Medical Interpreter - Spanish/English - Full Time - On Site - DC

Shift: Variable

About the Role:

The Medical Interpreter will provide language interpretation services to patients, families and staff in critical, acute, or chronic medical situations as needed. The Medical Interpreter will provide services in person, telephonically or via video remote to assist patients and families in their interactions throughout the hospital.

This position provides in-person interpretation services across multiple Children’s National Hospital locations throughout the Washington metropolitan area. Assignments may include coverage at facilities in the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia, and Maryland, based on operational needs. Candidates must demonstrate flexibility and the ability to travel between sites to ensure consistent, high-quality language access services for patients and families.

What You’ll Bring:

Minimum Education

Bachelor's Degree or equivalent years of experience. (Required)

Minimum Work Experience

1 year Experience as interpreter for individuals in critical situations. (Required)

Required Skills/Knowledge

Bilingual Language Skills

Fluency in English and Spanish

Highly proficient in medical terminology

Required Licenses and Certifications

Successfully pass the Interpreter Skills Assessment, or equivalent, provided by CNH.

40-hour Medical Interpreter Training Course Completion (must have proof of certificate from a reputable training institution). (Required)

Functional Accountabilities

Eliminates Language Barriers to Patient Care

• Facilitate communication among patients, families, and staff

• Interpret directly and accurately, without omissions, addition or interference with communication

• Manage assignments independently without close supervision

• Set limits appropriately; maintain professional boundaries as interpreter; maintain patient, family and staff rights to confidentiality privacy

• Maintain professional role and sensitivity during critical medical and/or psychosocial situations; respect all parties in their discussion and their individual roles

• Abide by Interpreter Code of Ethics

• Demonstrate accurate, clear, and timely verbal and written communication

• Provide sight translation of patient of patient care related documents

• Provide document translation of limited list of patient related materials

Promote Appropriate Utilization of Interpretation Services by Staff

• Educate staff in use of interpreter and available interpretation services
• Communicate with staff about staff needs and patient/family needs
• Work closely, interdepartmentally, provide recommendations by communicating information as requested and directed by medical provider/critical staff
• Partner with program staff to share best practices and to ensure cultural and linguistic requirements are met
• Advocate for patients/families with staff to facilitate continuity of care
• Provide sound recommendations to departmental leadership to ensure adequate services to non-English speaking patients and families

Contributes to a Well-Organize Program

• Help to ensure interpretation assignments are coordinated accurately, effectively and efficiently
• Maintain schedules and required logs/tracking system in order to track project progress and productivity
• Keeping and organizing interpretation requests and reports
• Accurately document interpretation assignments in all systems and databases used and required by the program
• Facilitate the distribution, coordination, and assignment of day-today activities among fellow division staff and under the guidance of the division leadership
• The individual in this role may assume additional job duties beyond those outlined in this job description

Why Join Us:

• Nationally Recognized Excellence – Consistently ranked among the Top 10 Children’s Hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.

• Leading Pediatric Care – One of the largest and most comprehensive children’s hospitals in the country, offering nationally ranked specialties and cutting-edge treatments.

• Innovation & Research – A premier academic medical center with a strong commitment to pediatric research, education, and advancing the future of child health.

• Mission-Driven Culture – Dedicated to providing family-centered care while fostering a collaborative, supportive environment for clinical teams.