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For many language projects, it simply isn’t enough to translate the words on paper from one language to the next. Simple, word-for-word translation may work for straightforward texts like administrative paperwork or technical instructions, but when it comes to more creative works—think outreach campaigns, slogans or social media posts—you need transcreation. Transcreation is the process of adapting content for an entirely different cultural context—while language is one major component of that, transcreation may also change the imagery, idioms, and overall emotional appeal of a campaign.  A classic example: In France, McDonald’s adapts their “I’m Lovin’ It” slogan to “c’est tout ce que j’aime” (“It’s everything that I love”), while in Quebec, it becomes “c’est ça que j’m” (“It’s that that I luv’”). The stylized “j’m” is a playful nod to the stylization of “lovin’” in English, reflecting Quebec’s bilingual culture. While these may feel like minor details, they ultimately create a more culturally appropriate and immersive experience for audiences.  In this blog post, we’ll explore the differences between transcreation and translation, giving you a better understanding of how your organization can decide which is right for a given project. Table of Contents - Translation vs. Transcreation: Definitions & Examples - Transcreation vs. Localization - Why Words Alone Fall Short - When to Use Translation vs. Transcreation - Best Practices for Culturally Appropriate Messaging - Changes and Future Outlook - Frequently Asked Questions About Transcreation vs. Translation - Don’t Just Translate: Transcreate with Avantpage Translation is a purely linguistic process—it’s best suited to documents that involve very little creativity, such as administrative paperwork, discharge instructions, dense legal texts, etc. These kinds of documents should prioritize linguistic accuracy and clarity, and there’s typically no reason to change the overall messaging.  Healthcare organizations and agencies like election boards typically employ translation services for the following types of documents: On the other hand, transcreation is a more creative process that involves factors beyond language. Transcreators adapt a text for a totally new cultural context, using different idioms, emotions, and even images, as needed. If you translate a transcreated text back into the source language, it should still get the same message across, but it won’t use the exact same words or tone as the original. Healthcare organizations and government agencies typically employ transcreation services for the following types of documents: You may have also heard about localization—another process used to adapt content for different audiences. While transcreation focuses on reimagining the message itself, localization is a broader process that also includes adjusting practical details like date formats, measurements, currencies, and culturally relevant references.  Ultimately, transcreation is one aspect of the localization process; localization aims to make content functional in a new cultural context, while transcreation is a process to make sure that the content goes beyond functionality and resonates with the target audience. When you’re adapting highly idiomatic or emotionally charged content into another language, a one-to-one translation doesn’t usually land right.  For instance, you could translate the English idiom “It’s raining cats and dogs,” word for word into Chinese, but audiences likely won’t get what you’re trying to say, as the “cats and dogs” idiom is largely unique to English. Instead, you’d want to use an equivalent expression that’s commonly used among Chinese speakers. These kinds of errors sound silly, but they’re no joke. In addition to hurting an organization’s reputation and lowering trust, they can also have severe consequences in industries like healthcare and government. In healthcare, even minor translation errors can lead to serious miscommunication, patient harm, or compliance failures. As the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control has noted, translation alone is not enough: “Too often, little or no attention is given to end-user comprehensibility and the cultural appropriateness of even well translated materials.”  In government and public health, unclear or culturally off-key messaging can mean lower vaccination or screening rates. And for global brands, mistranslated slogans or poorly adapted campaigns can derail launches and damage credibility. Across all sectors, the lesson is the same: Effective communication depends on cultural insight and emotional precision. Getting it wrong can have serious consequences. In healthcare, bad, unclear messaging can violate compliance requirements like civil rights protections, Title VI, or patient rights, ultimately exposing organizations to legal risk. And the financial stakes can be high—communication failures cost U.S. hospitals an estimated $12 billion annually, according to research from CRICO.  When determining whether to use translation or transcreation, ask yourself what the goal of the content is—if its main purpose is to inform your audience, translation is probably the way to go. If the main purpose is to engage your audience, go with transcreation instead. Translation works best when you need to make sure that the final product maintains all of the same information and details of the source text. Things like legal, regulatory, or administrative documents, instructions, and technical manuals should all be translated, rather than transcreated. When the focus is less on the nitty-gritty details of a text and more on the overall message, transcreation is the right choice. Organizations typically use transcreation for marketing campaigns, social media posts, and other forms of outreach and engagement. Creating culturally appropriate messaging may seem like a challenge, especially if you’re trying to target an audience that isn’t from the same linguistic or cultural background as you. But you shouldn’t do it alone—collaborate with a language service provider who can help you figure out the right approach for your message. Linguists, cultural consultants, and community leaders can help identify subtle language cues, imagery, and emotional tones that might otherwise be missed. Testing is also important. Focus groups and patient or consumer panels provide real-world feedback, helping you refine messaging before it reaches a wider audience. This step can reveal misunderstandings, highlight preferred phrasing, and uncover cultural sensitivities that might not be immediately obvious to you. Effective messaging meets all compliance standards while respecting cultural nuance. The best results come from responsibly leveraging human expertise with technology. Tools like translation software or artificial intelligence can speed up the process, but they work best when guided by people who understand the cultural and emotional context behind the words. Having a human in the loop helps ensure compliance and accuracy, which are especially important for healthcare organizations and government agencies. Transcreation is not without its challenges: It is typically a more time-consuming and more expensive process than translation. As a result, it can also be a harder process to scale, especially if your content needs to be adapted for several different cultural and linguistic contexts. But as a safeguard against reputational damage or non-compliance fees, it’s certainly a worthwhile investment. As technological innovations like artificial intelligence and machine translation software become more advanced, these tools may play a larger role in the process. However, transcreation requires a very deep knowledge of both the source and target languages and their cultures—automated translation tools still don’t do particularly well with text that requires cultural context to understand, and it’s unlikely that these tools will be able to completely replace humans in the transcreation process. Transcreation is the process of adapting content for an entirely different cultural context, rather than simply translating the words from one language to another. Transcreation goes a step beyond translation, emphasizing cultural appropriateness—this may involve changing certain details of the text, branding, messaging, or adapting the imagery and layout. Clarity and trust are critical in these sectors—transcreation helps ensure messages are not only understood but culturally appropriate, reducing the risk of miscommunication and improving public engagement. Transcreation allows brands to connect authentically with diverse audiences, maintaining brand voice while tailoring tone, idioms and imagery to local markets. This often leads to stronger emotional impact and better campaign performance. Translation works for technical or administrative documents, but transcreation is needed when the content relies on tone or cultural nuance—things like marketing campaigns, slogans, or community outreach materials. Start by consulting with a language service provider who specializes in your sector. They’ll assess your content and the documents you need adapted to help you determine the right language solution for your organization. Words alone are not enough. Whether you’re in healthcare, government, or global branding, effective communication requires cultural insight and emotional precision. Transcreation helps you connect authentically, enabling you to build trust across diverse communities. As you reflect on your organization’s content, consider what could be suitable for transcreation. When you’re ready to take the next step, contact Avantpage at [email protected], or call (530) 750-2040. We pride ourselves on offering translation and transcreation services that will help your message resonate, no matter the language.

