American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreter - Interpretation Services, Part-Time, Days

Northwestern Medicine; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwestern Medicine seeks an ASL Interpreter to support patients and clinicians at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. The interpreter ensures accurate medical communication, cultural mediation, and adherence to national standards of practice in a fast-paced care environment.

The role includes documenting encounters, prioritizing urgent requests, and ongoing professional development to maintain high-quality interpretation for LEP patients and families.

Qualifications

• Certification from the Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission (Advanced or Master).
• RID certification substantiating medical interpreting qualifications.
• High school education or equivalent.
• Minimum of two years’ experience in medical interpreting in acute care.
• High level of fluency in English.
• Ability to interpret effectively and impartially with medical terminology.

Responsibilities

• Conducts medical and general interpreting for patients, families, physicians and healthcare team.
• Assesses understanding and serves as a cultural mediator.
• Records and monitors interpretation activity per department standards.
• Prioritizes multiple simultaneous interpretation requests.
• Interprets during consultations, diagnostic testing, procedures, consent and education.
• Screens requests and prioritizes by urgency.
• Participates in ongoing professional development and aligns with medical interpreting standards.
• Builds positive relationships with patients, visitors and staff.
• Documents encounters including location, duration and purpose; tracks productivity and data.
• Maintains productivity and data tracking; supports software tools used for reporting.

Skills

English fluency

Medical interpreting

Cultural competency

Diversity awareness

Education

IL Deaf and Hard of Hearing Advanced/Master license

RID certification

High school diploma

Tools

Excel

Word

Job description

Description

The ASL Interpreter reflects the mission, vision, and values of Northwestern Medicine (NM), adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

Responsibilities:

• Conducts medical and general interpreting for patients and their families, physicians, and the healthcare team in accordance with the National Standards of Practice of NCIHC designed to facilitate the language needs at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
• Assesses and monitors patients’ understanding of information conveyed, and serves as a cultural mediator.
• Records and monitors interpretation activities according to department standards.
• Makes decisions regarding prioritization of multiple requests received at one time.
• Medical Interpreting:
  • Provides medical and general interpreting services to patients, family members, support persons and healthcare providers and other staff in accordance with the National Standards of Practice (NCIHC). This includes interpreting during consultations and diagnostic testing; medical procedures and operations; the consent process and educational forums. Ensures that the patient’s and family’s needs are communicated to healthcare providers and staff.
  • Screens multiple requests for interpreters and prioritizes requests based on urgency of need.
  • Assists the healthcare team in problem solving and complaint resolution related to the limited English-Proficient population.
  • Participates in ongoing professional development to maintain practice in accordance with professional medical interpreting standards.
• Communication and Collaboration:
  • Initiates and develops positive relationships with patients, visitors, healthcare providers, fellow interpreters and staff, exhibiting respect, flexibility and cooperation at all times.
  • Serves as a cultural mediator, as necessary and when appropriate, to enhance communication between American culture staff and native culture patients/families, as it relates to medical care.
  • Supports and participates in the continuous assessment and improvement of the interpretation services program.
  • Assists with other departmental functions as assigned
  • Actively participates in staff meetings and mandatory in-services.
• Documentation:
  • Maintains documentation of all interpretation encounters, to include relevant data such as location, duration, and purpose. Documents all interpreting encounters accurately and completely, including patient refusals of interpreting services.
  • Maintains accurate records of productivity, work volumes, and interpreting requests.
• Additional Functions:
  • Proven software competencies (Excel, Word)
  • Adaptable to relevant software necessary for data tracking and trending

Qualifications

Required:

• Must hold a certification from the Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission with at least an Advanced or Master license from the state.
• A Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf certification completion substantiating formal training and qualifications for medical interpreting.
• Completion of high school education or equivalent.
• Minimum of two years’ experience in providing medical interpreting in an acute care setting.
• High level of fluency in English.
• Ability to interpret effectively, accurately, and impartially both receptive and expressive, using medical terminology as appropriate.
• Ability to maintain professional demeanor in all situations.
• Knowledgeable about the issues of cultural competency and healthcare disparities. Adaptable and sensitive in cross-cultural situations.
• Excellent communication, organizational and customer service skills.

Preferred:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Tactile Sign Language (hand over hand), Tactile Fingerspelling or Pro-Tactile ASL Interpreting. Verifys 40 hours training via shadow/teach back with an experienced Tactile ASL interpreter working at an agency or healthcare organization.

#NMH1

Equal Opportunity

Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.

Background Check

Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.

Artificial Intelligence Disclosure

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section to learn more.

Sign-on Bonus Eligibility (if sign-on bonus offered for position):

Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position at NM may be eligible depending upon the job family.