U Status Medical Interpreter
Salem, OR, US
Interpreter Services
Per Diem
Job ID: #16666
Location: Salem Hospital, 890 Oak Street SE, Salem, Oregon 97301
Department: Language Services
Position Type: Unscheduled/ Per Diem
Schedule: Scheduling will encompass all hours and days, aligned with business needs
Your role with us
At Salem Health, a medical interpreter plays a critical role in ensuring equitable, accurate, and timely communication between patients, families, and health care providers by providing in-person and remote language interpretation, primarily in high-stakes medical contexts. In addition to direct interpretation, the role includes coordinating services for other languages, supporting staff education on working with limited english proficiency (LEP) patients, and acting as a cultural liaison to improve patient trust and safety. Interpreters also contribute to system improvements, regulatory compliance, and community engagement, helping to reduce barriers to care. If you're passionate about language access and making a difference in patient care, we encourage you to apply and join our dedicated team at Salem Health.
What you'll do
- Provide accurate, impartial, and timely in-person or remote medical interpretation between patients, families, and providers to ensure clear, medically necessary communication 24/7.
- Coordinate and support language access services for a variety of languages, including American Sign Language, through scheduling, patient rounding, and use of auxiliary aids.
- Triage and prioritize multiple interpretation requests to meet urgent and complex patient care needs effectively.
- Educate staff and support cultural competency by sharing insights on language and cultural dynamics that impact communication with LEP patients.
- Act as a Community Health Liaison and cultural broker, building trust, addressing health equity, and supporting regulatory compliance and patient safety.
- Utilize technology tools such as dispatching systems and mobile devices to ensure efficient communication and service delivery.
Required qualifications
- Certified Health Care Interpreter: Currently has Oregon State Health Care Interpreter Certification from OHA.
Additional Information
- Formal interpreting experience or the completion of a state approved health care interpreter training course preferred.
Why Salem Health?
Salem Health is a Top Workplace in Oregon, known for fostering a supportive culture where your contributions truly matter. As an award-winning, independent health care system, we serve our region through Salem Hospital, multiple community clinics and West Valley Hospital, ensuring broad access to high-quality care.
We believe in empowering our teams. Through Lean principles, staff help drive innovation and solve real problems. We also invest in your growth with professional development, tuition assistance, and clear career pathways. At Salem Health, you’ll find more than a job, you’ll find purpose, connection, and room to thrive.
Salem Health Hospitals and Clinics is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status or condition protected by law.
Salem Health Hospitals and Clinics is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for applicants. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact my.recruiter@salemhealth.org.
Location: Salem Hospital, 890 Oak Street SE, Salem, Oregon 97301
Department: Language Services
Position Type: Unscheduled/ Per Diem
Schedule: Scheduling will encompass all hours and days, aligned with business needs
Your role with us
At Salem Health, a medical interpreter plays a critical role in ensuring equitable, accurate, and timely communication between patients, families, and health care providers by providing in-person and remote language interpretation, primarily in high-stakes medical contexts. In addition to direct interpretation, the role includes coordinating services for other languages, supporting staff education on working with limited english proficiency (LEP) patients, and acting as a cultural liaison to improve patient trust and safety. Interpreters also contribute to system improvements, regulatory compliance, and community engagement, helping to reduce barriers to care. If you're passionate about language access and making a difference in patient care, we encourage you to apply and join our dedicated team at Salem Health.
What you'll do
- Provide accurate, impartial, and timely in-person or remote medical interpretation between patients, families, and providers to ensure clear, medically necessary communication 24/7.
- Coordinate and support language access services for a variety of languages, including American Sign Language, through scheduling, patient rounding, and use of auxiliary aids.
- Triage and prioritize multiple interpretation requests to meet urgent and complex patient care needs effectively.
- Educate staff and support cultural competency by sharing insights on language and cultural dynamics that impact communication with LEP patients.
- Act as a Community Health Liaison and cultural broker, building trust, addressing health equity, and supporting regulatory compliance and patient safety.
- Utilize technology tools such as dispatching systems and mobile devices to ensure efficient communication and service delivery.
Required qualifications
- Certified Health Care Interpreter: Currently has Oregon State Health Care Interpreter Certification from OHA.
Additional Information
- Formal interpreting experience or the completion of a state approved health care interpreter training course preferred.
Why Salem Health?
Salem Health is a Top Workplace in Oregon, known for fostering a supportive culture where your contributions truly matter. As an award-winning, independent health care system, we serve our region through Salem Hospital, multiple community clinics and West Valley Hospital, ensuring broad access to high-quality care.
We believe in empowering our teams. Through Lean principles, staff help drive innovation and solve real problems. We also invest in your growth with professional development, tuition assistance, and clear career pathways. At Salem Health, you’ll find more than a job, you’ll find purpose, connection, and room to thrive.
Salem Health Hospitals and Clinics is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status or condition protected by law.
Salem Health Hospitals and Clinics is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for applicants. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact my.recruiter@salemhealth.org.
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Career exploration program
Whatever your background or career aspirations, there’s a place for you at Salem Health. And our Career Exploration Program can help you identify the ideal opportunity to pursue. The Program allows you to work alongside a healthcare professional as you gain insight into a fulfilling hospital career.

Nursing
Since 2010, Salem Hospital has continuously achieved Magnet™-designation – the gold standard for nursing excellence. Only eight percent of all hospitals achieve this prestigious distinction.
We’ve been able to do this by maintaining a nursing culture that is defined by:
- Consistent teamwork and collaboration
- Exemplary resources to support clinical nurses
- Engaged and inspiring leadership
- A focus on well-being, resilience, diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Strong professional development opportunities
- Pride in delivering quality-of-care that exceeds national norms
- An empowering professional governance structure and professional practice model
- New grad residency support, preceptorship, and mentoring
- Open and transparent strategy alignment
- Feedback is encouraged, valued and incorporated from the staff at all levels.
- Partnerships with community organizations that support improved patient outcomes
If you’re looking for a setting where you can achieve your highest potential as a nurse, we invite you to join us. We welcome all nurses, including those from outside of the United States. At Salem Health, you can experience an inclusive culture that values and rewards your unique qualities and background.


RN residency program
Begin your journey from student nurse to confident practitioner with our RN Residency Program. The program features a combination of didactic lessons, simulation, and track-specific class options. It begins with orientation and training and proceeds to preceptorship and mentorship. Through the program, you will gain clinical expertise as well as valuable professional skills such as communication and critical thinking.

Certified nursing assistants
As a certified nursing assistant (CNA), your contributions are absolutely crucial. You will provide compassionate reassurance and vital patient support in order to ensure our patients receive the highest quality care possible. You will receive competitive compensation as you provide patients with physical care and emotional support. We seek empathetic, and non-judgmental individuals with a sincere passion for elevating others’ lives.

Postgraduate year 1 pharmacy residency program
The Salem Health Postgraduate Year 1 (PGY1) Residency Program enhances your PharmD education as you develop your clinical expertise in the medication-related care of patients with a wide range of conditions. The program will be eligible for board certification, and eligible for postgraduate year 2 (PGY2) pharmacy residency training. Upon completion of the Salem Health PGY1 residency, we believe you will be a confident and highly capable general practitioner, and well-prepared for the next step in your career.
We will meet you wherever you are on your career journey, and walk with you to your destination
There are over 900 unique positions to choose from at Salem Health. Whatever your background or your professional and personal aspirations, we offer an inclusive learning environment where you can achieve your highest potential in a career that grows with you. And, we’ll help you along the way with perks like tuition reimbursement and certification bonuses.
With so many options, why work anywhere else?


