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Solution: Translation and Localization

How to Budget for Language Services Early in the Year

Budgeting for language services often happens quickly at the start of the year. Teams make estimates, set line items, and move on to other priorities. Later, when demand increases, those early assumptions can create pressure on timelines, coverage, and cost. Early budgeting works best when it reflects how language services are actually used, not how … Continued

Healthcare Compliance Documents Reviewed Early in the Year

Why timing matters for Section 1557–related updates Early in the year, many healthcare organizations review compliance-related documents tied to patient communication and access requirements. These reviews often connect to Section 1557 obligations and other federal or state guidance that affect how information is shared with patients and members. Addressing these updates early gives teams more … Continued

Meeting Patient Language Needs During RSV, Cold, and Flu Peaks

January brings a noticeable shift in patient volume for most clinics and hospitals. Respiratory illnesses rise at the same time families return to school, work, and childcare routines. This creates more questions, more follow-up calls, and more need for clear instructions. When patients and families speak different languages, the winter surge becomes even harder to … Continued

The first Section 1557 language access lawsuit has arrived

The material herein is educational and informational only. No legal advice is provided. A Houston man has sued a major Texas health system, alleging they mishandled his discharge. In doing so, he may have become the first person in the nation to pursue damages against a provider using the language access provision of Section 1557 … Continued

Patient sues hospital for failure to translate discharge paperwork

The material herein is educational and informational only. No legal advice is provided You’ve considered the patients themselves when it comes to translating discharge instructions, but have you considered their caretakers? Recently a patient sued a Texas hospital system, alleging that the hospital violated the Affordable Care Act’s prohibition on national origin discrimination when it … Continued

Which medical documents to translate: The DOJ’s Four Factor Analysis

You want to provide translations for your patients to lower readmission rates, improve patient satisfaction, and keep within the letter of the law. But how do you determine when and how to translate your organization s documents? Fortunately, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has provided a guide to help you to determine when documents need … Continued

Choosing quality: Questions for choosing a language services provider

Choosing a language services provider for your hospital or healthcare organization is a significant responsibility. The Joint Commission has identified communication problems between providers and their patients as the root cause of one in five sentinel events in healthcare, so choosing a partner to provide a quality of interpretation and translation which ensures clear communication is crucial. Unfortunately, some language services … Continued

Four reasons to use healthcare translation services

Your hospital has a language services program in place – you have a few on-site bilingual staff who are qualified to interpret, and you have phone and video interpretation provided by qualified interpreters at the touch of a button. But has your organization thought about translating common forms and informational documents? You might be surprised … Continued