For the first time, Avantpage will be attending the annual Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) conference, held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, February 20 - 24, 2011.

We are excited to be a part of an exhibition of this size and scope, and are looking forward to offering our translation solutions, expertise and experience to today's top healthcare IT providers. As longtime experts in the healthcare translation industry, Avantpage is poised to deliver our unique blend of flexibility, speed, quality and expertise to a new roster of healthcare clients.

Accurate translation in threshold and other languages is a critical component of the healthcare industry. Integrating translation services, IT and Management Systems is vital to the continued growth and success of hospitals, urgent care facilities, hospice providers, emergency care centers, HMOs, health insurance providers and many others in the health industry.

On average, 20 to 25% of all patients or insureds in the U.S. do not speak English at home. Translated content helps to improve patient health literacy at all levels, and allows our healthcare system to support client needs regardless of language and ethnicity.

Why choose Avantpage? At Avantpage, we've fine-tuned our translation capabilities to reflect the very latest in translation technology, healthcare compliance requirements and healthcare strategy and implementation plans.

• Our focus on the healthcare industry has given us a leading edge over other translation firms: We're experienced, prepared and fully qualified to handle healthcare translation projects of any size and complexity.
• We're easy to do business with! Our web-based translation platform offers accessibility, flexibility and customization - all at a very cost-effective price point.
• Although our data and translation processes are highly automated, we've never lost sight of the "human element" of translation. You'll deal with project managers, translators and support staff who always have time to answer questions, address concerns and talk you through the project process.

We are looking forward to connecting with IT and Management Systems experts in a variety of healthcare-related fields at the upcoming HIMSS conference. Our current clients include some of the largest integrated managed care accounts and hospitals in the industry, and we'd love to touch base with interested prospects and talk a little further about our menu of translation services and solutions.

We look forward to seeing you in Orlando!

Next Monday and Tuesday (December 6 and 7), Avantpage will be at the Health Industry Collaboration Effort (ICE) Annual Conference at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in San Francisco, CA.

ICE a volunteer, multi-disciplinary team of providers, health plans, associations, state and federal agencies and accrediting bodies working collaboratively to improve health care regulatory compliance through education of the public.

Last year's event was an extremely informative and engaging experience, so we're looking forward to participating again.

If you're at this great event, stop by our booth to learn about the translation solutions we offer and get a complete view of Avantpage and the excellent language services we can provide for your company.

We look forward to talking with you!

In the wake of the recent federal health care regulations that went into effect on September 23rd, 2010, it's now more critical than ever to make sure that client health care information is distributed clearly and in a timely fashion.  

As more people become eligible for health care under the new laws, health care organizations and insurance providers will find that they are faced with greater challenges regarding language access. And as these reforms become part of our legal fabric, new and updated information must be prepared and distributed to everyone--proficient  English speakers, non-English speakers and  limited English speakers alike. 

How Can Avantpage help?

Avantpage has highly qualified translation teams in place consisting of certified linguists who are trained specialists in threshold languages including Arabic, Armenian, Cambodian (Khmer), Chinese, Farsi, Hmong, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese. We offer the most competitive pricing in the translation industry, and our AvantFlow online translation management system, experienced project managers, translation memory tools, and experienced linguistic teams ensure that our translation services consistently exceed industry standards and requirements. 

To meet increased workloads due to the health care regulations, Avantpage has recently ramped up our translation capacities, improved processing volume and timelines, and enhanced our quality control and service abilities. Whatever our clients' needs, we will deliver--swiftly, accurately and within budgetary constraints.

Questions, confusion and misunderstandings are bound to be common offshoots of these sweeping regulatory changes. It's critical that you have procedures in place - including accurate, high-quality translation services -to help alleviate frustration and ensure that your clients understand the wording of these changes, how they will be affected, and the timing of all the different reforms. Written materials, websites and electronic correspondence must all be kept current, reflecting new information as it is made available by the government.

We're Committed to Keeping You Informed

Avantpage is scheduled to attend a number of important conferences that will address these latest issues. 

