Interpreter - Spanish

Hennepin Healthcare; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Hennepin Healthcare is seeking an Interpreter in the Interpreter Services department. This in-person role (80 hours per pay period) operates Mon-Fri, 8:00am–4:30pm, to support communication between LEP patients and healthcare teams.

The position emphasizes accurate interpretation, basic translation, confidentiality, and collaboration with staff to ensure equitable access to care.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED required, healthcare interpreting experience preferred.
• 1 year interpreting experience in healthcare or equivalent, plus active roster enrollment.
• Proficiency with medical terminology and patient confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Precisely interprets between LEP patients, companions, and healthcare providers face-to-face or via remote modalities.
• Provides non-complex document translation services between languages.
• Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA and documents services rendered.
• Assists with coordination of language services and participates in training activities as needed.

Skills

Bilingual Spanish/English

Medical terminology

Consecutive and simultaneous

Education

High School diploma or GED

1 year interpreting experience in healthcare

Tools

EMR systems

Job description

JOB DETAILS Department: Interpreter Services FTE: 1.0 (80 hours per pay period) Workdays: Monday - Friday Shift(s): Days (8:00am - 4:30pm) Shift Length: 8 hours Location: In-Person Other: Bilingual Spanish/English

Purpose of this position: Provides spoken language interpretation services in a variety of settings to facilitate communication between Limited English Proficient (LEP) patients, their companions, and Hennepin Health System (HHS) providers and team members.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Precisely and accurately interprets between LEP patients, companions, and providers or other healthcare team members, face-to-face or via remote modalities (such as telephone or video)
• Provides non-complex document translation services between the target and source languages
• Shares relevant cultural information with all parties involved and collaborates to the goal of full patient/provider understanding, providing equitable access and healthcare outcomes for LEP patients
• Maintains strict patient confidentiality in accordance with HHS policies and HIPAA
• Accurately documents and bills interpreter services provided
• Maintains basic computer skills to complete job functions using various software, including EMR (Electronic Medical Record)
• Supports departmental and organizational initiatives around language access by working constructively in a team, participating in program functions, and performing tasks as requested by the department leadership, such as participating in training new team members and in-service training for existing team members as needed
• Assists with coordination of the deployment of language services, as needed
• Adheres to National Council on Interpreting in Health Care (NCIHC) medical interpreter standards of practice and code of ethics
• Demonstrates honest and ethical conduct

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Qualifications:

• High School diploma or GED
• 12 months of interpreting experience in healthcare
• Interpreters employed by HCMC prior to October 1, 2009 are considered qualified as long as they have an approved equivalent combination of education and experience and/or have passed the proficiency exam or national certification as detailed below.
• Enrolled in MDH, Minnesota Department of Health Interpreter Roster
• 40-hour interpreter skills-based training such as Bridging the Gap or The Community Interpreter and successful completion of one of the interpreter competencies tests for spoken languages:
• - Language Line: Interpreter Skills Test or Medical Certification Test
• - Pacific Interpreters: Two test versions are accepted. On Medical Skills Report Level 3, a score of Competent or Outstanding in the categories of "Bilingual Fluency and Conversion Skills" and "Interpreting Skills." On the Interpreter Readiness - Assessment Report Level 2, a score of Competent or Outstanding in the single score category of "Bilingual Fluency and Conversion Skills."
• - Cyracom's Interpreter Skills Assessment
• - Or any approved test of healthcare interpreting skills conducted by an independent third-party entity, as they represent a more rigorous level of overall interpreter skills testing.
• National certification by the Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI) OR
• National certification by the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (NBCMI)

Preferred Qualifications

• Certificate in Translation and Interpreting from the University of Minnesota
• Associates Degree or Certificate/Diploma in Translation and Interpreting from Century College, or Certificate of Competency from an approved Interpreter/Translator training program
• National Certification in healthcare interpretation
• National Boards for Certified Medical Interpreters (NBCMI)
• Commission of Certified Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI)
• Equivalent program or degree
• Associate or Bachelor's degree
• Previous experience in healthcare

Knowledge/ Skills/ Abilities

• Highly proficient with medical terminology in both the target and source languages
• Ability to understand a variety of regional accents and linguistic styles and registers
• Ability to select the appropriate mode of interpretation for each encounter
• Demonstrated ability to interpret competently both consecutive and simultaneous in English and one or more other needed language(s)
• Knowledge of the National Code of Ethics for Interpreters in Health Care and Standards of Practice developed by the National Council on Interpreting in Health Care (NCIHC), attained by either formal training or independent study