Two of the most critical parts of any translation project are accuracy and confidentiality. You want your content communicated the right way and you want it protected in the process. For medical translations, the confidentiality part takes on extra significance since it may contain sensitive patient records protected by federal…
Medical jargon is complex and confusing enough that many patients often leave their doctor’s office wondering, “What did she just say?”
Imagine the added anxiety if the patient doesn’t speak English.
Census figures show that the number of people who speak a language other than English in the United States has reached an all-time high of about 62 million—that means one in five U.S. residents now speaks a foreign language at home.
These changing demographics have placed an additional burden on hospitals, clinics, 
doctor’s offices, mental health agencies and related public health organizations. As the number of non-English speakers seeking health care in the United States has grown, so has the need for medical interpreters and translators. State and federal laws as well as new industry standards are also driving up the demand for more health care language support services.
The role of interpreter has changed much over the years. Gone are the days when an interpreter just had to know how to verbally translate words from one language into another. In addition to language skills, professional interpreters undergo extensive training to refine their skills, and they must adhere to mandatory requirements that vary by client, such as background checks, drug tests and even immunization for those within the healthcare industry. Additionally, interpreters must follow a strict code of ethics and are expected to be well-versed—if not experts—in the specific fields for which they are working.
In the language services field, translators and interpreters play similar but different roles. Translators deal primarily with the written word while interpreters work with the spoken
word. Both are integral to bringing people of different languages and cultures together, but more recently the interpreting function has gained increasing traction. The trend is one you should pay attention to.
Because of Elena Tsinman, over 100 interpreters every day help non-English speaking or Limited English Proficient (LEP) individuals communicate with local police, teachers, lawyers, doctors, and in various other settings. Tsinman is the owner and founder of ASIST Translation Services, which employs more than 2000 interpreters from all over the…
Foreign-Language Interpreters May Reduce Duration of Hospital Stays for L.E.P. Patients A recent study conducted by the University of Massachusetts Medical School indicates that hospitalized L.E.P. (Limited English Proficiency) patients spend fewer days in the hospital when aided by professional interpreters. In addition, the study also found that patients…
ASIST Translation Services provides sign language interpreters for area hospitals, medical practices, courts, law enforcement, government, human services and employers. ASL interpreters are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for both advance and emergent requests. We work with qualified interpreters that have appropriate credentials and/or professional experience.…