Department: Interpreter Language Services
FTE: 1.00
Full Time (30 - 40 hours per week)
Shift: Rotating

Position Summary:
Provides accurate interpretation in American Sign Language (ASL). Serves as cultural bridge between staff/providers and patients/families on deaf/Deaf culture. Assists deaf, deaf and blind, and hard-of-hearing patients and/or family members who communicate in ASL navigate the UNM healthcare system. Provides services via in-person and video remote interpreting (VRI) as assigned. Teach/train health system staff on diversity and cultural competence issues as they pertain to deaf/Deaf community and cultural norms. Ensures adherence to Hospitals and departmental policies and procedures. Patient care assignment may include neonate, pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric age groups.

Detailed responsibilities:
* QUALITY SERVICE - Deliver quality service and act in a positive way with all customers to complete assigned functions; identify, recommend and implement opportunities for continuous improvement
* INTERPRET - Adhere to the NAD-RID Code of Professional Conducts for ASL interpreters
* CONFIDENTIALITY - Maintain strict patient confidentiality as per UNM Hospitals and department policies
* FOLLOW-UP - Assist in patient follow-up as necessary; may include contacting patients for appointment reminders
* WORKING RELATIONS - Establish and maintain positive relationships with patients, visitors, and Hospitals employees in the work environment
* DEVELOPMENT - Enhance professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, reading current literature, attending in-services, meetings and workshops
* PATIENT SAFETY 1 - Follow patient safety-related policies, procedures and protocols
* PATIENT SAFETY 2 - Demonstrate proactive approach to patient safety by seeking opportunities to improve patient safety through questioning of current policies and processes
* PATIENT SAFETY 3 - Identify and report/correct environmental conditions and/or situations that may put a patient at undue risk
* PATIENT SAFETY 4 - Report potential or actual patient safety concerns, medical errors and/or near misses in a timely manner
* PATIENT SAFETY 5 - Encourage patients to actively participate in their own care by asking questions and reporting treatment or situations that they don't understand or may "not seem right"
* INTERPRET - Interpret into proper medical terminology in a medical setting using a variety of techniques

Qualifications

Education:
Essential:
* Bachelor's Degree
Nonessential:
* Training
* Certification
Education specialization:
Essential:
* BA/BS or Deaf Alternative Pathway
Nonessential:
* Completion of Sign Language Interpreter Prep Program
* Core CHI

Experience:
Essential:
At least 1 year of interpreter experience

Nonessential:

Credentials:
Essential:
* NM SLIPB
* National Cert from Registry of Interp for the Deaf (RID)

Physical Conditions:
Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly (Constantly: activity or condition exists 2/3 or more of the time) to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Sedentary Work. May require walking or standing to a significant degree or requires sitting most of the time but entails pushing and/or pulling of arm or leg controls; and/or may require working at a production rate pace entailing the constant pushing and/or pulling of materials even though the weight of materials is negligible.

Working conditions:
Essential:
* Minor Hazard - physical risks, dirt, dust, fumes, noise
* Ineligible for interpreter stipend
* May be required or is required to perform on-call duties