Job Description

ECU Health

About ECU Health

ECU Health is a mission-driven, 1,708-bed academic health care system serving more than 1.4 million people in 29 eastern North Carolina counties. The not-for-profit system is comprised of 13,000 team members, nine hospitals and a physician group that encompasses over 1,100 academic and community providers practicing in over 180 primary and specialty clinics located in more than 130 locations.

The flagship ECU Health Medical Center, a Level I Trauma Center, and ECU Health Maynard Children’s Hospital serve as the primary teaching hospitals for the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. ECU Health and the Brody School of Medicine share a combined academic mission to improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina through patient care, education and research.

Position Summary

Primary responsibility is accurate oral interpretation between a speaker with limited English proficiency (LEP) and the healthcare team. Limited written translation is also part of the core position responsibility.

Follow ethical principles, including accepted interpreter codes of ethics and standards of practice.

Interpret messages in the appropriate mode into target and source languages, maintaining and mediating message content, context, and style in accordance with professional standards.

Identify and resolve conflicts related to the meanings of words, concepts, practices, values or behaviors. Act as a clarifier and a culture broker within encounters, as appropriate.

Advocate for LEP patients and families. Assist them navigate the healthcare system.

Consult reference materials (such as dictionaries, lexicons, encyclopedias, and computerized terminology banks) as needed to ensure interpretation and translation accuracy. Compile terminology and information to be used in interpretations and translations.

Responsibilities

Convey meaning accurately and completely between and among patients with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) or other communication barriers, their families, and team members.

Monitor patient, family, and team member comprehension of information, events, and the environment. Detect problems or changes in circumstances or events.

Identify and gather healthcare and/or situational background information or resources relevant
to each encounter. Be knowledgeable of relevant sources of information.

Be able to establish expertise in the eyes of the patient and all team members, and project information with confidence.

Communicate effectively with supervisors, co-workers, and all team members (by telephone, in written form, email, fax, pager, or in person).

Communicate directly with people outside the organization, representing the organization to patients and families, the public, and other external parties (in person, in writing, or by telephone or email). Develop constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintain them over time.

Demonstrate the capacity to think critically under pressure. Prioritize and accomplish work.

Think creatively to ensure positive patient outcomes. Make decisions and solve problems related to patient care as they arise.

Continuously improve knowledge base of relevant subject matters and interpreting skills, and apply new knowledge and skills to job.

Handle complaints, settle disputes, and resolve grievances and conflicts, as possible. Request assistance when needed.

Use technology, computers and computer systems (including hardware and software), pagers and telephones enter data or process information. Achieve proficiency in use of communication technology devices and tools, including basic team member training and troubleshooting.

Project empathy and compassion to patients, families and all team members.

Treat patients, families, and team members with respect, dignity, patience, tolerance, friendliness and courtesy.

Some travel will be required for this role.

Minimum Requirements

Associate Degree or higher
Zero to two years related experience
Demonstrated language proficiency in speaking and listening in primary and secondary languages. Proficiency must be equivalent to Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) skill level 3+ or higher.

Bilingual professional experience that required daily interaction in primary and secondary languages.

Degrees of equivalent level attained outside of the U.S. can be used to meet the educational requirement.

Other Information

• Primarily 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
• Available to go to other ECU Health facilities, travel required
• Occasional weekends

General Statement

It is the goal of ECU Health and its entities to employ the most qualified individual who best matches the requirements for the vacant position.

Offers of employment are subject to successful completion of all pre-employment screenings, which may include an occupational health screening, criminal record check, education, reference, and licensure verification.

We value diversity and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Decisions of employment are made based on business needs, job requirements and applicant’s qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, genetic information and testing, family and medical leave, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other status protected by law. We prohibit retaliation against individuals who bring forth any complaint, orally or in writing, to the employer, or against any individuals who assist or participate in the investigation of any complaint.

Contact Information

For additional information, please contact:

Angie J. Nichols, BS, Talent Acquisition Consultant

ECU Health Talent Acquisition

Email: [email protected]