• October 18 - 20: we will be attending the 25th Annual California Association of Health Plans Conference in Indian Wells, CA. 
• October 18  - 21: our Avantpage representatives will be exhibiting at DiversityRx 2010: The Seventh National Conference on Quality Health Care for Culturally Diverse Populations, in Baltimore, MD.
• December 6-7: we will be exhibiting at the Industry Collaboration Effort, Inc. Annual Conference 2010 in San Francisco, CA.

Please stop by and visit us at any of these conferences if you're available. We'd love to meet with you, and outline what we're doing to keep our clients informed of these critical developments in the health care field. We plan to report back with our impressions, observations and perspectives after these shows, so we will be in contact with you then.

Did you know that from September 15th through October 15th, America celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month? This observation began in 1968 as a celebratory week under President Lyndon B. Johnson, and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period. 

This month-long celebration marks a way for Americans to honor the contributions, culture and history of U.S. citizens whose ancestors hail from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. September 15th was chosen as the start of this celebration because this date is the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico declared its independence on September 16, and Chile on September 17.

Throughout the country, people of Hispanic descent will be celebrating this year's theme:  Heritage, Diversity, Integrity and Honor:  The Renewed Hope of America (Herencia, Diversidad, Integridad y Honor: La Renovada Esperanza de America). Classrooms, museums, art galleries, government programs, and the media will offer a chance to explore Hispanic history, culture, art, literature, humanitarian contributions and more.

The term Hispanic, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, refers to Spanish-speaking people in the United States of any race. On the 2000 Census form, more than 35 million people identified themselves as Hispanic or Latino. Population growth  trends show that by 2050, Latino populations are expected nearly to triple. In California, the Hispanic population is expected to grow by 16.5 million people in the next 40 years.

Read more about how Spanish translation can help you reach these prospective buyers in their own language, on their own terms, or call 877-ANY-LANG or email today!

Our friend, Carolyn Wang Kong, MPH, MPP, Practice Leader, Language Access, Northern California Diversity, Kaiser Permanente, will be participating in a noon-time panel presentation on September 24th at the Commonwealth Club of California. 

The topic of discussion is Cross-Cultural Health Care: Caring in All Languages. The event will address how doctors and patients can overcome the language barriers to enable and enhance access to health care. Come hear how technology is helping doctors and patients communicate through cyberspace.

Kaiser Permanente Northern California has done excellent work in this area, and we're sure Carolyn Wang Kong and the rest of the panel will present an interesting and engaging hour. The event is underwritten by the California Wellness Foundation.

For tickets, go to www.commonwealthclub.org or call (415) 597-6705.

Location:
The Commonwealth Club, San Francisco Club Office
595 Market Street, 2nd floor SF, CA 94105

Time:
11:30 a.m. check-in; Noon program

Cost:
MEMBERS FREE, $20 non-members, $7 students (with valid ID)

Avantpage just returned from the CPEHN conference in Los Angeles. The theme was one of celebration--a look back, celebrate accomplishments and look forward to continuing challenges and what can be done.  The event was sponsored by the California Endowment.

The conference was attended by many different organizations from across the U.S.: community-centered groups and other not-for-profits, to publically held companies and federal government agencies.
 
Ellen Wu, CPEHN Executive Director, opened the plenary with a look at two scenarios for 2015. The first was a look back to today; the right moment and convergence of opportunities that effectively addressed health care disparity.

The second scenario was a "wasted opportunity."  The message: Don't mistake activity for achievement. Health care reform enacted in 2009 was insurance reform but did not address improvement in inequity.  How we work, whatever the accomplishments over the next five years will determine which scenario we have in 2015.
 
Some points made during workshops:

• Diversity of the total U.S. population is not reflected in the makeup of the workforce.  What does that hold in store for employers?
• 2 ½% of medical liability cases involve language issues.
• Most organizations need multiple modes of language services.
  

Overall, this was a great experience and we thank CPEHN for hosting this discussion--we were glad to be a part of it!  We'd love to talk more and share additional insights. Call or email me today and let's continue the discussion!