Despite the digital transformation of healthcare communication, physical mail remains one of the most trusted and effective member touchpoints. From enrollment packets to compliance notices, printed mail continues to play a vital role in ensuring equitable access to information. But here’s the challenge: too often, healthcare organizations translate their mailings without localizing them. And when language is treated as an afterthought, key messages can be lost in translation. The result? Missed appointments, compliance risks, and disengaged members. Localization changes that. When healthcare direct mail is culturally adapted, linguistically precise, and contextually relevant, it doesn’t just deliver a message; it builds trust. This article explores why localization is crucial to effective healthcare direct mail, how it drives engagement and compliance, and what best practices providers and payers can follow to reach every member meaningfully. Table of Contents - Why Direct Mail Still Matters in Healthcare - Translation vs. Localization in Member Mailings - The Risks of “Translation Only” in Direct Mail - The Benefits of Localized Direct Mail - Best Practices for Healthcare Direct Mail Localization - End-to-End Fulfillment: Turning Localization into Scalable Action - Making the Case for Localized Direct Mail in Healthcare - Frequently Asked Questions About Healthcare Direct Mail - Localized Direct Mail: A Smarter Approach to Healthcare Outreach Healthcare organizations increasingly rely on digital engagement, yet direct mail remains indispensable, especially for underserved and multilingual populations. It also works. According to the USPS, most healthcare businesses report direct mail response rates between 11% and 15%, and health companies are the most likely of any industry to see response rates above 25%. Even in a digital world, print remains the backbone of compliance-driven communication, making its clarity and cultural resonance more critical than ever. Before diving deeper, it’s essential to distinguish between translation and localization. For example, a nutrition benefits mailer translated word-for-word might mention “low-fat cottage cheese.” But localized for Hispanic members, it might reference familiar alternatives or culturally relevant dietary examples that connect more naturally. Localization bridges linguistic accuracy with cultural empathy, ensuring messages are not just understood, but felt. Healthcare communication is high-stakes. A word misunderstood or a tone misplaced can have real-world consequences: In contrast, localization humanizes compliance, it makes regulatory communication accessible, accurate, and actionable. When healthcare organizations invest in localized mail campaigns, they see measurable results. Localized materials reflect a member’s language, imagery, and values, strengthening connection and loyalty. Studies show culturally adapted interventions increase patient retention by 40%.  Localization ensures that health literacy, tone, and terminology meet members where they are, reducing confusion and rework. Localized mail supports compliance with federal and state regulations for Limited English Proficient (LEP) populations, a group that includes over 26 million people in the U.S. (8%).  Localized campaigns consistently outperform generic ones, boosting open rates, responses, and satisfaction scores, while reducing grievances and costly follow-ups. Identify top LEP languages within your member base using U.S. Census or internal demographic data. See more in Reducing Language Barriers in Healthcare. Use professional translation services and community reviewers who understand local norms, idioms, and sensitivities. Leverage data to personalize mailings, automating language, name, plan, and benefit details without compromising compliance. Reinforce printed mail with digital reminders or accessible QR codes that link to localized resources online. Hybrid communication ensures continuity for all members. Engage small community panels to test clarity and tone before sending to a large audience. Member feedback ensures materials resonate authentically. Localization is only as effective as the system behind it. Even when organizations understand what to communicate, they often face bottlenecks in how to get multilingual mail out the door: accurately, securely, and on time. That’s where end-to-end communication solutions make the difference. A complete fulfillment platform allows healthcare organizations to manage translation, localization, printing, and mailing in one seamless workflow. Instead of coordinating multiple vendors or risking inconsistencies, everything, from content creation to final delivery, is centralized and automated. This approach ensures: With an end-to-end system, healthcare organizations move from reactive translation to proactive, data-driven communication, building member trust while saving time and cost. Real-world examples show the tangible benefits of culturally adaptive print fulfillment: - A health plan achieved full CMS compliance by translating and localizing member letters into multiple languages while maintaining design consistency and turnaround time.
- A state agency reduced turnaround times and increased response rates after centralizing translation, printing, and mailing through a single, compliant partner. Localized fulfillment isn’t just a translation add-on; it’s an operational and strategic advantage that strengthens outreach and equity simultaneously. Printed communication sent by providers, payers, or agencies to inform, educate, or engage members about benefits, renewals, or preventive care. By aligning language, tone, and design to the member’s cultural and linguistic background, it is possible to improve comprehension and action rates. Yes, when produced under secure fulfillment processes that protect PHI/PII and meet HIPAA and CMS standards. Enrollment packets, benefit change notices, appointment reminders, screening invitations, and health education campaigns. By tracking response rates, renewal completions, grievance reduction, and engagement improvements across language segments. Localization isn’t a trend; it’s a requirement for equitable, compliant, and effective member communication. As healthcare organizations face growing linguistic diversity, culturally adapted print fulfillment ensures every member receives information they can trust, understand, and act upon. The future of healthcare engagement is hybrid, print plus digital, personalized, and multilingual. And with the right partner and platform, localized fulfillment can be not just compliant, but transformational. Ready to build more inclusive and effective healthcare communication? Get a Free Quote to start designing your next localized direct mail campaign.

Our planet is home to more than 7,000 different languages. Thanks to a long history of immigration, experts estimate that anywhere from around 300 to over 800 of those languages are spoken in the United States, making it one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world. And when it comes to the nation’s healthcare system, just over 50 languages are commonly used between patients and their healthcare providers across the nation, according to data from AMN Healthcare. While most of the country’s multilingual individuals do speak English, about 8% of people living in the United States have limited English proficiency (LEP), meaning they’re unable to effectively communicate with their healthcare providers—or anyone else, for that matter—in English. Because of this, healthcare providers need to be adequately prepared to interact with speakers of other languages in their preferred tongue, as miscommunication between patients and their doctors can lead to serious, even life-threatening, errors. In this blog post, we’ll take a broad look at the global linguistic landscape before narrowing in more closely on factors that healthcare providers need to be aware of to provide equitable language access to their patients with LEP. Table of Contents How Many Languages Are There? A Look at the Linguistic Landscape The Distinction Between Language vs. Dialect The Growing List of Endangered Languages The Geography of Language Why the Number of Languages in the World Matters in Healthcare Healthcare Needs to Be Accessible to All Populations Miscommunication Leads to Misdiagnosis  Language Gaps Disrupt Operations Non-Compliance Puts Your Operation at Risk Strategies & Best Practices for Healthcare Providers Needs Assessment and Prioritization Interpretation and Translation Modalities Technology Staff Training and Cultural Competency Policy, Governance, and Sustainability Challenges and Future Outlook Frequently Asked Questions About How Many Languages Are There & Healthcare Literacy Conclusion Estimates vary on just how many languages are spoken across the world, but most experts seem to agree that the number is somewhere in the ballpark of 7,000 languages. However, there are other factors that contribute to the use and extinction of language.  Data from Ethnologue says there are 7,159 languages in use today. However, this kind of data is tricky to pin down cleanly—the distinction between a language and a dialect can be very subtle. What one source classifies as two separate languages might be identified as two dialects of the same language elsewhere.  But what’s the difference between a language and a dialect? What’s more, languages and their speakers are constantly changing—a language today might eventually split into several different languages later on, just like Latin evolved into modern Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese (among others).  Likewise, languages regularly vanish from everyday use. A language is endangered when it is at risk of falling out of use because it has very few speakers, especially if younger generations are no longer learning it. According to Ethnologue, 44% of the world’s languages are endangered. On the flip side, just 20 languages (less than 1% of the world’s languages by Ethnologue’s count) are spoken natively by about half the world population. Linguistic diversity isn’t necessarily spread out evenly. Linguistic diversity in the United States is heavily tied to patterns of immigration.  Within the United States, urban centers like New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago are home to native speakers of hundreds of different languages. And while other regions may not have quite as many different languages represented, it’s not uncommon to hear languages like Navajo, Mandarin, Spanish, or Hmong spoken in various rural and suburban communities. The table below shows data based on U.S. Census Bureau statistics and other sources like the American Community Survey. But what does all of this mean for healthcare providers in the United States? How do language demographics affect patient care?  Linguistic diversity has real, measurable impacts in clinical settings, and every healthcare provider needs to pay close attention to the linguistic landscape of their particular locale. By understanding linguistic patterns in their area, providers can offer better care to patients with LEP, empowering these patients to advocate for themselves. Ultimately, the number of languages in use worldwide underscores the importance of designing systems that can meet patients where they are linguistically. Here’s how: LEP individuals make up a fairly significant portion of the United States population, at about 8%. While that may not seem like a staggering percentage, in reality, that’s nearly 26.9 million people who are limited in their ability to effectively communicate with English-speaking healthcare providers.  And while you may serve a predominantly English-speaking population, all you need is one deaf or hard-of-hearing or LEP patient needing critical care to highlight the importance of accessible communication. Having the right resources in place ensures healthcare providers can deliver quality care to anyone, anywhere, at any time. Nothing good comes from miscommunication and misunderstanding. When patients and providers fail to understand one another, the likelihood of negative health outcomes increases significantly. Miscommunication has been linked to misdiagnosis, medication errors, delayed treatment, and lower adherence to care plans. Research shows that language barriers increase the likelihood of preventable adverse events in clinical settings. Failing to account for language diversity can also create operational challenges. Staff may spend extra time trying to work around communication gaps, which slows workflows and increases stress.  Hospitals and clinics that neglect proper language services also face compliance risks. The United States, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act requires federally funded healthcare providers to offer language access services. Non-compliance can result in legal penalties, reputational damage, and costly corrective action plans. Here are a few strategies for healthcare providers to take the linguistic diversity of their particular locale into account and improve the quality of their care for LEP patients: Not every healthcare provider will have the same exact language access needs. A hospital in Seattle is much more likely to encounter patients who speak Coast Salish than a provider in Oklahoma City is—and that provider in Oklahoma City is equally more likely to encounter patients who speak Cherokee or Choctaw.  