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12 Things You Need To Do To Make Medical Translation Easy
When you choose to accommodate your multilingual audience (either because the law requires it or you realize what a good idea it is for your business), there are some medical industry best practices you should know. Here’s a step-by-step guide to medical translation. Before you find a qualified and professional Language Services Provider (LSP) for your healthcare translation needs, ask some critical questions, including: While some medical plan providers may have a cultural and linguistics department or coordinator, others may not have staff devoted to this process. No matter the organization's internal structure, it's essential to allocate an appropriate budget to hire a professional LSP. When it comes to selecting a Language Services Provider, get well-acquainted with their translation process and quality assurance procedures, as well as the costs. Make a list of questions you should ask a potential translation company. Any serious LSP will be excited to partner with you and to walk you through the initial and ongoing steps, which is the best way to learn about translation and to create a lasting partnership. Using bilingual employees to perform translations puts you at risk. At best, you might end up with inaccurate translations; at worst, you'd be breaking the law. Also, adding that extra responsibility to a bilingual employee takes them away from other vital projects. A professional medical translation company is the smart choice and can help ensure accuracy and consistency. A quality healthcare translation agency may not be the cheapest, but it will be able to find ways to save you money. For example, a professional medical translation agency will use translation memory software and offer year-over-year savings and volume discounts. Work with your Language Services Provider to determine your process, what steps will take place each time a document is translated, and how your specific needs will be met. Establishing a clear and detailed timeline from the beginning helps both sides move through the process smoothly. By involving the head of the Cultural and Linguistics department at the beginning of your medical translation project, you can save time and frustration in the long run. Get this person involved in your process from the very beginning and keep them informed throughout the project. This will ensure consistency throughout all documents and make for a smoother project. Style guides and glossaries will increase the overall quality and consistency of your documents. These reference files are usually compiled manually. A glossary contains important terms with their preferred translations, and the style guide tells translators about linguistic and stylistic preferences, such as the audience and tone of the document. The glossary includes recurrent words/phrases that need to be translated the same way to make sense in the target language. At Avantpage we provide all healthcare clients with customizable style guides and glossaries at the start of our relationship. Vital documents contain information that is critical for accessing the provider or agency services and/or benefits. Some examples include letters or notices that require a response from the customer or documents that inform customers of free language assistance. Vital documents can also include applications, consent forms and letters, or other template-based correspondence. A non-standard document might contain information specific to one person, to an event, or any other evolving subject matter. If you need to have documents such as these translated, first standardize the English versions of these forms. Then, you can submit these documents for translations early. Assuming your audience may only read at the elementary school level, keep information written for the consumer as simple and clear as possible. This will also help you when it comes time to have documents translated. Documents that require certain wording for legal purposes can still be written in words everyone can understand—it may just take a little extra effort. It is important to remember that if a translation is required to be at a certain grade level, the English text should also be provided at that same level. Avantpage can lower the reading level as an additional service. To ensure that you get the greatest value out of your translation services, be an active part of the process. If you have a primary LSP, consider having a backup available in case of emergencies. Work closely with them at all times. Join professional organizations that will help you stay on top of changes to the law. When you anticipate regulatory changes, it will be easier to comply. Use common standards to evaluate quality. The Standard Guide for Quality Assurance in Translation by the American Society for Testing and Materials is mainly used in the United States and will give you a good starting point to discuss the quality assurance process with your LSP. If your company works in Europe, you may need to use EN 15038 as a standard instead. After you’ve completed your healthcare translation project, it will become clear how translation is more than just compliance. It’s a tool to reach new markets. Quality translations can be part of an investment strategy that will eventually have a major payoff. By following this process, you can ensure a successful medical translation project. At Avantpage our experienced team can help guide you through the translation process and make it fast and easy. To find out more about our services or to get a free quote, Email us at [email protected] or call us at 1-530-750-2040, extension 6.

