Job Details

The Care Coordinator Medical Interpreter is part of the NEMS MSO Care Coordination and Case Management (CC/CM) team. The primary function of the Care Coordination Medical Interpreter is to establish communication between health care providers and NEMS patients who have limited English proficiency or prefer to speak in their native tongue. The interpreters responsibility will be to interpret and translate complex medical information to patients and ensure there is complete understanding of medical information between doctors, nurses, medical staff, and patients. This position is required to provide service over virtual systems as well as provide face-to-face service at various types of medical facilities, e.g., physician offices, hospital outpatient facilities, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, etc.

This position is an important communication link between doctors and patients. The candidate is required to have effective communication skills and knowledge to avoid cultural misunderstandings between patients and medical professionals, striving to provide a positive and relaxed experience so patients feel comfortable disclosing sensitive information about their medical conditions. While serving to bridge the language barrier between patients and doctors, this position must uphold patient confidentiality in accordance with policies and procedures of NEMS and other medical facilities.

The Care Coordinator Medical Interpreter is required to have a well-understanding of the many benefits and coverage offered by the different managed care products, including Medicare Advantage, D-SNP, Medi-Cal Managed Care, and other supplemental programs. To ensure eligible patients are receiving timely and efficient health care and support services, the Care Coordinator Medical Interpreter will also be responsible for facilitating medical, behavioral, social, and community support services for patients in need of enhanced care coordination services. These services will be through the development of a multi-disciplinary care plan, self-management goals, and referrals to both internal and external resources.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Accompany non-English speaking patients to specialist medical appointments or provide service virtually; establish effective communication between doctors, nurses, and patients at the medical appointment by interpreting and translating a wide range of medical information that includes medical conditions, treatment options, follow-up appointment details, insurance coverage, etc.
• Translate medical documents such as medical history questionnaires, post-appointment/discharge summaries, self-care instructions, health education lecture materials, etc., for patients prior to, during, and after medical appointments. Assist patients with understanding and completing paperwork that's required for medical procedure(s).
• Provide accurate interpretation of communication between patient and healthcare providers; ensure the understanding of information exchange between the parties involved.
• Connect through various virtual systems to deliver service.
• Coordinate care for patients after the medical appointment to ensure referrals to other specialists and/or medical procedure(s) are in place.
• Monitor delivery of care by identifying progress toward desired care outcomes; interact with involved service providers and/or facilities to negotiate and expedite scheduling and completion of tests, procedures, and consults.
• Participate in interdisciplinary care team meetings to evaluate outcomes of care by measuring intervention effectiveness; implement team recommendations.
• Be the system navigator and point of contact for patients enrolled in managed care programs; assist patients with benefit coverage and access to care questions/concerns.
• Provide enhanced care coordination services assisting patients in problem-solving with issues related to the healthcare system, financial or social barriers.
• Conduct outreach activities to assigned members by phone, mail, or any other forms of communication to promote program engagement and NEMS marketing strategy.
• Collect and report statistical information for monthly and quarterly reports.
• Document program measure results and submit to MSO Committee as needed.
• Contribute to NEMS marketing strategy and other outreach project planning.
• Perform other job duties as required by manager/supervisor.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Certification from an accredited Medical Interpreter program or Healthcare Interpreter Program in Cantonese and/or Mandarin, Vietnamese, or Spanish. May be substituted by passing the LanguageLine Interpreter Skills Test (IST) required.
• Completion of a two-year degree from an accredited higher education institution or higher preferred.
• 1-3 years experience interpreting in a clinical setting preferred.
• Strong knowledge of medical terminology.
• Excellent listening, speaking, and retention skills to accurately convey messaging.
• Excellent social and communication skills, strong analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Valid drivers license and ability to operate company vehicle.
• Knowledge of State/Federal healthcare compliance requirements, particularly DHCS/Medi-Cal guidelines a plus.
• Ability to self-manage in a detail-oriented environment.
• Ability to operate PC-based software programs or automated database management systems.
• Good organization and prioritization skills, outstanding in time management.

LANGUAGE:

• Must be able to fluently read, write, and speak English.
• Must be verbally fluent in the foreign language that's required for the position.
• The ability to speak an additional foreign language is a plus.

STATUS:

This is an FLSA Non-exempt position.
This is not an OSHA high-risk position.

NEMS is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer welcoming diversity in our workforce. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.