Use a data-based approach to determine which languages to prioritize in your language access strategy—you can draw on data from the US Census to see what languages are most commonly spoken around you, and use patient intake surveys to see what languages are most common among your patients. Once you’ve identified the languages that have the highest demand, you can work with a language service provider to identify interpreting and translation solutions that meet your needs.  Find a language service provider that specializes in medical interpreting and translation and offers services in the languages you need most. Your provider will help you identify the specific services you need most, whether it’s in-person interpreting or on-demand remote interpretation via video or phone call. You’ll also want to identify important documents that need translating—things like consent forms and administrative paperwork should be translated promptly. Many providers may be tempted to use tools like artificial intelligence and machine translation to speed up the translation and interpreting processes. However, it’s not recommended to use without expert supervision, particularly in the healthcare system, where communication is often high-stakes and there’s little room for error. Consult with your language service provider about these technologies and be sure there’s always a human in the loop to verify the quality and accuracy of the software’s output. Even the best language services fall short without staff who know how to use them effectively. Training clinicians to work with interpreters, whether in person or remotely, helps ensure accurate communication. Techniques like “teach-back,” where patients repeat instructions in their own words, can confirm understanding and reduce errors. Cultural competency training also equips providers to recognize language bias, avoid assumptions, and build trust across diverse patient populations. Be sure to establish clear institutional guidelines for interpreter use, translation standards, and staff training expectations. Building partnerships with community interpreters or trusted language service providers can expand capacity for rare languages. Regulatory and accreditation requirements provide a framework, but should also be backed by strong governance. By treating language access as a core part of health equity strategy, providers can ensure long-term impact and accountability. The strategies above can certainly be challenging to implement, but a trusted language service provider like Avantpage can help you with much of the legwork of developing and implementing a strong language access plan. Healthcare providers often find that language access measures are costly to implement. And indeed, interpretation and translation services can certainly be expensive. There are some ways to lower costs without significantly reducing the overall quality of your language access services, such as making use of remote interpreting services, rather than in-person interpretation. You can also consider implementing a technology-driven translation process with human linguists carefully reviewing machine translation output for accuracy and cultural sensitivity. Although it can be costly, keep in mind that the cost of not having a strong language access plan is often greater than the cost of the language services themselves. Without these services, healthcare providers run the risk of extremely expensive (not to mention time-consuming and reputation-damaging) legal fees and fines for noncompliance with local and federal regulations. Another common challenge is finding interpreters and translators who support rare or endangered languages. In these cases, your language service provider can help you find the right person for the job. Additionally, community-based organizations can also help connect you with possible interpreters and language experts. As artificial intelligence and machine translation technologies improve, it’s likely that these tools will be used more and more in the healthcare system. However, it’s important to note that these tools still are not at a point where healthcare providers can safely use them without a human reviewer to make sure that translations and interpretations are accurate. This largely depends on local demand. Healthcare providers in a place like New York City, where more than 800 different languages are spoken, will need to be prepared to support more languages than a provider in a small town with less linguistic diversity. This is why organizations should conduct thorough, data-driven needs assessments and plan their language access services around these needs. Among other risks, poor language access can result in regulatory noncompliance, poor health outcomes for patients with LEP, decreased trust, and lowered reputation. Healthcare providers should work closely with a language service provider to identify the tools they need to address gaps in language access. These may include, but are not limited to, remote interpreting software and machine translation technology. Learn about AvantInterpret and AvantSend. A dialect is a specific variety of a language—think North American English versus British English. The borders between a dialect and a language are often hard to identify—for example, Mandarin and Cantonese are not mutually intelligible, but are often classified under the Chinese language (and on the other hand, languages like Arabic and Maltese have an extremely high degree of mutual intelligibility, but are still considered distinct languages). In healthcare, it’s important to identify the specific dialect that an LEP patient speaks to find an interpreter who is best suited to provide services. Providers can measure the impact of language access programs by tracking patient outcomes, satisfaction surveys, and readmission or error rates among LEP patients. Monitoring interpreter utilization, turnaround times for translated materials, and compliance with legal requirements also provide useful insights. Comparing these metrics before and after program implementation helps quantify improvements in safety, equity, and efficiency. With more than 7,000 languages spoken worldwide, considering linguistic diversity is an important factor in planning out language access services in the healthcare system. Providers who invest in strong language access strategies not only reduce clinical risk but also ease operational burdens and strengthen trust with their communities. From staff training to governance and sustainable partnerships, every step toward better communication is a step toward better health outcomes. To recap, here are some key strategies to keep in mind as you plan out your language access services: As languages continue to evolve and populations shift, healthcare systems must adapt accordingly. The future of equitable care depends on recognizing language as a key determinant of health.  If you’re looking to improve your organization’s language access services, contact Avantpage, use one of our online forms to reach out, email us at [email protected], or call (530) 750-2040. We offer interpreting and translation solutions to clinics, hospitals, and health insurance providers, empowering them to provide patients with the highest quality care possible, regardless of the language they speak.

Imagine this: you’re preparing for a major conference with multilingual participants, a high-stakes legal deposition, or a critical medical consultation. You know that language cannot become a barrier, but when you reach out for interpretation support, you’re faced with two unfamiliar terms: simultaneous interpretation and consecutive interpretation. They sound similar, but they work very differently. Choosing the wrong one can affect audience engagement, timing, confidentiality, and even compliance with regulations. Choosing the right one can make your event seamless, inclusive, and impactful. This article cuts through the jargon and helps you decide. We’ll explore how each method works, its pros and cons, when to use them, and practical tips to make the best decision for your needs. Table of Contents What Is Simultaneous Interpretation? How It Works Real-World Use Cases Pros and Cons What Is Consecutive Interpretation? How It Works Real-World Use Cases Pros and Cons Simultaneous vs. Consecutive Interpretation: Key Differences How to Decide Which Interpretation Method You Need Practical Tips for Success Frequently Asked Questions Why This Matters Now Conclusion Simultaneous interpretation is the process of translating spoken language into another language in real time. The interpreter listens to the source language and delivers the target language almost instantly, typically with a delay of only a few seconds. It’s often described as “real-time interpreting” and requires a high degree of concentration and skill. Unlike casual bilingual conversations, this isn’t about “waiting your turn.” Interpreters must actively listen, process meaning, and reproduce speech while the speaker is still talking. Simultaneous interpreting usually involves: This creates a seamless experience where speakers don’t need to pause, and audiences can follow along in real time. Simultaneous interpretation is most commonly used when time and flow matter, or when the audience is large and multilingual: For example, during a global healthcare summit, a keynote speaker may address thousands of participants in English. Attendees from Latin America, Europe, and Asia each listen to their own language version through headsets, without the flow of the speech being interrupted. This is one of the reasons simultaneous interpreting is essential for high-stakes communication. Consecutive interpretation is a sequential process: the speaker talks, pauses, and then the interpreter delivers the message in the target language. The cycle repeats until the conversation is complete. It’s not real-time, but it is precise and effective for smaller-scale interactions. This method emphasizes accuracy and clarity over speed. Consecutive interpretation shines in more personalized, detail-oriented settings: In fact, healthcare organizations increasingly rely on professional interpreters to improve outcomes for diverse populations. As our blog on Spanish medical interpreters in healthcare highlights, accurate communication is directly tied to patient safety and compliance. Here’s a side-by-side comparison to make the choice clearer: Still unsure? Ask yourself these questions: 1. What is the size of your audience?
- Hundreds of attendees: Simultaneous.
- Small team or one-on-one: Consecutive. 2. What is the purpose of the meeting?
- Live event, broadcast, training: Simultaneous.
- Detailed discussions (healthcare, legal, HR): Consecutive. 3. What are the stakes?
- Engagement and efficiency in business conferences: Simultaneous.
- Compliance and accuracy in medical/legal: Consecutive.


4. What resources are available?
- Budget, equipment, and technical support available: Simultaneous.
- Limited budget or informal setting: Consecutive. Consecutive interpretation is generally more affordable because it requires fewer interpreters and no equipment. Simultaneous interpretation is more expensive, but essential for larger or high-stakes events. Yes. For example, a global company might use simultaneous interpretation during its annual keynote, then use consecutive interpretation for smaller breakout sessions or contract negotiations. We’ll ask about your event type, audience size, languages, goals, technical setup, and budget to guide you toward the right fit. Avantpage works only with high-profile professionals who meet certification standards. All interpreters are bound by strict confidentiality agreements, which is critical in healthcare, government, and legal contexts. Simultaneous interpreters train extensively in multitasking, split-second processing, and working in pairs. Consecutive interpreters focus on memory techniques, note-taking, and precise delivery of meaning. Yes. Consecutive interpretation can nearly double the time required since each message is repeated. Simultaneous interpretation doesn’t add time to the agenda, which makes it a better choice for tight schedules. The global language services industry is expected to reach 65.5 billion U.S. dollars by 2026 - with the U.S. playing a central role (Statista). As business, healthcare, and legal systems become increasingly globalized, professional interpretation is no longer optional; it’s a requirement for accessibility, compliance, and trust. Whether it’s delivering multilingual medical correspondence through platforms like AvantSend or ensuring your next global meeting is understood by every participant, interpretation plays a strategic role in achieving your goals. Both methods play essential roles. The key is knowing which one matches your goals. Whether you’re planning a global conference, hosting a webinar, or ensuring patient and client care, Avantpage can help. Contact us today for professional interpretation services and ensure your message is heard, understood, and trusted.

