Thoughts from a Fellow Interpreter Rosa Hilts | March 2018

Hello!
I’m Rosa, a fellow Spanish Interpreter. It’s
important to take care of yourself by having
an organized workspace. This will help you
keep a positive attitude during this
challenging yet rewarding work.

“
The night before my shift: I vacuum my office. I wipe my
laptop/headset/telephone and shred any patient information from
that day’s work. I place everything in drawers except for clean paper
and my favorite pen (pilot G-2 07). I also remind my family of my
schedule for the next day; however, to be on the safe side, I have
installed a lock on my door.

The morning of my shift: I get ready as if I were going to an office.

This allows me to feel professional. Then, I place my stand-up sign
on my front porch, it reads: “Interpreting in Session. Please, DO NOT
disturb. Thank you!” This can really minimize extra
noise/interruptions. I also disconnected my doorbell.

Right before I log in: I set aside all the water I’ll need for my shift. I
prefer hot/warm water to help my throat and to stay hydrated (I also
keep honey sticks and cough drops close by). I have plenty of paper
handy and also a letter size boogie board (from Staples). When my
hand gets too tired, this electronic board requires less effort to write
on than to write on paper.

helloglobo.com | voicehelp@helloglobo.com
Thoughts from a Fellow Interpreter Rosa Hilts | March 2018

During calls: I pick up the phone with a smile. I have electronic

sticky notes on my computer home screen to remind me of the
intake script and the translation of the most common
acronyms/terms that are often used, like: ADHD, COPD, trigger, etc.

On my corkboard, I have 3x5 cards with basic information, such as:

GLOBO’s main phone numbers, GLOBO’s scores protocols, and my
ID #. Plus an Outbound call script that reads: “I’ll be happy to assist
you! May I please have the name/telephone number of…? In case, we
get a VM, would you like me to leave a message on your behalf?

“
Allow me one moment while I place the call. Thank you!” Another
script I have is to remind providers to speak directly to the patient, it
reads: “This is the interpreter, feel free to speak directly to the patient
as if you were speaking to an English speaking patient”. By the side
of my desk, I have dictionaries, easy-reading books to ‘kill time’ if
call volume is low. For stressful calls, I keep lavender oil close by.
The scent relaxes me.

What I DO NOT do during a call: I do not eat, chew gum, play

videogames, watch YouTube videos, play music, take personal calls,
or yawn. I also avoid doing laundry. I prefer not to work for more
than 3 hours at a time because breaks are necessary and healthy.

How I unwind: When I walk out of my office, I leave all thoughts of

work there, too. I really enjoy what I do; this job allows me to learn
every single day and that is something that thrills me. Even with
difficult calls, I do my best to look for learning opportunities rather
than focus on the negative. In conclusion, I feel privileged to be an
interpreter and look forward to continue being one for many years to
come.

helloglobo.com | voicehelp@helloglobo.com