Trained Medical Interpreter
Lehigh Valley Health Network
Summary
Provides foreign language interpreting services to enable the understanding and successful communication between individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) and staff. Assists clinic staff by facilitating cross-cultural communication for non-English speaking patients of all ages.
Job description
Job Duties
- Provides accurate interpretation between L.E.P. patients and hospital personnel.
- Provides education to individuals and staff on culturally specific values, beliefs, and practices that are relevant to the encounter.
- Acts as a conduit of information for all clinical services which include medical terminology and support services to LEP patients.
- Informs L.E.P. patients about the interpreter's role and what interpreters can and cannot do as part of their jobs.
- Serves as a cultural mediator to enhance communication between patients/family, as it relates to medical care.
- Explains hospital resources, office protocols, and limitations to clinicians and patients, and makes appropriate referrals.
- Develops relationships with L.E.P community focus groups focusing on the needs of the community.
- Provides verbatim interpretation to preserve the medical record and conveys the meaning of the message in the target language.
- Listens effectively and is open to other points of view. Conveys the intent, tone, style and language level of the speaker.
Minimum Qualifications
- High School Diploma/GED
- 1 year Experience in human or health services
- Ability to adhere to interpreter standards of practice and code of ethics.
- Ability to continuously perform the same type of work for extended periods of time.
- Ability to interpret and translate on a daily basis in possibly stressful situations.
- Exhibit excellent listening skills.
- Knowledge of medical terminology and/or specialized vocabulary.
- Understanding of the subject matter to effectively convert source language to target language.
- BTG - Bridging the Gap - State of Pennsylvania Upon Hire
Preferred Qualifications
- Foreign language training
Requirements
- High School Diploma/GED
- 1 year Experience in human or health services
- Ability to adhere to interpreter standards of practice and code of ethics
- Ability to continuously perform the same type of work for extended periods of time
- Ability to interpret and translate on a daily basis in possibly stressful situations
- Exhibit excellent listening skills
- Knowledge of medical terminology and/or specialized vocabulary
- Understanding of the subject matter to effectively convert source language to target language
- BTG - Bridging the Gap - State of Pennsylvania Upon Hire
Company overview
Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) is a major healthcare provider and hospital network based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, serving the Lehigh Valley and Northeastern Pennsylvania regions. Founded in 1899, LVHN operates as a comprehensive healthcare system with 13 hospital campuses, 28 health centers, numerous primary and specialty care physician practices, and multiple urgent care locations. The network's flagship facility, Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, is Pennsylvania's third-largest hospital and features the state's first Level One Trauma Center. LVHN provides a wide range of medical services including specialized institutes for cancer care, heart and vascular treatment, surgical excellence, orthopedics, and neuroscience. The network operates the third-largest heart surgery program in Pennsylvania, performing over 1,200 open-heart procedures annually, and maintains one of the state's largest cancer centers treating over 2,400 new patients each year. In August 2024, LVHN completed a merger with Jefferson Health, becoming part of a larger healthcare system with 32 hospitals and over 700 locations across Pennsylvania. Prior to the merger, LVHN was the largest employer in the Lehigh Valley metropolitan region, with approximately 20,000 employees dedicated to providing comprehensive healthcare services to the community.