Technology is transforming the way organizations approach translation and localization. At Avantpage, we carefully select and integrate translation technologies that add real value, helping our clients achieve greater accuracy, consistency, and efficiency in every project. One of the most impactful of these is translation memory (TM), which makes past translations work more efficiently for your organization.  In this article, we’ll dive into what translation memory is, explore the key benefits of this technology-driven approach, and show how it can streamline workflows, improve translation quality, and add value to future projects. Table of Contents What Is Translation Memory? How Translation Memory Works Leveraging Translation Memory What Are the Benefits of Translation Memory? How Translation Memory Reduces Costs Frequently Asked Questions About Translation Memory Build Better Workflows with Translation Memory Translation Memory reuses past translations to increase translation efficiency. When your translation project is completed, the language from the original (or source) document is stored along with the language from its translated counterpart in a secure database. This occurs with every project as you begin to build a translation memory. The information from the database is then used for any new translation projects you request. The new source document is run against the database to see if any words, phrases, or sentences match past source documents’ language. If a match is found, the linguist working on your translation can choose to use the match outright, or they can choose to adjust the translation based on the language match. In essence, translation memory allows our linguists to choose text they’ve previously translated if it suits the new document. Learn about machine translation vs. translation memory.  Translation memory software stores previously translated text segments in a database. When a translator works on new content, the software automatically compares it against this database and suggests matches. If a partial or perfect match is found, the translator can reuse or adapt the existing translation instead of starting from scratch. Over time, this process improves both speed and consistency, especially for projects with repeated terminology or recurring content like product manuals, legal documents, or marketing materials. At Avantpage, translation memory is available as an optional add-on to our translation services. While not every project requires it, this translation process can provide advantages for clients whose content involves repeated language or specific terminology. Our professional translators use translation memory to build a secure database of translation units that can be referenced in future translations. Translation memory is especially beneficial for clients such as: - Contract lawyers and legal teams – for documents with repetitive terminology, clauses, or case numbers.
- Healthcare organizations – for patient forms, compliance materials, and instructions that need consistent language across future projects.
- Government agencies – for recurring public notices, policies, and forms in multiple language pairs.
- Corporations with technical manuals – for instructions and product documentation, where consistency and accuracy are critical.
By reusing previously approved translations, translation memory ensures consistency across large volumes of content while creating long-term value for future projects. See how XTM worked with Avantpage to streamline their translation projects. By comparing your text to previous translations, our linguists have the option to use previous translations in the new document (if they fit correctly). This not only reduces the amount of time that our linguists need to put into translating a file, but it also improves the consistency of your translations. If you have words, phrases, or sentences that show up consistently within your translated documents, they’ll be translated in the same manner every time they appear in a file you send us. This reduces the room for error and allows your documents to communicate a consistent message to your clients. In short, translation memory: While setting up a translation memory is not a free service, it will save you money over time. You may not see savings in your first few projects, but as matches become more frequent, you’ll see increased savings from the matches. This will provide you with long-term savings as your translation memory continues to build. Learn more about saving money on specific types of translation projects with translation memory. Yes. Avantpage’s proprietary platform, AvantShield, ensures that all translation memory data is stored securely and handled according to HIPAA regulations. Our professional translators follow strict confidentiality protocols, so any protected health information in source files is fully safeguarded throughout the translation and memory storage process. A translation memory system stores translation units in a database. During the localization process, the system automatically suggests matches when the same or similar text appears in future projects. This not only streamlines workflows but also improves translation quality and consistency across multiple language pairs. A dedicated translation memory database offers lasting value that generic automated translation or standalone AI translation tools can’t match. While automated translation provides quick results, it doesn’t guarantee consistency across future projects. A translation memory termbase, however, stores approved translation units that professional translators can reuse, ensuring accuracy and consistency in every target language. This functionality is powerful in workflows involving repeated segments of text, like product manuals, legal contracts, or website updates. Unlike one-off automation, a translation memory system builds a long-term asset that streamlines translation costs, improves translation quality, and delivers better results for both human translators and language service providers. Learn how to make translations easier for your healthcare organization. A context match occurs when the translation memory finds an identical source text segment in the same structural context, ensuring maximum accuracy. This goes beyond simple word matching, supporting better quality assurance and more natural-sounding translations. Professional translators ensure that the translation memory system is populated with accurate, high-quality translations. While AI-powered and automated translation features can speed up certain tasks, human translators are essential for refining context, ensuring cultural appropriateness, and delivering the best user experience. A CAT tool is a professional translator’s workspace that integrates multiple functionalities, including translation memory, terminology glossary access, terminology management, and quality assurance checks. Unlike automated translation or AI translation, CAT tools rely on human translators who use stored translation units to ensure context match and accuracy. Most modern CAT tools and translation management systems support a wide range of file formats, including source files from Microsoft Office, Adobe, XML, HTML, and content management platforms. This functionality allows translators to work directly with the source file while maintaining formatting integrity in the target language. Absolutely! Each completed project enriches the database with new translation units, which can then be leveraged in future projects. This creates a cumulative benefit as future translations become faster and more consistent, which also reduces translation costs. Learn how to get the most out of your translation budget. While you may be concerned about how a Translation Memory will affect the quality of your translated text, there’s no need to worry. Your document will still go through the Translation, Editing, Proofreading (TEP) process, and all of our quality check processes. Using Translation Memory doesn’t affect the quality or accuracy of your translated text. If you'd like to learn more about translation memory, download our Translation Memory one-pager. If you’re interested in building a translation memory or starting your next translation project, give us a call at 540-750-2040 or request a free quote today.

For individuals who are limited English proficient (LEP) or Deaf/hard-of-hearing and need to participate in a court hearing, they have the right to an interpreter in federal, state, and local courts. An interpreter is required to protect one’s basic constitutional rights by providing equal language access. A legal interpreter plays a critical role in the court process, serving as the bridge between non-English-speaking individuals and English-speaking participants. An interpreter must interpret the content without editing, summarizing, deleting, or otherwise modifying the content. They must be impartial and able to serve the judicial process as required. In this blog, we’ll look at some of the legal interpreter qualifications and requirements used in the legal system. Understanding a legal interpreter’s qualifications is crucial for ensuring accurate communication in court, protecting constitutional rights, and avoiding errors that could affect case outcomes. Table of Contents Federal Legal Interpreter Qualifications Federally Certified Legal Interpreter Professionally Qualified Legal Interpreter Language Skilled / Ad Hoc Legal Interpreters State Legal Interpreters Local and National Organizations and Agencies American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreters Communication Access Real-Time Translation (CART) Organizations that Support Interpreters and Translators Legal Implications of Interpreter Qualifications Frequently Asked Questions About Legal Interpreters Avantpage Legal Interpreters: Bridging Language Gaps in the Legal System The federal government recognizes three types of legal interpreters. A federally certified interpreter has passed the Administrative Office certification exam. These exams are only available for Spanish, Navajo, and Haitian Creole interpreters. The local federal court will determine if an interpreter is professionally qualified or has the language skills for other languages. This designation is for all languages except Spanish, Navajo, and Haitian Creole. A professionally qualified interpreter meets the criteria for this designation. The criteria consider areas like tests and assessments, memberships, and other certifications. A language-skilled / ad hoc interpreter demonstrates the ability to interpret court proceedings to the court’s satisfaction, but isn’t a professionally qualified interpreter. While using a language-skilled / ad hoc interpreter is not always appropriate, it may be acceptable in some cases. Each state has its own legal interpreter requirements. As an example, the state of California recognizes two types of interpreters: Review language access programs by state. Local and national organizations, such as the National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators (NAJIT), may provide other labels for legal interpreters, such as “conditionally approved” or “qualified.” These terms can vary a bit, but they essentially mean individuals pre-vetted by organizations, agencies, departments, or otherwise based on references, skills assessments, previous work history, an association with industry organizations, and more. While hundreds of sign languages exist, American Sign Language (ASL) is one of the most common types in the U.S. Currently, there’s a shortage of ASL interpreters, and some certifications can’t be tested for anymore. Nationally recognized certifications include: CART, also known as real-time captioning, is a method of transcribing spoken language and sounds. The transcription is displayed on computers, mobile devices or other screens. Those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing might prefer this method. LEP individuals may also choose this method over interpreting for various reasons. CART requires reading, and it’s often a one-way communication, although some versions can incorporate two-way communication. Specialists who provide CART services can hold certifications from the Association for Court Reporters and Captioners. Organizations that control assessments, codes of ethics, codes of professional conduct, and more to evaluate interpreter involvement include: The qualifications of a legal interpreter are more than just credentials—they can have real legal consequences. Courts rely on interpreters to provide accurate, impartial, and complete interpretations of proceedings, and errors or unqualified interpretations can impact case outcomes, fairness, and even appeals. By ensuring that interpreters meet federal, state, or professional standards, courts and legal professionals can protect the fairness, accuracy, and legality of proceedings, while maintaining confidence in the judicial process. A legal interpreter should have professional certification, strong knowledge of legal terminology, and proven experience in courtroom or legal settings. Unlike general interpreters, legal interpreters are trained to handle precise legal language, ensure accuracy, and maintain neutrality in court or legal proceedings. Certified interpreters help ensure fairness, accuracy, and compliance with legal standards, reducing the risk of appeals, challenges, or misinterpretation. Legal interpreters have a very important job communicating between LEP, deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals. Legal interpreting is a highly specialized form of interpreting that not just anyone can do. As such, courts may require certain qualifications or a judge may inquire about qualifications, and may come up when a court case is challenged due to the interpretation, such as appeals on verdicts called into question due to the provided interpretation. By partnering with Avantpage, you ensure your legal proceedings are supported by highly qualified interpreters who meet federal, state, and professional standards, protecting both the integrity of the case and the rights of all participants. We provide remote and in-person interpretation services for the legal industry. We partner with the Coalition of Concerned Legal Professionals, and we’ve worked with numerous state Superior Courts as well as Judicial Councils. To learn more, contact us with general inquiries, request a free quote, or call us at (530) 750-2040.

