Dari/Pashto Patient Interpreter

Job Description

Description:

Raphael Health Center is seeking a skilled Dari/Pashto Patient Interpreter to join our team. As a Dari/Pashto Patient Interpreter, you will be responsible for facilitating communication between Dari/Pashto speaking patients and healthcare providers. You will play a critical role in ensuring that patients receive the highest quality of care by accurately interpreting medical information and instructions.

Scope/Skills/Abilities/Competencies:

Strong linguistic skills:

selects appropriate mode of interpretation for each situation (consecutive, simultaneous or sight translation)

interprets with highest degree of accuracy and completeness

self-corrects, understands own linguistic limitations, seeks clarification and accepts correction

picks up cues from encounter participants regarding level of understanding and/or need for clarification

strong writing skills and understanding of translation process

Provide accurate interpretation services for Dari/Pashto -speaking patients and healthcare providers

Translate medical information and instructions from English to Dari/Pashto and vice versa

Facilitate communication between patients and healthcare providers during medical appointments, procedures, and consultations

Ensure that patients fully understand their medical conditions, treatment options, and medications

Maintain patient confidentiality and adhere to all HIPAA regulations

Collaborate with other healthcare professionals to ensure that patients receive comprehensive care

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 understand each other better

avoids generalizations and stereotyping by recognizing that cultural patterns are generalized abstractions

uses culturally appropriate behavior and is able to choose appropriate time to clarify or interject by respecting the goals of the encounter

Strong interpreting skills:

explains role of the interpreter to patient and provider

recognizes the complexity of the clinical encounter and added factor of linguistic barrier

sets tone of the patient/provider encounter to manage 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 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 Raphael Health Center policies on patient confidentiality, informed consent, non-discrimination and by interpreter’s code of ethics

Interpersonal and customer service skills:

projects positive attitude about Raphael 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

knowledge of interpreter training techniques and materials

Additional Responsibilities:

Schedule patient appointments.

Ensure accuracy of daily schedules in coordination with Clinical Director and providers as appropriate.

Accurately collect patient information necessary for appointment scheduling including the verification of patient insurance eligibility and entry of patient insurance.

Answer telephones, take messages, and direct telephone calls as appropriate.

Collect data updates and enter into system

Schedule appointments with Financial Counselor

Exemplify the RHC mission through a personal example of excellent service to patients, visitors and coworkers.

Attend regularly scheduled staff meetings.

Maintain neat and orderly work area.

Maintain confidentiality in accordance with RHC policy and any other applicable regulatory requirements.

Treat patients, visitors and coworkers with respect and dignity

Commit to and ensure work is operating in a manner consistent to Raphael Health Center mission

Other duties as assigned including, but not limited to, medical records.

Supervision:

No supervisory responsibilityRequirements:

Required Education, Certification, Experience and Skill:

High School diploma or equivalent.

Demonstrated experience with Windows-based programs

Knowledge of medical terminology

Ability to prioritize, problem solve and multi-task.

Fluency in English and Dari/Pashto both oral and written

High level of customer service and a positive approach

5 years of experience as a medical interpreter, with a very strong medical vocabulary preferred

Familiar with diversity of cultural/socio-economic backgrounds

Good interpersonal, organizational, and time-management skills

Full-time