Desktop Publishing (DTP) Services in Translation: What They Are, Why They’re Important
Desktop Publishing (DTP) Services are an important component of both print and digital translation. DTP refers to the creation and layout of documents using a personal computer as opposed to a commercial design/printing setup. DTP translation services are integrated during the translation process, and use specialized software to generate layouts and produce printed and digital materials. DTP first appeared in the early eighties. When the Apple LaserWriter printer and Aldus’ Pagemaker software debuted in 1985, desktop publishing took off since anyone with the technology and the software could suddenly create professional-looking printed pages, complete with graphics and different fonts. Today, DTP is an integral part of the translation process. Through the use of DTP software, translation organizations can format and re-create foreign language page design/layouts both for print and Internet use, without compromising the message and feel of the original material. DTP specialists work carefully to ensure that a culturally accurate and appropriate message is reflected through the use of graphics, fonts and design elements. Translating files into other languages can wreak all kinds of havoc on original layouts, graphics and formatting. Photo captions, graphs, forms or other illustrations may be inadvertently repositioned, truncated or even lost altogether. Because some languages take up more space than others when written, the ratio of text to white space can vary widely from language to language. Bulleted lists, hyphenation, paragraph breaks, spacing and other graphic design elements may all be negatively affected in the transition from one language to another. One other aspect of DTP services is the culturally appropriate use of color and imagery. What is perfectly acceptable in one culture may be inadvertently offensive or have negative connotations in another. For this reason, it’s important to take cultural norms into account when translating page layouts for print or digital materials. Professional translation organizations will provide multilingual DTP services to ensure that each client’s translated files are completely aligned with the target language’s visual layout and design requirements. Formatting, punctuation, hyphenation, captions, illustrations, graphic design elements – every detail must reproduced accurately when presented in the target language. DTP services should accurately reflect local cultural norms, provide accurate text-to-white-space ratios, and ensure that order forms, feedback forms, client contact forms and hyperlinks are fully functioning in the new target language. DTP services are used to create digital media such as web pages, downloadable information sheets, brochures and other PDF documents. Printed pieces such as flyers, handouts, brochures, signage, forms and other hard-copy materials are also formatted for printing using DTP software, design and layout services. Image: Sean MacEntee
Healthcare Translation: Preparing for Covered California Today
Covered California is poised to hit the ground running later this year! Since 2011, Avantpage has been following the health benefit exchange every step of the way—attending board meetings, creating reports and communicating with Board members, health plans and consumer stakeholders. And we know this: Covered California will have a dramatic impact on healthcare in the coming years. To help you prepare for the major changes ahead, we’ve created an information-packed new Special Report “Preparing for Covered California Today.” It’s part of our ongoing healthcare series to help you make smart decisions and get prepared regarding translation needs, requirements and priorities as Covered California becomes a part of the healthcare landscape. Download our Special Report now, and understand exactly how Covered California will affect your organization: Contact Avantpage today to be well prepared for Covered California and effectively communicate with your LEP customers.
Hispanic Demographics are Trending Up!
Power up your Spanish translation program... Spanish-speaking Americans are growing in numbers, expanding their reach and buying power, and gaining ground in numerous geographical areas. The 2010 US Census preliminary results indicate that in numerous states, the Hispanic population is on the upswing. With more state results to come, trends definitely point to robust Hispanic market growth. Many of these people are Limited English Proficient, and are most comfortable reading and communicating in Spanish. What does this mean for you? If you are thinking of increasing your presence in the Spanish-speaking marketplace, now is the time to make your move. Localizing your website and multimedia materials, translating your documents and signage and presenting marketing and advertising campaigns in Spanish as well as English will help you target and connect with LEP consumers. New Spanish-speaking prospects are out there in force, and they are ready and willing to use your services, buy your products and support your company - if you commit to reaching out to them in their own language. At Avantpage, we excel at English to Spanish translation that is high quality, culturally sensitive and audience-appropriate. Our translation teams are experts at choosing the proper wording, sentence structure and terminology that will best get your message across.

Are You Reaching Your Hispanic/Latino Customers?
In today’s global economy, it is an absolute necessity that your company be able to communicate to Spanish speakers of all cultures. Our priority as a premier Spanish translation provider is ensuring that your message is clear. Establishing a worldwide presence requires quality Spanish translation services that work for you – and nothing less. Our native-speaking Spanish translators understand that Spanish is a living language-a language with many different dialects and shades of meaning. So whether you’re doing business in Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela, Spain, or the United States, our sensitive Spanish translations will be just right for your audience. Statistics show that by 2016, the Latino/Hispanic population will make up 16% of the entire United States workforce, or 26.2 million people, and by 2050, the Latino/Hispanic group will make up 30% of the US population. Establish a positive corporate image for your business in Latino/Hispanic communities by creating Spanish-language messaging that is on target linguistically as well as culturally. Why is quality so important when it comes to Spanish translations? There is no margin for error. You have one opportunity to make a dynamic and lasting impression-a chance to show your Spanish-speaking audience that you understand who they are and what they want. High-quality translation will solidify your market position, strengthen your relationships with your audience, and more effectively brand your business. At Avantpage, we are here so that you succeed. We partner with you every step of the way, offering responsive, accommodating, and flexible Spanish translation service designed to meet your objectives, exceed your standards, and to produce a consistent message that delivers. We take a personal interest in your business and provide you with exceptional Spanish language services in a variety of subjects such as medical/healthcare, financial, business and technical.