performance Improvement/Problem-solving

• Contribute to a positive work environment

• Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to change

• Identify opportunities to improve clinical and administrative processes

• Make appropriate decisions, using sound judgment

Cost Management/Financial Responsibility

• Use resources efficiently

• Search for less costly ways of doing things

Safety

• Speak up when team members appear to exhibit unsafe behavior or performance

• Continuously validate and verify information needed for decision-making or documentation

• Stop in the face of uncertainty and take time to resolve the situation

• Demonstrate accurate, clear, and timely verbal and written communication

• Actively promote safety for patients, families, visitors, and co-workers

• Attend carefully to important details - practicing Stop, Think, Act, and Review to self-check behavior and performance