Contractor Version-Medical Interpreter Guide

LANGUAGE SERVICES

The Contractor’s Guide to Medical Interpreting: From Qualifications to Assignment

Table of Contents

Navigating the Contractor Journey

4 Step by Step Guide for Medical Interpreters

SECTION 1: Contractor Qualifications 5 Essential Qualifications 5 Preferred Qualifications SECTION 2: Discovery and Application 6 How to Apply 6 Pre-screening SECTION 3: The Interview Process 7 Keep Your Resume Updated 7 Preparation is Key 7 Showcase Your Professionalism

8 Remain Engaged Throughout the Process 8 Demonstrate Your Medical and Technological Mindset

SECTION 4: Review Your Contract for a Successful Partnership 9 Important Contract Elements to Review

SECTION 5: Contract Signed… Now What? 10 Getting Started on Your Assignments 10 For Over-the-Phone Interpreters 10 For In-Person Interpreters 10 Support Offered SECTION 6: Facing and Overcoming Challenges 11 Tips for Success

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The Contractor’s Guide to Medical Interpreting: From Qualifications to Assignment

The Contractor’s Guide to Medical Interpreting: From Qualifications to Assignment Medical interpreters interpret complex healthcare information during a healthcare encounter. Your accuracy and awareness of cultural differences directly impact a patient’s experience and outcome. This guide will equip you with the know-how to successfully navigate your career as a contract medical interpreter. We spoke with the experts to bring you the inside information that you need to advance your medical interpreter career.

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The Contractor’s Guide to Medical Interpreting: From Qualifications to Assignment

Navigating the Contractor Journey: Step-by-Step Guide for Medical Interpreters

1. DISCOVERY

Explore our job listings at amnhealthcare.com/careers /language-interpreters/

2. APPLICATION

Apply to one of our job listings or fill out our short application form.

3. PRE SCREEN

If your resume meets our requirements, talk with one of our recruiters to discuss job details.

4. DOCUMENTATION

Provide proof of language assessment, HIPAA course completion and medical interpreter training certificate.

5. INTERVIEW

Review contract details and onboarding instructions with your recruiter.

6. CONTRACT

Sign the contract and get ready to hit the ground running.

7. SETUP

Receive platform credentials. In-person interpreters also receive an official interpreter badge.

8. GO LIVE

Start taking interpreter calls or assignments.

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The Contractor’s Guide to Medical Interpreting: From Qualifications to Assignment

Section 1: Contractor Qualifications Before starting your journey as a contract medical interpreter with AMN Healthcare Language Services, it’s important to ensure you qualify. Fluency in both source and target languages coupled with a deep understanding of medical terminology, ethics, and HIPAA compliance, are crucial for effective communication in healthcare. Essential Qualifications: • Fluent and have strong verbal communication skills in both the source and target language • Successful completion of a medical language proficiency assessment focused on interpreter protocols and knowledge of medical terminology. ( Language Stat , ALTA , and Reach offer these assessments) • Extensive knowledge of code of ethics and standards of practice (IMIA, NBCMI and NCIHC). • HIPAA compliant work environment/setting

• HIPAA Training for Business Associates certificate (completed within the last year) • Accredited Medical Interpreting Training course (i.e.: ALTA , MITS , Bridging the Gap , MiTio , Cross-Cultural training , 40-hour accredited medical courses)

Always mention any additional qualifications related to the position. Don’t forget to share if you have: • Degree or certifications in interpreting practices • National Medical Interpreter Certification by CCHI or NBCMI • Two years of medical interpreting experience, within a hospital or clinical setting

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The Contractor’s Guide to Medical Interpreting: From Qualifications to Assignment

Section 2: Discovery and Application

Discover the Opportunities We have more than 200 medical interpreter opportunities to choose from. Take some time to explore our career page for open roles. You can set filter preferences based on your skillset and preferred lifestyle. Submit an Application When you find an opportunity that’s a fit, click apply! You can submit our short application right on our website. Receive Confirmation Email Once your application is submitted, you will receive an email confirming the application is complete. Prescreen A recruiting specialist will reach out to you via email or phone to set up a prequalifying call. This call is a brief chat to ensure we understand your availability, compensation expectations, and answer any of your questions regarding next steps.

Final Interview The final interview with the recruiter will take place over the phone.

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The Contractor’s Guide to Medical Interpreting: From Qualifications to Assignment

Section 3: The Interview Process

It’s important your resume and application stand out during the interview process. Here are a few recommendations directly from our recruiters: Keep Your Resume Updated When you are not actively seeking clients or employment, it’s easy to let your resume become outdated. Highlight your unique interpreter experiences on paper to help recruiters get to know you better and proactively create a positive impression. Preparation is Key During the interview process, you and the company are getting to know each other. Proactively researching the company not only helps weed out opportunities that don’t align with your values, but also prepares you for an interview. • Prompt questions: Conducting research enables you to ask questions about the company values and contractor expectations. Add these additional questions to your arsenal to show your engagement. Showcase Your Professionalism It’s important to demonstrate your professionalism. Professionalism begins with your interview set-up and the way you present yourself.

• Look the part: Dress for success and wear professional clothing.

