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A recent study posted in Mayo Clinic Proceedings[1] reported some startling revelations about how Limited English Proficient (LEP) patients are treated during end of life care. The study looked at patients in intensive care units (ICUs) in a large academic hospital over a three-year period. For the Limited English Proficient patients who passed on in the ICU, the study showed that they were: 62% less likely to have orders for comfort care before they passed;

Over the past several years, the United States Department of Labor ramped up its scrutiny of the classification of workers as “independent contractors.” Both the National Labor Relations Board and the Internal Revenue Service followed suit. Thirty-two states joined in. These agencies share information, so a report of misclassification to one entity could potentially end up with an investigation by several. Why are so many major, government entities laser-focused on the issue of “contractors vs.

In Part 1 of this Blog Series, Video is King: Engaging Diverse Audiences, we took a look at the primary options for video translation: subtitles (same and different language), closed captions, and voice over. In this Part 2, we’ll look at the practical side of how and when to use which of these tools to maximize video engagement. A Word of Caution In Part 1, we noted that people often watch videos online and on

When it comes to content marketing online, video is king. The 2018 Internet Trends Report tells us that mobile video viewing is up worldwide around 600% between 2012 and 2017.[1] On social media, video content gets the highest engagement – on average, twice the level of other post types.[2] Video Engagement for Diverse Audiences People around the world watch billions of online videos every day. Content marketers can capitalize on this trend … but only

Without context, you cannot communicate effectively. Let’s look at a simple example: I read the book. How did you read the word “read” in this sentence? Let’s add some context: I read the book last week.   -vs-   Before I watch the movie, I read the book. With the tiny additions above, we now know from context that the first phrase is in the past tense, while the second phrase is a declaration. Setting Context Context

In any type of content, words are incredibly important. As a language solutions company, Vocalink Global has a deep respect for language. Our linguists are experts at transforming a message from one language to another. But as the old, English saying goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” A single bad image, wrong emoji, confusing icon, or bad color choice can irreparably alter your message. On the flip side, including the right images, emojis,

The Content Lifecycle A quick internet search of the phrase “content lifecycle” will demonstrate two things: Having a good content lifecycle management strategy is important; and There are dozens of different opinions as to what, exactly, constitutes the “content lifecycle.” Generally speaking, most experts include the following phases: Discovering, strategizing and/or planning quality content. Drafting content and related design elements. Publishing and promoting content across various platforms. Recycling or reusing content. Analyzing content performance. Throughout

Video Remote Interpreting, or “VRI,” is an amazing blend of technology and humanity. Harnessing the power of live, streaming video chat, VRI offers access to tens of thousands of highly trained linguists within the U.S. and around the world who facilitate communication between speakers of different languages. VRI usage continues to rise as more and more industries discover the benefits of adding a visual element to the interpreting experience … while maintaining the cost-effective, per-minute

Think back for a moment on all the training & programs for medical, health & human services, “Continuing Education Units,” seminars, webinars, conferences and workshops you’ve attended throughout your career. Now, what one topic shows up time and again – whether as the focus or infused into other topics? If you’re thinking “ethics and professionalism,” you got it in one! Ethics Make Us Human Why do we find the topic of ethics incorporated into nearly

In 1974 – just three short years after schools in San Francisco, California were desegregated following a federal court order – the Supreme Court of the United States tackled a different type of discrimination in schools: national origin. The Right to Participate The case Lau v. Nichols was filed by a class of around 1800 students of Chinese ancestry. These students (1) did not speak English and (2) were offered neither language assistance nor English

When the topic “Language Access Compliance in Healthcare” comes up, most people immediately think of medical interpreters facilitating communication in Spanish or Arabic or Chinese. Others may picture an American Sign Language interpreter helping a deaf patient seek care. Some may even think of translated documents … especially Informed Consent forms! But rarely does accessibility for the blind and low vision population come to mind. There’s a Lot of Documents in Healthcare! The most recent

Let’s face it. Going to the hospital is not something that anyone does for fun. It’s called an “emergency” department for a reason. Now, for a moment, add to the chaos of an emergency situation the inability to communicate. Can you imagine it? Trying to explain what happened, your pain levels, your medical history … to someone who can’t understand a word you’re saying?? Any doctor or nurse knows that to properly diagnose and treat,