Medical Interpreter Specialist

The Medical Interpreter Specialist assists the Manager of Interpreter Services in managing workflow and administrative tasks in the office of Interpreter Services at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. They will perform medical interpretation as well as facilitate language access for limited-English proficient (LEP) patients, ensure compliance with hospital policy as well as laws and regulations regarding language access for LEP patients, work with outside vendors to provide language services according to need, and collaborate with hospital staff to proactively identify barriers to communication and ways to address those barriers.

Job Responsibilities:

• Manages provider inquiries or requests by providers and acceptance of new patients with interpreter need, notifying appropriate Interpreter Services staff of new patients within their language of expertise.
• Researches availability of language services for patients who speak non-staffed languages and languages of limited diffusion, keeping the patient’s care team informed of options.
• Helps to link Limited-English Proficient (LEP) patients and families with appropriate hospital resources.
• Works with providers, Care Coordinators and other departments to determine language access needs and secure language services. Collaborates with Patient Experience Office to address patient concerns regarding language access. Acts as a liaison/point of contact for non-staffed languages and remote interpreting options. Collaborates with various St. Jude departments and practitioners to communicate language needs of international patients prior to arrival. Collaborates with St. Jude Cultural Navigator(s) to coordinate off campus language needs for international families. Directs inquiries about translation to the appropriate departments.
• Collects and analyzes 3rd party interpreting usage data including processing expenses, drafting reports and forecasting needs to Manager of Interpreter Services.
• Coordinates all remote interpreting equipment and in-person service needs with outside vendors, Information Services and Telehealth to ensure that remote interpreting equipment is functional and up to date.
• Tracks and reports trends in LEP patient acceptances and its effect on staff and vendor interpreter use.
• Coordinates communication to keep St. Jude staff informed about processes and procedures non-staffed and after-hours language needs.
• Informs patients who speak non-staffed languages of their rights to an interpreter and monitors their communication needs.
• Coordinates with Affiliate Clinics about incoming LEP patients to prepare for any known communication difficulties prior to arrival.
• Supports the Manager of Interpreter Services with daily workflow and budget.
• Participates in the creation and execution of administrative projects.
• Arranges language assessments for internal bilingual providers.
• Organizes vendor invoice payment and contracts with third-party remote or in-person interpreting vendors.
• Assists the manager of Interpreter services to maintain office files, orders office supplies and drafts office correspondence.
• Performs medical interpretation.
• Maintains regular and predictable attendance.
• Performs other related duties as assigned in order to meet the goals of the department and institution.
• May need to work occasional nights and weekends.

Minimum Education and/or Training:

• 2 years post-secondary education required; BA/BS preferred.

Minimum Experience:

• Two (2) years of healthcare operations or administrative experience is required
• 6 months of office administration experience required.
• Bilingual in Spanish is required.
• Experience working with LEP clients and/or language services coordination preferred.
• Three months or 480 hours of documented medical interpreting experience and completion of an accredited medical interpreter training course of at least 40 hours is highly preferred. A list of training programs is posted on the IMIA web site at http://www.imiaweb.org/education/accreditationhistory.asp
• Leadership/ supervisory experience highly preferred.

Licensure, Registration and/or Certification Required by SJCRH Only:

• (LC:CCHI or NBCMI) Certified Healthcare Interpreter (CCHI) issued by the Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters OR Certified Medical Interpreter (NBCMI) issued by the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters within 12 months of hire.

Compensation

In recognition of certain U.S. state and municipal pay transparency laws, St. Jude is includin