The Open Door Clinic is seeking Volunteer Medical Interpreters. Read below for more information and a volunteer application. 

Dear Potential Volunteer:

Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Open Door Clinic.

As a free medical clinic serving uninsured and underinsured low income individuals in Addison County, we provide essential medical care to individuals of many backgrounds. Approximately 30% of our patients are Limited English Proficiency (LEP) patients requiring assistance of medical interpreters to facilitate communication and thus insure high quality medical care. Although we have access to telephonic interpretation, we rely most heavily on volunteer medical interpreters available for in-person interpretation at clinics and referral appointments.

Please review the attachments below information before submitting a medical interpreter volunteer application.

VOLUNTEER MEDICAL INTERPRETER APPLICATION
Volunteer Medical Interpreter Position Description
Interpreter External Language Evaluation Form
Interpreter Application cover letter and instructions
Interpreter Language Skills Self Assessment Form

Because of the responsibility that interpreters have for insuring accurate understanding of medical conditions, procedures, and treatments, we require a relatively stringent screening process for potential volunteer interpreters. We are glad to train new interpreters in interpretation techniques and practices, but we require fluency in English and the target language before we can accept these new interpreter volunteers for training.

Please return the following application materials to Open Door Clinic by March 15, 2013:
• Medical Interpreter Volunteer Application
• Language Skills Self Assessment Form
• Names and contact information for two personal/professional references, ideally individuals who can comment on your experience in cross-cultural and/or other settings applicable to volunteer work as a medical interpreter
• Please have two individuals familiar with your non-native language skills submit language evaluation forms directly to Open Door Clinic using the enclosed postage prepaid envelopes. If you have formally studied this language within the past five years, at least one of these language evaluations should be from a language instructor.

After receipt of your application materials, an Open Door Clinic staff member will contact interpreter candidates to schedule a 20-30 minute phone interview conducted in English and/or your target language. There will be an April 6th training at UVM for interested applicants. Please do not hesitate to contact Kay with questions about Open Door Clinic, medical interpretation and/or medical interpreter application, screening, and training.

Thank you again for your support of our community and assistance in ensuring quality healthcare for all.

Sincerely,

Kay A. Freedy
Outreach Coordinator
outreach.opendoor@gmail.com