All across the world, people are using free artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT and Google Translate to perform the role of an interpreter, allowing them to communicate seamlessly with people who don’t speak their primary language. For low-risk contexts—like a tourist trying to ask a shop clerk how much their souvenir costs, for example—these tools can be quite valuable.  But in high-stakes environments like hospitals and courts, free artificial intelligence interpreters are simply not enough. Large language models and machine translation tools may be capable of interpreting simple, straightforward conversations, but they’re far from error-free: They struggle with nuanced or ambiguous language and lack the cultural knowledge and emotional complexity that human interpreters bring to the job. While Google Translate might be good enough to help you ask a passerby for directions to the nearest train station, it’s absolutely not good enough for a nurse trying to help a patient understand their discharge instructions.  In this blog post, we’ll go over the different ways in which artificial intelligence interpreters are being used today, and why human interpreters are still an absolute must-have in high-stakes environments like legal proceedings, the healthcare system, and emergency services. We’ll explain some of the key limitations of artificial intelligence interpreters and the importance of intervention by human professionals in the interpretation process. Table of Contents What Are Free Artificial Intelligence Interpreters? High-Stakes Environments Where AI Interpreters Are Used Risks of Relying Solely on Free AI Interpreters in High-Stakes Environments Why Human Oversight is Essential Best Practices for Using AI Interpreters in Critical Environments Frequently Asked Questions About Free AI Interpreters Conclusion Artificial intelligence interpreters combine speech-to-text and machine translation technologies to provide real-time language assistance, much like a human interpreter would.  The process works quite similarly to consecutive interpreting: One person speaks in their preferred language, while the artificial intelligence interpreter transcribes what they’re saying and then translates that into the other person’s preferred language. The translation can then be read aloud using text-to-speech technology, or the person can simply read a written translation of what the other person said. Here are a few examples of artificial intelligence interpreters that are available for free: Like a human interpreter, these platforms allow for fairly seamless conversation between two individuals. For low-risk settings—especially settings where you wouldn’t normally have an interpreter with you, like tourism or casual conversation—these can be very helpful tools. But they are also prone to errors that a human interpreter typically wouldn’t make.  For example, if there’s an error in transcribing the speaker’s speech, the translation could be completely wrong. Additionally, machine translation tools are notoriously bad at translating language that is ambiguous, nuanced, or slang-heavy. In fact, recent research shows that medical translations done by ChatGPT and Google Translate yielded errors in spelling, grammar, and readability that caused significant misunderstandings. This means a human interpreter is still necessary when it comes to high-stakes environments where a person’s life could depend on the quality of the interpretation. In general, artificial intelligence interpreters are not being used for high-stakes interpretation—at least not on their own. There are some organizations testing out artificial intelligence tools to bridge language gaps in high-stakes settings like hospitals and legal proceedings, but it’s important to note that these organizations are also taking into account several ethical considerations as well, to ensure that they’re using the tools responsibly. Take the Seattle Children’s Hospital, for instance: They’re testing out artificial intelligence tools to help provide patients and their families with discharge instructions in their preferred language before they leave the hospital (a written translation is also mailed to families after the patient has left the hospital). However, they’re using an internally developed tool to keep patient information private and have created an AI ethics board to oversee the implementation of the technology. And perhaps most importantly, human translators will still be double-checking the translations to ensure that the information is translated appropriately. Artificial intelligence interpreters and translators can present all sorts of risks when such measures aren’t taken. Below, we’ll look at a few of the issues that can arise when you rely on free AI tools alone in high-stakes settings: 1. Accuracy Concerns: All kinds of inaccuracies can come up when using AI interpreters. If the speaker’s speech is mistranscribed, the machine translation will not be an accurate representation of what they meant to say (for example, the word “femur” might be mistranscribed as “lemur,” potentially leading to serious complications). Beyond mistranscription, machine translation tools struggle with accuracy, especially for languages for which less training data is available. 2. Regulatory and Compliance Risks: Using free artificial intelligence tools also raises concerns about potential violations of industry regulations, such as HIPAA in healthcare or legal misinterpretations in court. Take, for instance, the Utah lawyer who was sanctioned for using ChatGPT to help write a brief that cited hallucinated citations (i.e., citations that the model made up). 3. Lack of Contextual Understanding: AI's inability to fully grasp cultural, emotional, or situational nuances that human interpreters would understand. Human interpreters can take cultural and emotional cues and other factors into context, a skill that sets them apart from machine translation and AI. This allows them to better parse out ambiguous or unclear language, leading to more accurate communication between both parties. Using artificial intelligence interpreters without any human oversight can certainly speed things up—but it also lowers the overall quality. Instead of implementing artificial intelligence on its own, it’s important to have a human in the loop—humans can help vet translations and make sure that the final product is a high-quality translation. A hybrid approach—in which artificial intelligence is used as a tool for interpretation, rather than as an interpreter itself—maximizes efficiency and minimizes the risks we’ve outlined above. When it comes to high-stakes settings like emergency room visits or court proceedings, it’s important to have a human interpreter on hand—this is the best way to ensure high-quality language assistance for individuals with limited English proficiency. In these settings, inaccuracies caused by poor contextual understanding or grammatical errors can have grave consequences—a human must oversee these processes. By working with a trusted language service provider to contract interpreters, you can be sure that a human interpreter will always be available when you need one, whether by phone or video call. For low-risk contexts, like simple administrative tasks, AI interpreters can be a useful tool to boost efficiency, but it’s still a good idea to have a human reviewing the final product to make sure that everything is accurate and editing things accordingly. Not necessarily—artificial intelligence can be a powerful tool to boost efficiency. That said, AI output needs to be thoroughly reviewed by a human to ensure its accuracy. Free AI interpreters are typically not specialized to the unique needs of those working in high-stakes environments, like hospitals, law firms, and emergency response teams. Individuals working in these industries should look for AI tools that are trained on domain-specific data that reflects their specific needs. In general, no. In healthcare, sharing patient data with a third-party typically violates HIPAA, meaning that tools like ChatGPT and Google Translate are typically not compliant—AI interpreting tools need to store all patient data internally. In the legal field, it varies depending on how and what the tools are being used for. Attorneys, paralegals, and others working in the legal field should also review local regulations and confirm that their use of certain AI interpreters does not violate ethical guidelines. No. Human interpreters are especially important when it comes to high-stakes environments, as AI tools tend to make mistakes that humans wouldn’t. In settings where miscommunication can have a serious impact on an individual’s life, it’s absolutely critical to have a human interpreter. It may not always be possible to get a human interpreter on-site, especially in emergency settings. But language service providers like Avantpage offer on-demand virtual, remote, and over-the-phone interpreting services, which connect you with a qualified interpreter in mere seconds. Consult with a trusted language service provider to identify reliable alternatives to artificial intelligence interpreters. It may be tempting to use a free artificial intelligence interpreter when you don’t have a human interpreter available. But understand that this is a risky gambit. At best, it can lead to an awkward encounter; at worst, a patient could lose their life due to a simple miscommunication that a professional interpreter could have resolved. At Avantpage, we work with a team of professional, human interpreters to provide language assistance in high-stakes settings like emergency healthcare and legal proceedings. Through our in-house platform interpreting program, we can connect clients to human interpreters remotely in a matter of seconds. If you’re looking for human interpreters to enhance your language access measures, don’t hesitate to contact us today at (530) 750-2040 or [email protected].

