At Avantpage, we use glossaries and translation memory to save time in the long run, saving our clients money, as well as provide consistency within a translated document and among all your translated documents.

Custom glossaries are built for each client, so that their preferences are recorded for future use. For example, if a client prefers the word "team member" instead of "employee," that's the word that will always be used. Using glossaries, any of our translators will be able to pick up material related to the same client, and have fewer questions about the way certain terms are to be translated.

Working along the same lines, translation memory (TM) software helps us build on the previous work of our translators to save time in the future. Once a document has been completed and reviewed for quality assurance, it is converted to a TM file. When it's time to complete a new translation for the same client, we can analyze the new document against previously translated documents. The application helps decipher which words and phrases have been repeated and indicates how they were previously translated.

Even though these technologies do not rely on computers to make the translation, they do make the translation process much more efficient by building on existing work. In the end, it's always an educated human translator that makes the final decision, as we strongly believe it should be.

At Avantpage, we're much more than just a translation company. We provide translation, localization, interpretation, language technology and much more - all with a unique sensitivity to other cultures, ethnic markets and foreign entities. Our documents and multimedia are not "just" translations - they feel and function as if they were produced in the target country.

So, why the bridge? The image of the Avantpage bridge is elegant, yet powerful. Its grace and beauty belies an underlying strength that will provide safe passage to many future travelers. 

Our services provide a powerful bridge across which businesses can communicate, collaborate and function more effectively through many diverse languages. From localizing websites and online materials to the intricacies of international commerce, the Avantpage bridge of services reaches across language barriers and cultural differences, drawing people together and helping them to create lasting relationships with ethnic and foreign markets.

Simply put, Avantpage represents a bridge to other cultures, a bridge towards more effective communication both locally and globally, and a bridge to a brighter future.

Come and be a part of our journey as we travel across!

Are you aware that Avantpage is a minority-owned business? We are proud of our MBE status, and today I'd like to take just a moment to expand on that a bit ...

What is an MBE? 
An MBE - Minority-owned Business Enterprise - is defined as a for-profit business which is owned, operated and controlled by minority group members who are Asian, Black, Hispanic or Native American. At least 51% of the business must be owned by a minority to qualify, or, if the business is publicly-owned, at least 51% of the stock must be owned by one or more members of a minority. Also, the management and day-to-day operations of the business must be controlled by minority group members as well.

Many large corporations actively seek to do business with MBEs, and often have internal programs in  place to contract services with a certain percentage of MBEs, in addition to their other suppliers. If you are interested in choosing a translation company with MBE status, Avantpage is certified by The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC).

What does MBE status mean to our clients?
There is actually a two-pronged advantage to Avantpage's MBE status. First, because we are certified as an MBE by the NMSDC, we are eligible to register with major corporations in their supplier diversity programs. And that means exciting opportunities for Avantpage to gain valuable experience with new corporate clients, improve our industry recognition, expand our services and grow as an organization. 

Secondly, there is a more "intangible" benefit to our being designated an MBE.  In the translation industry, we deal closely with minority issues in regard to language barriers. We understand sensitive language issues, cultural differences, and diversity concerns, because our company was founded and built by minorities. 

Avantpage constantly seeks to further our understanding of and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of other minority businesses and individuals. While our MBE status is another advantage to working with us, our work stands by itself due to its quality, service and competitive cost.

In today's unsteady economic climate, efficiency is a major buzzword on everyone's lips. How can businesses maximize resources while continually improving their quality and remaining competitive?

Improved technology is a frequent answer to this question. In Avantpage's case, we've been using an enterprise-level online project management system called AvantFlow for the past several years. It's helped us communicate easily with clients and gives them the freedom to access projects 24/7, from any remote location with Web access.

Like any good software, AvantFlow deserved an upgrade, and we're proud to say that the newest version of AvantFlow is more powerful than ever, with features that make it incredibly easy to start, supervise, and pick up translation projects.

How does it work? Each new user gets a secure account. Here you can log in to request a new project, monitor ongoing work, change specifications if necessary, view previous projects, and download finished files. Our system is designed to handle even the biggest desktop publishing files.

When working with your translator, you can assign due dates, ask for a project quote, and upload your source files. Best of all, all of your activity is automatically tracked within the system so you can see who's been doing what with your project. There are no more emails to search through, and you can be confident that all requests are seen and handled in a timely manner.

Need a quick demo on AvantFlow and how to use it? Contact me and I'd be happy to schedule a ten-minute meeting and/or e-mail you our Quick Guide User Manual.

Michael Lattif, VP Business Development
201.567.4351 | 530.750.2040 ext 7 | cell 201.424.8838

Avantpage is pleased to join the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network (CPEHN), a multicultural health advocacy organization, at their event next week: Building Quality and Equitable Health Care Systems.

