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4 Ways to Ace Your Healthcare System’s Website Translation

Are your patients able to read your website in the language they speak?

Every healthcare system needs to have a functional, informative

website. But consider this:

Users always visit websites in their own language when presented with a choice of language, even if they also speak English.*

Patients look to the web for critical healthcare information. If they cannot find it on your website, in their native language, they may resort to running your website’s copy through a free machine translation tool, with the end result being jumbled, incorrect messaging.

Your Website Must be Translated.

So, where to start?

The reality is, if limited-English speakers can’t navigate or understand your website, they are more likely to prevent or delay care, or even

search for care at another health system.

Always use human translators.

No computer can match the mastery of a qualified human translator. For that reason, website translation is a mission-critical job that shouldn’t be left to computers.

When translating a website, qualified human

translators use appropriate grammar and

syntax, consider overall context when making

word choices and are able to accurately

translate medical and insurance terminology.

What?

Identify your audiences.To ensure your website is accessible to all patients, your

healthcare organization must identify non-English-speaking

populations in your coverage areas. Use Census data to build

community profiles, and partner with a language services

provider that offers population data that highlights which

languages are most prevalent in the communities you serve.

Build on your compliance.

Depending on the amount of content available on

your website, translating all of the text can be time

consuming. Health systems should focus on

translating critical information first, such as how to

access healthcare services and the availability of

language assistance for limited-English speakers.

Remember that language and culture are intertwined.

You may have to craft new, or adjust existing, messaging to account for the culturally and linguistically diverse populations in your coverage area.

Partner with a language services provider that can both manage your website translation as well as offer transcreation services.

A thorough and accurate website translation, managed and completed by a language services provider that works with

experienced, human translators, will result in:

a boost in your online presence

enhanced brand awareness

improved patient outreach and

retention

a better patient experience

Ready to translate your health system’s website?

Give us a shout

* European Union, “User Language Preferences Online” http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/flash/fl_313_en.pdf