It’s important for Medicare plan providers and healthcare organizations to make sure they’re able to communicate effectively with their patients — and that means speaking to them in their language.  Medicare Advantage sponsors are required by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to translate documents into languages spoken by at least 5% of the members in a plan’s service area. In this way, the CMS requires providers to be mindful of the country’s linguistic diversity. If your organization is looking to translate documents into a new language, or simply want to refresh old translations, you’ll want to work with a translation agency that specializes in Medicare services. A Medicare translation agency will help you identify the documents that need translation and work with you to make sure you’re up to par with the CMS’ requirements. In this blog post, we’ll take a deeper dive into the factors you need to consider when selecting a translation agency to work on important Medicare documents, to give you a better sense of what to look for when you’re looking for a language service provider. Table of Contents Factors to Consider When Choosing a Medicare Translation Agency The Relationship Between Turnaround Time, Quality, and Cost What’s the Order of Importance? Additional Factors to Consider Frequently Asked Questions About Medicare Translation Agencies Find the Best Medicare Translation Partner With so many language service providers available, how do you choose the one that best meets your organization’s unique needs and goals? These factors all come together to influence one another — for example, shorter turnaround time on a project might require you to sacrifice cost or quality, depending on the agency you work with and its approach. Likewise, lower cost might mean lower quality, and so on. Turnaround time, quality, and cost are deeply intertwined factors that you need to consider when selecting an agency, as they can significantly impact the outcome of your translation projects. For instance, if your priority is quick turnaround time, your agency will need to allocate resources in different areas that will more than likely require a bit of a trade-off between quality and cost. The agency will either need to hire additional professionals or leverage advanced technologies to ensure that the translation can be delivered on time. More human professionals will keep the quality high, but it will also drive the cost up; on the flip-side, technology will keep costs low, but will likely lower the overall quality of your translation. On the other hand, prioritizing quality entails implementing additional processes or involving more linguists in the translation process. This can lead to higher costs and potentially longer turnaround times. If minimizing cost is your primary concern, compromises can be made on the number of linguists involved, simplifying processes, or leveraging cost-effective technologies. However, this often comes at the expense of quality and/or turnaround time. It’s important to recognize that prioritizing low cost in healthcare, particularly in Medicare translation, may not always align with delivering high-quality and timely services necessary for equitable care. Because these factors are so deeply connected, it’s important to figure out which ones you want to prioritize — each organization is likely to have different priorities, depending on the kinds of translation projects they need completed. For instance, Medicare or state-managed health plans like Medi-Cal plans tend to place a premium on both turnaround time and quality, in order to comply with health equity regulations. These regulations often mandate timely delivery of culturally and linguistically appropriate services to effectively address health equity gaps. For example, Medi-Cal Notice of Action letters must not only meet stringent quality standards but also have to adhere to tight deadlines, requiring translations within as little as 4 hours to ensure timely delivery to the patient. Similarly, healthcare organizations that conduct health education workshops may prioritize quality over the other three factors to ensure accurate dissemination of information. While cost considerations are also important, maintaining the integrity of the content and ensuring it resonates with diverse audiences may take precedence. In such cases, turnaround time may be less critical, as events are typically planned well in advance, allowing for adequate preparation time. Ultimately, the order of importance for organizations when selecting a Medicare translation agency may vary based on their specific objectives, regulatory requirements, and the nature of the content being translated. Think of these factors as sort of the “Big Three” to consider when determining the right Medicare translation agency for your organization. They’re the main things you’ll want to consider, but they aren’t necessarily the only things to consider — here are just a few additional factors and sub-factors that could play a role in deciding which agency is the best fit: Medicare translation agencies provide professional translation services and interpretation services to help beneficiaries with limited English proficiency (LEP) navigate health insurance and healthcare communications. By bridging language barriers, these agencies ensure all beneficiaries understand their benefits and receive accurate guidance. Agencies typically offer in-person, on-demand, and phone interpretation options. Medical interpreters are trained to handle complex healthcare conversations, supporting both beneficiaries and healthcare providers with accuracy and clarity. Translation agencies provide subject matter experts in medical and insurance terminology, ensuring that healthcare providers communicate effectively with LEP patients. This improves patient understanding, reduces errors, and supports compliance with federal guidelines. As you look for a Medicare translation agency to help your organization meet its language access goals, there are several factors to consider. Three major ones — turnaround time, quality, and cost — stand out the most. Here are some things to consider as you seek out a language service provider to work with: At Avantpage, we’ve worked extensively with Medicare providers and healthcare organizations to meet their healthcare needs. If you’re looking for a top-notch Medicare translation agency, consider reaching out to us today for a free quote, with any general inquiries, or by calling us at (530) 750-2040.

Whether it’s being used to detect early signs of disease or bridge language gaps between patients and their doctors, artificial intelligence (AI) is shaking things up in the healthcare industry.  According to recent research from Deloitte, 75% of leading healthcare companies are “experimenting with or planning to scale generative AI across the enterprise,” and even more (92%) see its potential to improve efficiency in healthcare. But although AI can certainly enhance human-led procedures, it’s far from a replacement for human healthcare professionals. One key strength of AI is its ability to enhance language access measures by speeding up the translation process, helping patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) communicate with their doctors. AI in translation is a powerful tool, but as we’ve seen with machine translation, generative AI-powered translation requires a human in the loop who can ensure linguistic accuracy, cultural appropriateness, and legal compliance.  In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the best practices that hospitals and other institutions should follow when implementing AI in healthcare translation. We’ll also go over some real-world examples of how providers are implementing AI in translation while also maintaining human oversight to ensure accurate and culturally sensitive language access measures. Table of Contents Understanding Generative AI in Healthcare Translation How Are Hospitals & Healthcare Providers Using AI? Benefits of AI in Healthcare Applications Risks of AI in the Healthcare Industry Best Practices for Implementing AI in Healthcare Translation Future Outlook of AI in Translation and Healthcare Frequently Asked Questions About Generative AI in the Healthcare Industry Conclusion  Generative AI is a form of AI that can create text, images, and videos based on prompts written in natural language. Tools like ChatGPT and Dall-E are classic examples of generative AI platforms. If a user copies and pastes meeting minutes into ChatGPT and asks it to write up a brief, neatly organized summary of the meeting, ChatGPT will generate a summary based on those notes. In healthcare, generative AI tools can be used to increase administrative efficiency by speeding up tasks such as summarizing doctors’ notes or translating text into a patient’s native language. Other proposed uses for generative AI in healthcare include developing new drug candidates based on data on existing molecular structures and improving the quality of medical images like MRI scans. It’s important to note, however, that generative AI tools tend to “hallucinate,” making up false information that may appear to come out of nowhere. For this reason, human oversight is key whenever AI is used in the healthcare system. When it comes to AI in translation, for example, AI can play a helpful role in producing fast and mostly accurate translations of medical documents and patient records—it can even be used for real-time communication between LEP patients and their caretakers. But it’s not a replacement for translators and interpreters altogether. Humans who are familiar with both the source and target language need to review and vet AI translations to ensure that the AI output doesn’t contain any inaccuracies or hallucinations. Here are a few examples of hospitals and healthcare providers that are using AI to enhance patient care: 1. Partners Healthcare: When Partners Healthcare’s COVID-19 hotline was overwhelmed with callers during the pandemic, the organization implemented an AI chatbot to act as a screening tool. In addition to screening callers for COVID-19 symptoms, the chatbot could also answer most questions about the virus and advise patients on whether they should visit an urgent care or emergency room. 2. Johns Hopkins Medicine: Doctors at Johns Hopkins Medicine can use AI to draft responses to patient messages in the patient portal, editing the generative AI response as needed. The team at Johns Hopkins is also working on ways to summarize charts. 3. Mount Sinai: Since 2013, doctors at Mount Sinai have been using algorithms to identify patients in their system who are more likely to get sicker. By using this information, they’re able to more effectively treat them before their conditions worsen significantly. Using AI in translation can have several benefits for healthcare providers, such as: Despite the benefits, using only AI in translation carries several risks that healthcare providers must be aware of: Although the benefits of AI may seem tempting, the risks of using AI on its own outweigh the advantages. Healthcare providers can still take advantage of the benefits of AI in translation by following these best practices: As the technology behind AI improves, you can expect to see AI being used more and more in the healthcare setting. AI has especially great potential for automating translation and administrative tasks—it’s possible that this technology will eventually be used to automate the translation of electronic health records. However, as AI becomes more and more widespread in the healthcare system, ethical concerns are bound to arise. Many concerns around the ethics of AI have already come up—for example, the idea that inaccuracies due to the use of AI could negatively impact a patient’s health. Looking toward the future, it will become important to address these concerns and figure out a way to balance the efficiency of AI with human factors like empathy and judgment. AI is improving efficiency across healthcare by automating administrative tasks and supporting translation for patients with LEP. It can also be used to more efficiently analyze medical images and detect early stages of disease, among other proposed applications of the technology. Not on its own. While AI can speed up translation and improve access, human oversight is essential to ensure accuracy, cultural sensitivity, and compliance with healthcare regulations.  No. AI-powered translations can be fast, but they often contain errors or omissions. Providers should always involve professional medical translators to review and verify AI-generated text. Healthcare providers should use AI tools specifically designed for medical contexts and compliant with regulations like HIPAA. These tools, paired with the expertise of human translators, ensure safer and more accurate outcomes. AI can improve healthcare translation workflows by making things faster, more scalable, and more efficient. But as powerful as AI may be, it can’t replace the expertise, cultural awareness, and judgment of human translators. As with other kinds of translation technology, AI requires human oversight to ensure that it’s being used safely. The most effective approach is a hybrid one—leveraging AI to speed up translation while relying on human professionals to ensure accuracy, compliance, and patient-centered care. For healthcare providers, the next step is clear: Embrace AI as a valuable tool, but implement it thoughtfully. By following best practices—such as incorporating human oversight, using domain-specific datasets, and ensuring regulatory compliance—hospitals and providers can deliver better, more inclusive care to patients of all backgrounds.  At Avantpage, we enable healthcare providers to bridge language gaps between care teams and their LEP patients using technology-forward translation and interpretation workflows with a human in the loop. If you’re looking for a language access solution, Avantpage has you covered. Contact us today at [email protected] or (530) 750-2040, or fill out this form for a free quote.

