ASL Healthcare Interpreter

Sign Language Interpreters act as communication and cultural liaisons between Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hear hearing patients, companions, authorized decision makersand their healthcare team by providing meaningful language services and supporting effective communication.

Interpret accurately and completely, conveying the content and spirit of the original message, taking into consideration the cultural context in a way that is responsive to the demands of the situation (in person and/or video).

• Makes appropriate introductions and explains scope of practice that is responsive to the demands of the situation.
• Proven understanding of basic healthcare terminology and physical anatomy
• Ability to interpret complex healthcare concepts into ASL
• Ability to transliterate complex healthcare concepts to preferred modality of visual langauge
• Manages room/set-up and flow of communication to promote direct interaction between all parties
• Facilitates communication across cultural differences and alerts all parties to any significant cultural or linguistic disparities
• Maintains confidentiality and professional boundaries of the interpreter role and refrains from personal involvement
  • Adheres to the RID Code of Professional Conduct
  • Demonstrates honest and ethical conduct according to Guiding Principles
  • Diffuses conflict between parties by remaining calm and impartial
• Manages daily workflow through proficiency with Epic and MS Outlook
• Documents services in EPIC
• Communicates with scheduling office, team members,and members of administrative team
• Supports patients and companions with communication access and contributes to overall experience through support of organizational resources and policies in order to facilitate communication acces for patient care.

Adaptability:

• Travels to and provides interpreting services in multiple settings as needed/requested.
• Demonstrates personal flexibility to meet staffing and patient communication needs.
• Manages and communications unanticipated changes throughout the day.
• Demonstrates ability to provide language services with a variety of clinical populations.
• Complete assigned duties prior to transition to subsequent setting and/or establishes handoff for continuity of care.
• Adaptable in responding to demands of mltible processes/settings

Required

Education:

• Minimum of Associate Degree in Sign Language Interpreting or related field

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in the interpreting profession

Certification:

(One or more of the following)

• CSC (Comprehensive Skills Certificate)
• CI and CT (Certificate of Interpretation and Certificate of Transliteration)
• NAD: Level IV or higher
• NIC (National Interpreter Certification) previous rubric): Advanced or Master
• NIC (most current rubric): Certified
• Deaf Interpreter: Certified

Preferred

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in sign language interpreting or related field

Experience:

• Healthcare interpreting
• Chemical Dependency/Recovery Interpreting
• Mental Health Interpreting
• Tactile/Protactile Interpreting
• Low-Vision Communication