• Professional behavior: Stay focused on the conversation at hand. Medical interpreters are required to be hyper-attentive to ensure a patient’s health and safety. Highlight these skills.

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The Contractor’s Guide to Medical Interpreting: From Qualifications to Assignment

Remain Engaged Throughout the Process Engagement is a crucial factor in successful interviews and vetting processes. Being engaged starts when you apply and carries through to contract signing. You can demonstrate engagement through: • Responsiveness: Respond to communications in a timely manner to show your enthusiasm for the role. • Express curiosity: Ask informed questions during the interview and follow up with the recruiter to keep yourself top of mind. Demonstrate Your Medical and Technological Skillset The key word in medical interpreting is, of course, medical. Each interaction is a vital part of the patient’s medical record. Successful medical interpreters are proficient in conveying medical information between speakers in both English and the patient’s preferred language. While your medical and technological skillset will not be formally tested, we encourage you to use the interview as an opportunity to showcase your skills and stand out. Use Medical Terminology Recruiters are looking for candidates familiar with medical terminology to facilitate effective outcomes and demonstrate you can pass a language assessment. To learn more about how you can prepare for your medical assessment, read “ A Medical Interpreter’s Guide to Language Assessments .” Showcase Your Tech Skills Being tech-savvy is an important skill to showcase because you’ll communicate through a technology platform. You don’t need to be an expert in technology, but you should be willing to learn.

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The Contractor’s Guide to Medical Interpreting: From Qualifications to Assignment

Section 4: Review Your Contract for a Successful Partnership

Once AMN Healthcare verifies your credentials, we will send you a professional contract. Be sure to review all the details for a transparent and successful experience. Important Contract Elements to Review: • Scope of Work: Understand your responsibilities and services. This includes a clear list of duties you are expected to perform, clarifying professional expectations. • Compensation: Get a detailed understanding of your financial compensation. The contract outlines your monetary rewards. • Payment Method and Terms: Learn about the payment process. The contract explains how and when you will be paid, ensuring timely and hassle-free transactions. • Records Audit: Be aware of our auditing process. The contract details the framework for maintaining HIPAA compliant records.

• Equipment Expectations: Know our tech and tool requirements. The contract specifies the type and standard of equipment needed.

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The Contractor’s Guide to Medical Interpreting: From Qualifications to Assignment

Section 5: Contract Signed… Now What?

After signing your contract, it will be time to hit the ground running. Here is what you can expect:

Getting Started on Your Assignments The AMN Contractor apps are innovative tools designed exclusively for our U.S.-based contractors. While we do not provide equipment to our contractors, we ensure you have full access and support for your respective apps to excel in your assignments. For Over the Phone Interpreters (OPI) Contractors Our AMN Contractor app for OPI Contractors makes it easy and convenient to offer your expertise at any time. The app is available via web, Android, and iOS.

• OPI contractors are responsible for accessing reliable wifi and maintaining a HIPAA-compliant workspace, upholding the highest standards of patient confidentiality and care • Advanced appointments are available, especially for less common languages • Notifications alert interpreters to urgent interpreter opportunities

What is a HIPAA- Compliant Workspace?

A HIPAA-compliant workspace is a secure environment that ensures the confidentiality and protection of patients’ sensitive health information. It includes measures such as restricted access, secure networks, proper disposal of documents, and regular training on HIPAA regulations.

• OPI contractors receive a flat pay rate per minute

For InPerson Interpreters (IPI) Contractors Our AMN Contractor app for IPI contractors gives you access to in-person requests, setting a distance radius from your location (residential address) to receive job notifications tailored to your proximity.

• We provide ID badges to IPI contractors working at various facilities

• The notifications detail every aspect of the job including location, session type, hourly rate, session duration, minimum paid hours, and more

• Rates vary per language pair

24/7 Support Being your own boss can be challenging. We offer 24/7 support to provide guidance and answer your questions when you need it.

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The Contractor’s Guide to Medical Interpreting: From Qualifications to Assignment

Section 6: Facing and Overcoming Challenges It is common for even the most dedicated professionals to experience interpreter fatigue. It takes awareness to overcome these challenges. It’s important to understand how to address and resolve your anxieties. Tips for Success: 1. Have a support system in place: With this integral position comes exposure to medical and emotional trauma that includes vicarious trauma, PTSD, burnout, and stress. Interpreters need to release the emotional hardships that can evolve by developing coping strategies for processing distressing clinical material

2. Schedule sessions wisely: Factor the complexity of the sessions versus the number of sessions. Identify encounters according to their complexity and identify the mental resources that will be used. This is known as “acuity” in healthcare interpreting 3. Establish healthy work habits: Ensure you are taking breaks, hydrating, and eating throughout the day A career in medical interpretation is rewarding because it deeply contributes to improving patient care and satisfaction. We hope this guide has provided you with the tools you need to succeed in your interpreter journey, from interview preparation to tips for overcoming on-the-job challenges.

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The Contractor’s Guide to Medical Interpreting: From Qualifications to Assignment

If you’re a medical interpreter who is compassionate and wants to help patients and their families, please apply on our career page today.

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