Healthcare Interpreter (Bilingual)

How to Submit a Successful Application video: https://hr.venturacounty.gov/how-to-apply/application

THE HOSPITAL: When you need critical medical care, whether surgery, laboratory work, bringing a new life into the world, or for those unexpected emergencies, you can trust Ventura County Medical Center (VCMC) to address your needs. VCMC is a fully integrated, comprehensive system of hospital, clinic and specialty services. The system provides access to health care to all residents of our county, with special emphasis on providing access to care for the underserved and those facing barriers.

THE POSITION: We are seeking skilled individuals who are bilingual in English and Spanish to join our hospital's Language Access Program as a Healthcare Interpreter. Under general supervision, the Healthcare Interpreter facilitates clear and accurate communication between patients, families, and healthcare providers by interpreting medical information in a linguistically and culturally appropriate manner. This role supports patient understanding of diagnoses, treatment plans, procedures, and hospital policies, while helping providers deliver equitable care. The interpreter may also assist with referrals and connect patients to hospital and community-based programs, particularly for individuals who are culturally, economically, physically, or mentally disadvantaged. Trilingual candidates - especially those who speak Indigenous languages such as Mixteco - are highly preferred due to the diverse language needs of our patient population.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE: The ideal candidate will be bilingual in English and Spanish, with demonstrated experience interpreting and clearly explaining medical procedures, forms, and healthcare information to individuals from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. They will be skilled at navigating sensitive conversations in clinical settings and serving as a reliable point of contact for patients, families, and care teams. The candidate should also be proficient in commonly used computer applications such as Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. In addition, they should have practical experience performing general clerical duties, including answering phones, taking messages, organizing and maintaining records, and filing systems. 

WHAT WE OFFER:
The County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits package.  Aside from our base salary range, an employee within this position may also be eligible for the following:

• Premium Pay  - Incumbents may be eligible for an additional $4.50 per hour for this classification in this Auxiliary Group for those who speak Mixteco. This amount will be added to the base pay shown above, if eligible. - See SEIU MOA Sec 601 (E)  
• Bilingual Pay- Incumbents may be eligible for bilingual incentive depending upon operational need and certification of skill.
• Educational Incentive - Some positions may be eligible for educational incentive. This incentive may be 2.5%, 3.5%, or 5% for incumbents in eligible positions based on completion of an Associate’s, Bachelor’s, or Master’s degree that is not required for the classification. 
• Standby Premium Pay - 1/4 of regular hourly wage or Federal minimum wage (whichever is greater)
• Deferred Compensation - Eligible to participate in the County's 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457 Plan. If you participate in the County sponsored 401(k) plan, the County will match a part of your contribution up to 3% of your salary, on a per pay period basis. Following five (5) years of continuous County service, an additional 2% non-elective contribution will be made to the 401(k) plan.
• Health Plans - You are afforded a flexible credit allowance for purchasing medical plan under the County’s Flexible Benefits Program. County now pays 100% of dental, and vision premiums.
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Pre-tax benefit towards eligible medical, dental, and vision care expenses.
• Pension Plan - Participation in the County's defined benefit pension plan that provides lifetime payments to retirees. Members are "vested" after attaining five years of retirement service credit. If eligible, you may establish reciprocity with other public retirement systems such as CalPERS.
• Holidays - 13 paid days per year which includes a scheduled floating holiday.
• Additional Benefits - Tuition Reimbursement, Disability Plans, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Wellness Program.

Duties may include but are not limited to the following: 

• Provides accurate and impartial interpretation between healthcare providers, patients, and family members in English and Spanish and, when qualified, in a third language such as Mixteco, Zapoteco, or Triqui to ensure effective communication;
• Delivers interpreting services across a variety of healthcare settings and service delivery methods, including inpatient and outpatient care, emergency services, specialty clinics, and remote interpreting technologies;
• Interprets medical discussions involving symptoms, medical history, diagnoses, treatment plans, procedures, medications, discharge instructions, informed consent, patient rights, and other healthcare information;
• Applies professional healthcare interpreting techniques, including consecutive interpreting, sight translation of appropriate documents, requests for clarification, and other communication strategies to promote accurate understanding;
• Supports communication with patients and family members who may be experiencing stress, fear, pain, grief, or uncertainty, including during end-of-life, behavioral health, and other sensitive encounters;
• Maintains patient confidentiality and adheres to HIPAA requirements, hospital policies, and the professional standards and code of ethics governing healthcare interpreters;
• Documents interpreter services in the electronic health record and departmental tracking systems, including encounter details, language and dialect, interpreting modality, duration, and interpreter identification;
• Coordinates interpreter requests by receiving, prioritizing, scheduling, and tracking assignments; maintains service records and prepares routine utilization and activity reports;
• Assists patients, families, and healthcare staff by identifying language access needs, facilitating appropriate interpreter services, providing translation assistance within scope, and educating staff on the appropriate use of qualified interpreters;
• Connects patients and families with hospital departments and community resources, assists with appointment coordination when appropriate, and helps address barriers that affect access to healthcare services;
• Participates in departmental operations by attending meetings and training, supporting quality improvement initiatives, conducting outreach and educational activities, performing related administrative duties, and meeting established productivity and quality standards; and
• Performs other related duties as required.

• Submit transcripts or grade reports from an accredited college or university that include your name and reflect passing grades in the required coursework. Attach education verification documents to your online application or email them to [email protected] as soon as possible but no later than three (3) days after submitting your application. 
• Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.  
• Degree(s) from a foreign institution require an academic credential evaluation to determine the U.S. equivalency.  
• If the name is different on the transcripts from your application, documentation needs to be submitted showing the name change.

• Bilingual in English and Spanish
• One (1) year of experience providing interpretation services 
  • Substitution: successful completion of a minimum 40-hour healthcare interpreter training program can count for 6 months of experience. (e.g., Bridging the Gap, CHIA, or equivalent). 
• Must be willing to work night, weekend hours, including holidays as needed

• Trilingual (English, Spanish, Mixteco)
• Experience providing consecutive interpretation in a public or private healthcare setting  
• Completion of a 40-hour healthcare interpreter training program (e.g., Bridging the Gap, CHIA, or equivalent)
• Experience using medical terminology and vocabulary commonly used in acute care  or outpatient clinical settings 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Familiarity with Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems such as Cerner

• consecutive interpreting and sight translation 
• active listening, memory retention, and note-taking to ensure accurate interpretation 
• clear oral communication in English and Spanish 
• managing sensitive, urgent, or emotionally complex interactions while maintaining professionalism 
• providing consecutive interpretation in a public or private healthcare setting
• using computers, electronic health record systems, scheduling software, and remote interpreting technology

• interpret accurately and fluently between English and Spanish without adding, omitting, or altering meaning
• interpret in a third language, such as Mixteco, Zapoteco, or Triqui, when qualified to do so 
• recognize when clarification is needed and intervene appropriately to ensure accurate communication 
• communicate effectively and with cultural humility with patients, families, healthcare staff, and individuals from diverse cultural, social, and economic backgrounds 
• adapt communication to patients with limited literacy, limited health literacy, sensory impairments, or emotional distress 
• maintain professional boundaries, exercise sound judgment, and collaborate effectively as a member of an interdisciplinary care team 
• follow instructions and adapt to fast-paced clinical environments 
• accurately document interpreter services and prepare routine records and reports 
• independently perform moderately complex clerical duties, including maintaining records, managing schedules, and verifying information from multiple sources
• use medical terminology and vocabulary commonly used in acute care  or outpatient clinical settings 
• effectively communicate orally and in writing