Medical Interpreter - Portuguese - Per Diem

Cambridge Health Alliance; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Cambridge Health Alliance seeks a Medical Interpreter to provide professional interpreting and translation services for non-English-speaking patients and families. This role advocates for equitable healthcare access and supports providers with intercultural mediation in all clinical settings.

The ideal candidate will possess strong communication skills, medical interpreting knowledge, and the ability to maintain patient confidentiality while enhancing culturally sensitive care.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an interpreter educational program required (minimum 40 hours).
• Professional level medical interpreting and short non‑publication translation skills required.
• Fluency in the language of interpreting preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide accurate and confidential interpreting services.
• Interpret across all clinical environments effectively.
• Advocate for patients and identify intercultural mediation opportunities.

Skills

Medical interpreting

Fluency in spoken and written English

Communication skills

Cultural mediation

Education

High School diploma or GED

Bachelor degree preferred

Medical Interpreter Skills Test Certificate

Job description

Location: Commerce Place

Category: Human and Social Services

Department: Interpreter Network

Job Type: Per Diem On Call

Union Name: Non Union

Length Of Shift(s) In Hours: Varied shifts

Shift Start + End Times: Varied

Hours/Week: Per Diem On Call

About CHA Interpreter Services

Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) is proud to be an innovative leader in community health, providing equitable and culturally responsive care for all populations across Boston’s metro‑north region. CHA's award‑winning language access program provides our diverse patient population with crucial resources to communicate effectively with our care providers, allowing patients and their families to fully understand their medical conditions, treatment options, and the care being provided. By breaking down language barriers and offering expertise in over 150 languages, our Interpreter Services team serves as a vital communications bridge between patients, families, and medical staff, ensuring our health care providers are able to deliver culturally informed and compassionate care to every patient, every time.

Job Summary

The Medical Interpreter provides professional medical interpreting and translation services for non‑English‑speaking patients, families, community members, providers, and staff across all Cambridge Health Alliance clinical settings. This role advocates for equitable access to health care services for non‑English‑speaking patients and supports providers through intercultural mediation to enhance culturally sensitive care. The Medical Interpreter demonstrates a strong commitment to patient safety, customer satisfaction, teamwork, innovation, and continuous performance improvement while adhering to professional standards and departmental policies.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide accurate, complete, and confidential consecutive, sight, and telephonic interpreting services in accordance with IMIA Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics.
• Deliver short written translations (non‑publication) for individual patients and providers.
• Interpret effectively across all clinical environments, including medical and behavioral health settings.
• Communicate clearly and professionally in English and the language of interpreting across varying registers.
• Identify and provide intercultural mediation (culture brokering) when appropriate to strengthen provider–patient communication and therapeutic rapport.
• Advocate for patients in a manner that empowers them, collaborating with clinical teams and Patient Relations as appropriate.
• Participate in inpatient rounds and provide reminder calls and patient call support as requested.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and timely documentation of work activities.
• Communicate effectively with managers, dispatchers, providers, and site staff to ensure efficient workflow and prevent service delays.
• Respond diplomatically to service concerns or complaints and elevate appropriately.
• Maintain professionalism, composure, and effective decision‑making in high‑pressure or emotionally charged situations.
• Participate in departmental meetings, quality improvement initiatives, and other assigned duties.

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree preferred. High School diploma or GED required.
• Graduate of an interpreter educational program required (minimum 40 hours). College‑based interpreter programs preferred. This program must include interpreting skills, medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, the role of the interpreter and cross‑cultural communication. Mental health interpreting certificate desired.
• Medical Interpreter Skills Test Certificate from an approved organization.
• Fluency in spoken and written English and the language of interpreting, with preference for native level fluency in the language of interpreting. Professional level medical interpreting and short non‑publication translation skills required.

Please note that the final offer may vary within the listed Pay Range, based on a candidate's experience, skills, qualifications, and internal equity considerations.

In keeping with federal, state and local laws, Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) policy forbids employees and associates to discriminate against anyone based on race, religion, color, gender, age, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law. We are committed to establishing and maintaining a workplace free of discrimination. We are fully committed to equal employment opportunity. We will not tolerate unlawful discrimination in the recruitment, hiring, termination, promotion, salary treatment or any other condition of employment or career development. Furthermore, we will not tolerate the use of discriminatory slurs, or other remarks, jokes or conduct, that in the judgment of CHA, encourage or permit an offensive or hostile work environment.