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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 10162012 - C.47RECOMMENDATION(S): ADOPT Position Adjustment Resolution No. 21072 to establish the classification of Medical Interpreter (VMVD)(represented) position at salary schedule QT5 1275 ($3,672 - $4,463) in the Health Services Department. FISCAL IMPACT: Upon approval, this action will result in an annual increased cost of $140,867.92, which includes an increase of $18,869.23 in pension costs. The cost associated with this action will be completely offset by Medi-Cal Waiver Delivery System Reform funds and will result in no net County cost. BACKGROUND: As part of the Department's commitment to reducing health disparities as well as to provide quality health care to all residents of our County, a priority for the Department has been and continues to be providing linguistic access to limited English proficiency (LEP) patients/clients. It is critical for patients with language barriers to have ready access to competent and professional medical interpretation services which is directly correlated to patient safety as well as ensuring that these patients/clients are being providing high quality health care. APPROVE OTHER RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE Action of Board On: 10/16/2012 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER Clerks Notes: VOTE OF SUPERVISORS AYE:John Gioia, District I Supervisor Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor ABSENT:Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor Contact: Dorette McCollumn, (925) 957-5240 I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown. ATTESTED: October 16, 2012 David Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors By: Carrie Del Bonta, Deputy cc: Roxana Mendoza, Nicole Lewis-Bolton, Dorette McCollumn C. 47 To:Board of Supervisors From:Ted Cwiek, Human Resources Date:October 16, 2012 Contra Costa County Subject:Establish the classification of Medical Interpreter and reclassify existing staff to the new classification and add 5 position. BACKGROUND: (CONT'D) Since 2005, the Department has been a member of the Health Care Interpreter Network (HCIN). HCIN is a network of qualified medical interpreters which can be accessed via telephone or video by participating organizations in order to provide instantaneous high quality medical interpretation services. Since the time of its inception, the HCIN Unit within our Department has grown exponentially and consists of a staff of fourteen interpreters specializing in medical interpretation services in various languages. Not only does this unit provide medical interpretation services to the patients/clients within our County system but we also are able to bill for services that the unit provides to other participating organizations within the network. HCIN meets our operational/programmatic needs but has also become a revenue generating unit for the Department which is critical during these trying fiscal times. In the past several years, industry trends in the field of medical interpretation as well as standards set by HCIN, medical interpreters must complete curriculum and training that meets the standards outlined in Senate Bill 853 and those identified in The Joint Commission standard. Additionally, our interpreters undergo testing by a third party to ensure that not only are they fluent in the target language but also have an understanding of ethics as they relate to medical interpretation services, communication techniques and practices in a medical setting, medical vocabulary/terminology in both English and the target language, key health care information, communication skills needed for patient/client advocacy, as well as cultural competency. It is no longer considered a "best practice" to utilize employees who are simply "bilingual" as they are unaware of the role of the medical interpreter, the techniques involved in facilitating patient-provider communication, and the complex intricacies involved in a medical interview/consult. Currently, the Department staffs it HCIN Unit with several different classifications, varying from Community Health Workers to Senior Clerks. Due to the abovementioned reasons, the Department is requesting to establish the Medical Interpreter classification so that we have a single classification that provides the full scope of medical interpretation and requires incumbents to possess a skill set that is specific to medical interpretation versus just being bilingual as well as meets HCIN requirements and industry standards. Please see attached for a draft job description as well as a salary survey of our relative labor market and comparable job specifications in other counties. CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION: If this action is not approved, the Department will be unable to effectively provide effective medical interpretation services to patients and clients. CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT: No impact. ATTACHMENTS P-300 #21072 Draft Job Specification Contra Costa County Established: Class Code: MEDICAL INTERPRETER Class specification are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Class specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job. DEFINITION: Under general direction, provides medical interpretation, in target language(s) or American sign language, for patients and their family members either face to face, or by telephone or video during encounters with medical providers and/or other medical support personnel; performs clerical functions in support of interpretation services; and does related work as required. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: Positions in this classification are assigned to the Health Care Interpreter Network (HCIN) within the Health Services Department and are primarily responsible for providing medical interpretation services for clients/patients of Contra Costa Health Services which includes, but is not limited to, Contra Costa County Regional Medical Center and related Clinics, the Appointment Unit, and Financial Counseling as well as for clients/patients of various other hospitals and medical centers/clinics on the HCIN network, and on other related national networks Supervision is received from a Public Health Program Specialist I or II. TYPICAL TASKS: • Orally Interprets, information related to medical procedures, diagnostic information, and/or medical education/instructions between patients/clients and medical providers/clinical staff in target language and in English • Clarifies meaning and verifies patient’s understanding of conveyed medical information • Provides education. support, and clarification to medical providers and clinical staff on culturally specific values and practices as they relate to the health care encounter • Verify the accuracy of medical/technical terms and terminology • Maintain confidentiality of patient/client information according to established Departmental guidelines • Participate in the training and orientation of new staff or volunteer interpreters • Assist with training of others on HCIN system and procedures • Provide and promote excellent customer service for all internal and external customers MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Experience: One year of full time (or its equivalent) experience working as an interpreter in a clinic, hospital or other medical setting. Note: Incumbents will be required to pass the Language Line Interpreter Skills Test and complete 40 hours of Health Care Interpreter Network (HCIN) approved medical interpreter training within nine months of appointment KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of: • Medical terminology • Basic interpreting techniques. • Culturally specific values, beliefs, and practices as they relate the to the health care encounter Ability to: • Fluently speak, read, and write in English and target language • Explain concepts accurately to patients/clients in their primary language • Maintain confidentiality • Operate computer, video and/or telephonic interpreting equipment • Provide and promote excellence in customer service for both internal and external customers • Acknowledge, respect cultural and linguistic differences of the County's diverse population