When your translation project is complete, what becomes of it? The purpose of a document informs not only the deliverable of your translation project but also whether additional language services are appropriate for the project. Many translation projects benefit from undergoing Desktop Publishing (DTP) services in addition to basic language translation. Capturing your audience’s attention is just as important as delivering the right message. Desktop publishing (DTP) allows marketers and small businesses to create professional, visually compelling materials that resonate with their audience, whether in print or digital formats. By leveraging desktop publishing software, design expertise, and strategic page layouts, DTP ensures your content looks polished and communicates effectively. This makes DTP especially useful when translating content to other languages, as it helps maintain consistent format, typography, and visual appeal across all versions of your materials. Table of Contents What Is Desktop Publishing (DTP)? Why Is DTP Important to Pair with Translation Services? How Desktop Publishing Helps You Reach Your Target Audience Examples of Desktop Publishing Deliverables Benefits of DTP for Marketers Frequently Asked Questions About DTP Choose Avantpage for DTP Desktop publishing refers to the creation of documents with professional page layouts using software programs designed for graphic design and typography. DTP software applications often feature drag-and-drop functions, style sheets, and master pages, enabling you to format digital pages, set headers, adjust kerning between typefaces, and design materials in a WYSIWYG (“what you see is what you get”) environment. Modern DTP tools also integrate clip art, stock imagery, and predesigned templates to help beginners and experienced marketers alike create visually eye-catching documents quickly. The process of translating your documents can create significant changes to the original design. For example, the Spanish language takes up considerably more space than English, making Spanish documents span more pages than their English counterparts. In other examples, graphics included in the original document design can be repositioned or resized due to where they fall in the translated text. Desktop publishing keeps design consistent, no matter what language your target audience speaks. Creating professional materials is only half the battle. To truly reach your audience, content must be strategically designed. DTP helps marketers: DTP services can support nearly every aspect of marketing for small businesses, from print to digital content. Common examples include: Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned marketer, DTP software streamlines your workflow, allowing for consistent format, typesetting, and professional-quality designs across all materials. Implementing desktop publishing in your marketing strategy provides several advantages: By leveraging desktop publishing software, marketers can combine graphic design, typography, and layout into one streamlined workflow, creating visually compelling content that resonates with their audience. Avantpage’s desktop publishing (DTP) services help marketers and small businesses produce a wide range of professional materials, including brochures, flyers, business cards, newsletters, social media graphics, product catalogs, presentations, and digital pages for web campaigns. Using desktop publishing software, templates, and drag-and-drop functions, Avantpage ensures your materials are polished, brand-consistent, and ready for print or digital distribution. No design experience is necessary. Avantpage’s team of experts handles graphic design, typography, typesetting, and layout, using software programs like Adobe InDesign, Microsoft Publisher, and QuarkXPress. They ensure your marketing materials, from headers and fonts to full page layouts, are visually eye-catching and professional. Even beginners can rely on Avantpage to deliver high-quality, on-brand documents efficiently. Avantpage streamlines your marketing workflow by combining DTP functions, master pages, style sheets, and prepress preparation into one seamless process. Their team ensures that all your marketing assets—from business cards to full digital page campaigns—are formatted correctly and consistent across print and web formats. By handling layout, typesetting, and design, Avantpage saves small businesses time and reduces errors, allowing you to focus on strategy and engagement. For marketers and small businesses, desktop publishing is more than just a design tool—it’s a way to streamline your content creation process, maintain brand consistency, and produce eye-catching materials efficiently. By understanding DTP functions, typography, typesetting, and layout best practices, you can turn simple marketing ideas into professional-quality documents, from business cards to comprehensive digital campaigns. With the right desktop publishing software and workflow, even beginner marketers can produce polished materials that rival commercial printing results, all from a personal computer. Let our team help you get started on your next desktop publishing project. Give us a call at 530-750-2040 or request a free quote today.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed many aspects of healthcare. One of those aspects is routine doctor visits. While many health issues still need to be handled in person, others can be done online through telehealth services (also known as telemedicine). Telehealth lets you talk to your healthcare provider live over the phone or video chat, send and receive messages using a secure online system, and use remote monitoring for updates.  But if patients can’t speak English and the provider isn’t bilingual, what happens then? Telehealth services have grown exponentially since the pandemic. A study by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) found that the number of Medicare visits conducted through telehealth appointments increased 63-fold, from 840,000 in 2019 to 52.7 million in 2020. Also, the number of behavioral telehealth appointments increased 32-fold. Telehealth is here to stay.   Telehealth remains an important part of the modern healthcare system, but how can providers navigate the complexities of offering patient care if they cannot understand the patient? Table of Contents Advantages and Disadvantages of Telehealth Services Offering Telehealth Interpretation: Compliant Support for Patients What Are the Different Types of Interpretation? Improve Healthcare Literacy Through Language Along the Patient Journey  Determine the Best Solution for Your Patient's Need(s) Technology Considerations Appointment Types Language Considerations Frequently Asked Questions About Telehealth Interpretation The Importance of Language Access Needs for Telehealth Services  Telehealth offers many advantages, but it also highlights the gaps in language access, digital literacy, and Wifi accessibility, and thus health disparities, that can impact the health of those with limited English proficiency (LEP). While healthcare organizations may not be able to address some technology issues, they can implement language access solutions in telehealth and the patient journey overall.  Telehealth has advantages and disadvantages for healthcare organizations and patients. Advantages include:  Disadvantages include: 
Let’s look at one of these language barriers: digital accessibility for those with language needs. Unfortunately, this barrier can exacerbate disparities in the healthcare system. For example, one primary care clinic that usually had 14% non-English speaking patients noted that the numbers dropped to 7 percent when operating only as telehealth during the pandemic.    Healthcare organizations won’t be able to make internet access more accessible, but they do have options for improving language services. So how can healthcare organizations close equity gaps when addressing barriers in telehealth and digital access?  For healthcare appointments, providers need to meet language access laws. This includes telehealth, which poses some changes to the new landscape such as accessing remote interpreters, digital literacy, technology, and (Personal Health Information) PHI security.  Providing interpretation services, whether they’re through video remote interpretation (VRI) or over-the-phone (OPI), is critical for improving language access. Healthcare providers should have established language agencies with the setup for appointments and last-minute needs. A language service provider (LSP) can help strategize your needs to efficiently meet video appointments and larger volume calls.  Learn about OPI vs. VRI interpretation, and why you may need to provide both types of telehealth interpreting to patients. To improve healthcare literacy through language, consider patient touchpoints with your organization. The patient journey starts with searching for providers, having an initial appointment, and aftercare, including self-administration of care, and all the touchpoints in between. When you think about the patient experience, ask yourself these questions: If you identify areas that need improvement with language, consider strategizing with your LSP. For example, perhaps you should localize your website or create language voice options on your phone system, and your LSP can help you with that. 