Michael Lattif, VP Business Development

201.567.4351 | 530.750.2040 ext 7 | cell 201.424.8838

This past weekend I had a great opportunity to spend time at NYU in a course through their School of Continuing and Professional Studies. I gathered with a small group of other professionals talking about ethnic marketing and ways to reach multicultural communities. Such interesting discussions and data--and truly invigorating to be with other professionals eager to make those vital connections to important communities in the U.S.

Why is multicultural marketing something to pay attention to? Ethnic markets are gaining in population and buying power. They are the fastest growing segment in the U.S.! The majority are in largest cities, and growing in small cities too. While we may all think we already know this, it's great to get back to basics and see the data. The Hispanic, Asian, and African American markets combined already comprise 50% or more of top 10 urban areas, with annual purchasing power of $2 trillion. This population is 10 million larger than baby boomers demographic group.

And it's so important to be mindful of the diversity within diversity. For example, 15% of the U.S. population is Hispanic. Of that market, 63% are Mexican, while 35 other cultures contribute to the balance--such as Puerto Rican, Spanish, Venezuelan, Columbian, Panamanian, Guatemalan, and more. The same diversity is, of course, true with Asian and Arab cultures. Guess what, it's even true with "Americans."

When communicating with these groups, we can't assume a lack of English proficiency. It's important to know the appropriate times to use in-language marketing tactics. But when your communication is in-language it tells the community you care about them, you understand them, and they are important.

I'd love to talk more and share my insights into how language translation is a vital component in the process of creating a multicultural marketing program with cultural relevance. Call or email me today and let's continue the discussion!

Michael Lattif, VP Business Development

201.567.4351 | 530.750.2040 ext 7 | cell 201.424.8838

Avantpage joined the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network (CPEHN) in taking action to support translation of prescription drug labels--we encourage you to take action also by May 13, 2010.

CPEHN writes, "Despite public outcry, the Board of Pharmacy continues to advance weak regulations that do not ensure the readability of prescription drug labels. These next two weeks are our final opportunity to write the Board and demand strong patient-centered prescription labels-- labels that are in a 12-point font size and translated in other languages."

Join us in sending your comments to the California State Board of Pharmacy asking for culturally appropriate labels. Comments are due by May 13!  CPEHN recommends telling the Board:

• 12-point font is the minimum size for readability. It is not reasonable to put the burden on patients to ask for larger print.
• Translated labels are essential for our diverse communities to understand how to take their medication effectively and safely. Pharmacies should be required to use the translated labels provided by the Board or develop their own translations.
• Oral interpretation must be required for all patients. Using the caveat "if available" in the regulation will leave our communities vulnerable to misuse of their prescriptions.

Please direct comments to: Carolyn Klein
Manager, Legislation and Regulations
California State Board of Pharmacy
1625 N. Market Blvd., N219
Sacramento, CA 95834
Fax: (916) 574-8618

For information or to let us know you took action, email Marty Martinez. Additional information is available at the Board of Pharmacy website.

According to data from the United States Census of 2000, the top five languages other than English most widely spoken by Californians in their homes are Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Korean. Together, these languages are spoken by approximately 83 percent of all Californians who speak a language other than English in their homes, or more than 9.96 million people.

When you consider that it can be difficult even for native English speakers to understand a complicated real estate contract, it's not hard to imagine that limited-English individuals are especially susceptible to fraudulent lending practices. California Assembly Bill 1160, passed in 2009 and in effect as of January 1, 2010, addresses this. 

If negotiations for a real estate transaction are conducted in Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, or Korean, the borrower must be given a written translation of the contract and/or the appropriate disclosures and forms. If there are any substantial revisions to the contract, then these revisions must be translated as well.

Avantpage has released a special report called "Action Alert: New Standards For Contract Translation In California." The report discusses the full implications of the new law as well as strategies for lenders and brokers seeking compliance.

Today, in celebrating our 13th "lucky" year of excellence in helping people better communicate with and understand each other, Avantpage Translations has released a report called "Avantpage: Translating 13 Years of Experience into Continued Success."

This informative report takes a look back at 13 years of change in the translation industry and how the new global economy and the Internet have affected companies' translation needs. In addition, Avantpage CEO Luis Miguel shares his passion for the translation industry, his insights about the future, and emerging translation trends that may have a major impact.

Here's to the next "lucky 13" years!