Medical Interpreter

UnityPoint Health; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Daily Pay

Tuition reimbursement

Adoption assistance

Job summary

UnityPoint Health seeks a Medical Interpreter to provide accurate, culturally responsive interpretation across in-person, video, and phone encounters in inpatient, outpatient, emergency, and procedural environments.

This role supports LEP patients, families, and care teams, ensuring understanding of diagnoses, treatments, patient rights, discharge instructions, and other critical health information while maintaining confidentiality.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent required.
• Maintain competency in target language.
• Complete a medical terminology course.
• Board Certification for Medical Interpreters desired but not required.

Responsibilities

• Provide accurate and effective interpretation for procedures and other interactions for LEP patients, families, and staff via phone, in person or writing.
• Be an advocate for the patient and family to add value to each encounter.
• Document according to policy and bill accurately for interpretation sessions.
• Demonstrate knowledge that patient and workplace safety is a priority by preventing errors and reporting concerns immediately.

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Maintain competency in target language

Medical terminology course

Job description

• Shift: Full Time Day Shift - Monday-Friday
• Job ID: 184500
• Area of Interest: Patient Care
• FTE/Hours per pay period: 1.0
• Department: Translation Services

Overview

The Medical Interpreter provides accurate, complete, and culturally responsive interpretation services for patients, families, and healthcare providers. This includes in-person, video, and phone-based encounters across inpatient, outpatient, emergency, and procedural environments. This role facilitates effective communication between individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) and care teams, supporting understanding of diagnoses, treatments, patient rights, discharge instructions, and other critical health information. This position ensures all interactions are confidential, impartial, and aligned with UnityPoint Health’s commitment to providing exceptional experiences.

Schedule

6am-3pm

Why UnityPoint Health?

At UnityPoint Health, you matter. We’re proud to be recognized as a Top 150 Place to Work in Healthcare by Becker’s Healthcare several years in a row for our commitment to our team members.

Our competitive Total Rewards program offers benefits options that align with your needs and priorities, no matter what life stage you’re in. Here are just a few:

• Paid time off, parental leave, 401K matching and an employee recognition program.
• Dental and health insurance, paid holidays, short and long-term disability and more. Pet insurance available.
• Early access to earned wages with Daily Pay, tuition reimbursement to help further your career, and adoption assistance.

Responsibilities

Customer Service

• Provide accurate and effective interpretation (or translation) of procedures and other interactions for limited English-speaking patients (both adult and adolescent), their families, and staff, via phone, in person or in writing.
• Bring value to each encounter by being an advocate for the patient and family.
• Demonstrate initiative to improve quality and customer service by striving to exceed customer expectations.
• Document according to policy and bill accurately for interpretation sessions.

Patient Safety

• Demonstrate knowledge that patient and workplace safety is a priority by preventing errors, accidents and infections and reporting potential or actual concerns immediately.

Qualifications

Education

• High School diploma or equivalent required.
• Maintain competency in target language.
• Complete a medical terminology course.

Experience

• Required to have 6 months of prior medical interpretation and translation experience.
• Must have ability to communicate in English, both verbally and in writing.

License(s)/Certification(s)

• Valid driver’s license when driving any vehicle for work-related reasons.
• Ability to pass interpreting test prior to date of hire.
• Board Certification for Medical Interpreters desired but not required.