One language scenario may not be enough to fulfill your patients’ needs. Given the disadvantages that we described earlier, and as COVID-19 continues to challenge traditional healthcare solutions, healthcare organizations may have to more than one language strategy for given scenarios.  For example, telehealth appointments may not be the best solution in some cases. With VRI, consider the following factors to have a successful meeting: 
Consider other telehealth options where video conferencing technology won’t be as much of a challenge. For example, some LEP patients may be more comfortable over the phone than on video. The AHA 2022 Environmental Landscape showed that of the 27% of Medicare beneficiaries who participated in telehealth visits, 56% were over the phone, 28% were video, and 16% were both.   Of course, some types of topics are better for telehealth than others. Here are some examples.  Lastly, consider language factors, such as requests by the individual for a specific language and method, complexity of the meeting such as multiple participants which can be confusing on video or phone with interpretation, the digital literacy of all participants, limited hearing by participant(s), sign language users (meaning OPI isn’t a possibility), and more.   Clinicians can determine the need for a healthcare interpreter by reviewing patient records in the EHR system, noting the patient’s preferred language, or asking patients directly when scheduling an appointment. On-demand interpreting solutions and medical interpretation services are available to ensure equal access and health equity, so clinicians can plan ahead and provide professional interpreters for both in-person and telehealth visits. Telehealth interpreters will join appointments via secure links hosted on the AvantInterpret on-demand interpreting platform. Professional interpreters are trained to provide real-time interpreting, supporting patients who are hard of hearing, speak a different language, or need ASL services, all while maintaining accuracy in medical terminology. Yes. All professional interpreters engaged through Avantpage’s medical interpretation services adhere to HIPAA standards, maintaining patient confidentiality at all times. Whether interpreting face-to-face, via video interpretation, or in real-time telehealth sessions, interpreters are trained in medical terminology and confidentiality protocols to protect sensitive health information. Absolutely. Our interpreting platform integrates seamlessly with EHR systems, allowing clinicians to schedule appointments, track patient data, and request medical interpreters directly within the platform. This integration supports real-time, on-demand interpreting solutions and helps ensure that patients receive care in their preferred language without workflow disruption. Yes. ASL interpreters are available for telehealth appointments to provide equal access and support health equity for patients who are deaf or hard of hearing. Interpreters join in real-time via video interpretation, ensuring clear communication and seamless integration with clinicians’ telehealth workflows.Learn how to work with a sign language interpreter for better health outcomes for patients. Telehealth services are going to continue to grow. To reduce health disparities in language, healthcare companies can provide interpreters, address language needs along the patient journey, and evaluate the best solutions for their patients. We provide VRI and OPI services for healthcare organizations and other industries. To learn more about how we can help you, get a free quote, contact us with a general inquiry, or call (530) 750-2040. 

The post-pandemic Medicaid unwinding has created one of the largest coverage shifts in recent history. For Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs), the stakes are high: millions of members risk losing coverage, not because they’re no longer eligible, but because of procedural disenrollment. According to the KFF Medicaid Enrollment and Unwinding Tracker, 70% of Medicaid disenrollments in early 2024 were due to missed paperwork or incomplete renewals, not actual eligibility loss. Many of these members face a common and solvable barrier: language access. When renewal notices, forms, and instructions aren’t available in a member’s preferred language, deadlines are missed, documents are misunderstood, and coverage slips away. The result? Avoidable churn that disrupts care continuity and drives up costs for plans. The good news: this is a fixable problem. The solution: a proactive, multilingual Medicaid redetermination strategy. Table of Contents What Is Medicaid Redetermination? What is a Multilingual Medicaid Redetermination Strategy? Why a Proactive Approach Matters The Core of a Multilingual Redetermination Strategy - Start Early - Deliver Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Communications - Leverage Multiple Outreach Channels - Train Staff and Partners on Language Access Measure, Learn, and Adjust - Renewal Rates Among LEP Populations - Call Center Volume and Language Line Usage - Reduction in Procedural Terminations - Member Feedback and Retention ROI Marketing Redetermination Effectively Common Pitfalls to Avoid Frequently Asked Questions About Building a Redetermination Strategy The Bottom Line Medicaid redetermination is the process by which the state reviews beneficiary information to ensure they still qualify for Medicaid benefits. This typically involves verifying details such as income, household size, and place of residence. It’s a routine step that helps ensure Medicaid is providing coverage to people who meet the program’s rules. Ensuring that communication is clear and accessible in multiple languages is essential to help all beneficiaries maintain their benefits.  Learn more about LEP patients and what it means to be limited English proficient. A multilingual redetermination strategy is a proactive, structured approach designed to help Medicaid enrollees renew their coverage, regardless of their language proficiency. It’s about more than just translating a few forms. It means ensuring that every touchpoint in the renewal process, communications, support channels, and workflows, is designed to work seamlessly across languages and cultural contexts. With the right approach, members who are eligible won’t fall through the cracks simply because they couldn’t access renewal instructions in a language they understand. Too often, plans address disenrollment reactively; contacting members only after their coverage lapses. At that point, re-engagement becomes an uphill climb, requiring additional outreach, administrative effort, and resources. Members may also have already gone without needed care or medications, compounding health risks. A proactive approach flips the script: For MCOs and health plan marketers, the renewal cycle isn’t just an operational requirement; it’s an opportunity to strengthen relationships and close health equity gaps. Learn more about how improved language access can make healthcare better. A strong multilingual redetermination strategy weaves together language access, cultural relevance, and well-timed outreach. Here are the essential components: Redetermination should begin months before a member’s renewal date. This means: Early contact gives you time to: Translation is only the starting point. True effectiveness comes from cultural adaptation - ensuring messages are understandable, relatable, and trustworthy.Work with healthcare translation experts to ensure every message: Why this matters: Some populations may distrust official-looking documents or may be unfamiliar with how public benefits work. Tailoring the tone and framing can make the difference between a member opening a letter versus ignoring it. Different communities have different communication preferences. A multi-channel approach ensures your message is seen and understood: Tip: Make each communication channel reinforce the others to create a seamless and consolidated experience for members. For example, a mailed renewal reminder can direct members to a multilingual hotline where language resources are centralized and available on demand, providing real-time support without the higher costs of last-minute interpretation. Meanwhile, a follow-up text can link directly to the renewal form, guiding members smoothly through the process. This strategic coordination helps reduce confusion, saves resources, and ensures consistent language access across touchpoints. Even the most perfectly translated materials will fall short if frontline staff don’t know how to connect members to language assistance. Training should cover: Language access consulting can help build a sustainable plan that ensures every frontline staff member, from call center agents to community health workers, not only knows how to support LEP (Limited English Proficient) members effectively, but also understands the process to accurately identify the required language before connecting to an interpreter. Tools like “I Speak” cards or call-routing systems can prevent wasted time and expense from reaching the wrong interpreter. Proper training on using phone systems is also crucial; many staff unintentionally hang up or fail to connect due to a lack of familiarity, which can be uncovered through methods like mystery calls. A multilingual redetermination strategy is only as strong as its measurable impact. Tracking the right indicators ensures that your efforts are driving meaningful retention, improving member experience, and meeting compliance requirements. Pro tip: Segment results by language and region to identify high- and low-performing areas for more targeted follow-up. Pro tip: Use this metric together with renewal rates to gain a fuller understanding. Some members might reach out for help but still fail to complete the process without extra support. Additionally, analyze drop-off points to identify where language barriers may be causing friction for Limited English Proficiency (LEP) members, and conduct quality assurance to uncover gaps in language coverage. Pro tip: Use this metric alongside renewal rates to get a complete picture. Some members may call for help but still not complete the process without additional support. Pro tip: Translate surveys and use trusted messengers to boost response rates from LEP members for more accurate sentiment analysis. When it comes to helping members renew their coverage, especially those with limited English proficiency, the way you market matters. Meet people where they already are. Run targeted ads on social media, place spots on local radio stations, share print flyers, and partner with community media outlets,  all in the languages your members speak. Avoid spreading your resources too thin. Instead, concentrate your outreach efforts on neighborhoods and regions where your target language communities reside and work. This strategic focus ensures that your message reaches those who need it most. To identify these areas, you can utilize the U.S. Census Bureau's interactive mapping tools, which provide detailed demographic data by location. Skip the technical terms and bureaucratic tone. Use clear, friendly language that makes renewal feel simple, urgent, and worthwhile. The goal is to make the process less intimidating and more empowering. By combining these strategies, you can ensure your multilingual redetermination efforts truly connect and help more members keep their coverage. Medicaid redetermination is the process of reviewing a member’s eligibility for coverage. This involves confirming household size and income, among other factors such as residency and disability status. While some states may renew based on this information, beneficiaries may also need to complete a form, provide documentation, or attend an interview.  Medicaid redetermination is crucial because missing deadlines or paperwork can cause members to lose health benefits. Members with limited English proficiency are more likely to miss renewal notices if they’re not in their preferred language. Multilingual materials ensure everyone understands how and when to renew. Clear communication in the right language helps members take timely action, reducing the risk of losing coverage due to misunderstandings or missed deadlines. It should include translated notices, culturally relevant outreach, geo-targeted campaigns, and partnerships with trusted community channels. Yes. Retaining members through better communication reduces churn, improves health outcomes, and strengthens long-term plan revenue. The Medicaid unwinding period is both a challenge and an opportunity. By embedding multilingual and culturally competent communication into your redetermination process, you can: Don’t wait until members disappear from your rolls. Start building your multilingual redetermination strategy today. Ready to take action? Explore our expertise in healthcare translations and language access consulting services. You can also learn more about multilingual outreach strategies or request a free quote to start designing your plan.
By acting early and leading with equity, your organization can turn renewal season from a compliance headache into a member engagement success story.