Sponsored by The California Endowment, this convening is an important opportunity to celebrate and share with one another our advances in eliminating health disparities through language access, cultural competency, and workforce diversity, and to work together to move the field forward, especially with the recent passage of national health reform.

If you're in Los Angeles June 6-9, consider joining this important meeting. Avantpage will report back after the event with our impressions--we're committed to staying abreast of all changes in policy as it relates to translation and keeping our clients informed!

Being a technologist myself, I always look to the advances our scientists and engineers make with awe and wonder. As a society, we owe much to them.

I also know better than to give absolutes like "Machine translation will never replace human translators". Human capacity and ingenuity knows no bounds as of yet.

That said, we need to remember that as we apply machine translation to medical information, there are legal implications and, most importantly, the basis for medical choices and treatments. Mistakes and inaccuracies with medical information are simply not acceptable.

In our medical translation workflow, the legitimate role we have for machine translation is for terminology research, and to see how others have translated text that is new for us. Please note that this is more than in the past, but still quite limited.

Otherwise, because of legal, contractual and ethical requirements, we do not have or see any other role for machine translation in a medical context at this time. We will continue to follow the development of the technology, and as it evolves, evaluate how it can improve quality, lower costs and reduce turnaround time for our human translators.

Luis Miguel, CEO
tel: 530.750.2040, ext. 1

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.

This week I read an engaging and informative survey report released by the California HealthCare Foundation (CHCF) detailing Americans' usage of personal health records, or PHRs.

What's a PHR?

According to the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), a PHR is "a tool that you can use to collect, track and share past and current information about your health or the health of someone in your care." A personal health record is different from a medical record because it is the patient's responsibility to compile and maintain a PHR.

The survey indicates one in 14 Americans has used a personal health record, double the number of users from a year earlier. This number is almost certain to continue growing as the adoption of electronic health records, or EHRs, becomes more widespread. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 included up to $29 billion to support providers' adoption and meaningful use of such records.

Highlights of the survey showed that more than half of PHR users learned something about their health as a result of their PHR and a third of users used the PHR to take action to improve their condition. In addition, low-income PHR users (60%) tended to feel more connected to their doctor as a result of using a PHR.

While private companies offer PHR solutions, over half of respondents to the survey said they felt most comfortable using a PHR provided by their doctor or insurer.

PHR Translation Is Urgently Needed...

Since the results of the study showed that low-income PHR users stand to benefit greatly from PHR use, and in many areas of the country, the limited-English and low-income demographics overlap, it makes sense that PHR providers should expand PHR offerings to other languages as soon as possible. People who primarily speak Spanish or another language should not be denied this service.

If something as simple as maintaining a personal health record can help people feel more connected to providers and be more proactive about their health decisions, then everyone should get one! Do you have a PHR?

Luis Miguel, CEO
tel: 530.750.2040, ext. 1

I recently read a great article by Jim Hardy, McKesson Health Solutions, called, "Engage And Retain Health Plan Members With Online Tools," posted on Consumer Directed Health Care Solutions.
 
The list of what "Health plans should look to provide" presents an important picture of what health plan members can look forward to, some day, from their health plan's website.  The Pew and Deloitte statistics quoted are a poster child for "HELP!" and hope especially for those with chronic conditions.

The language translation world is a major area that provides constant improvement in health literacy,  member/patient satisfaction, and health plan ROI.  Having one place that  integrates all relevant medical information such as contained in the article's list is a terrific solution.  Even better if it can be understood by those who do not speak English or are more comfortable with a foreign language.
 
It's so important to increase the visibility of language service providers and underscore the important role we perform in the health care sector -- for the benefit of members and patients.

Michael Lattif, VP Business Development  
tel: 530.750.2040, ext. 7

Avantpage Translations is looking for a Web localization partner. We're interested in hearing from you if you are:

• Experienced
• Able to provide references regarding prompt, accurate deliveries
• Familiar with SEO
• Does Website design and implementation
• Willing to partner in Avantpage RFPs involving translation and web work
• US/Canada presence to ensure quick communication and collaboration
• Flexible pricing according to job/client

 Development languages to include:

• C#
• VB.NET
• C++
• Java
• PHP
• Perl
• Python
• Delphi

If you are interested in talking with us and learning more about how we can work together, please contact info@avantpage.com, or call 530-750-2024.
 
About Avantpage Translations
Founded in 1996, industry leader Avantpage allows our customers to build bridges across cultures. We provide translation, localization, interpretation, language technology, language workflow and strategy, and multilingual Desktop Publishing services - with constant attention to consistency and accuracy.

We have successfully completed statewide, national and international contracts, partnering with government and private entities. Our expertise helps you communicate and develop lasting relationships with ethnic and foreign markets. Online project management systems and advanced language technology allow us to provide responsive, quality, and efficient services. We help our customers develop an overall language strategy, workflows, and enabling technologies. These elements provide a framework that allows collaboration throughout all language services.