MAGNUS Healthcare Language Servicese is unique in the language services industry because of its sole focus on healthcare, broad range of services, devotion to quality control and its attention to each client’s needs.
MAGNUS Focuses Solely on Healthcare:
- We understand the healthcare industry, the continuum of care, and the importance of clear patient communications from a legal, quality-of-care and ethical viewpoint
- We understand the importance of CMS compliance and the healthcare regulatory environment, including access to health care communications in their native language for Limited English Proficient (LEP) patients.
- We strictly adhere to confidentiality of patient information and have security guidelines in place to ensure HIPAA compliance
- Our experienced linguistic teams are well versed in healthcare terminology and technology, and understand how healthcare is practiced in the United States.
MAGNUS’ Broad Range of Services:
- Document translation, including support services such as document formatting, file prepress, multilingual design, readability analysis and consulting; we can also coordinate community reviews in many of the languages we support.
- Website design, translation and localization, including testing for groups with special needs.
- Telephonic interpreting via the MAGNUS Language Valet. The Language Valet provides our healthcare clients access to professionally trained interpreters 24/7 in over 150 languages, simply by dialing a toll-free access number. MAGNUS currently has over 3,000 professional telephonic interpreters in its database of over 150 languages.
- Face-to-Face interpreting. MAGNUS currently has over 6,000 experienced, professional in-person interpreters to provide face-to-face interpretation or Video Remote Interpreting.
- Evaluation of the linguistic skills of client staff.
- Preceptorship opportunities that provide medical interpreting free of charge
- Client voice system message recording for follow-up on patient or client inquiries.
- Production and direction of non-English television spots as well as both writing and casting informational videos.
MAGNUS Quality Control:
- MAGNUS employs a rigorous screening process that vets the qualifications of our linguists on many levels, including proficiency in their native language and in English; working knowledge of healthcare terminology and the US health care system; and familiarity with the customs and cultural nuances that may impact patient or client understanding and comprehension. Read more about our linguists.
- MAGNUS has invested considerable resources toward developing glossaries that help ensure consistency and avoid confusion.
- MAGNUS adheres to the latest industry standards for translation and interpreter services MAGNUS holds the following affiliations:
- Founding Member, Association of Language Companies (www.alcus.org)
- Corporate Member, American Translators Association (www.atanet.org)
- Member, California Healthcare Interpreters Association (www.chiaonline.org)
MAGNUS Clients Can Expect:
- An experienced contact who understands the healthcare industry, its unique needs and regulatory environment.
- An experienced linguistic team familiar with healthcare terminology and healthcare as practiced in the United States.
- A commitment to being good stewards of our clients’ resources, to maximize results at the fairest project cost.
- Streamlined project facilitation via MAGNUS’ proprietary online Project Management System, a secure web portal that:
- Encrypts all interactions
- Makes large file transfers extremely easy to complete
- Enables detailed project tracking
- Provides easy access to completed project files
About our Linguists
Experienced, dependable and highly-skilled linguists are a key part of our success as a language services provider. We work with a large number of professional linguists and place the utmost rigor on ensuring that each one possesses the skills required for each specific assignment.
Because of the great diversity of the populations to which we communicate and the relative lack of objective, qualified accrediting bodies for many of the languages used, MAGNUS must be creative in finding and testing linguists. When possible and appropriate, we consider affiliations with certifying bodies such as the American Translators Association, the US State Department escort interpreter certification, US Federal Courts, and applicable states’ Court certification program.
Because of the nature of our services, we seek linguists who have spent a significant amount of time living in countries where the target language is predominant. We typically prefer individuals who have at least a high school education in their native language and a college degree from a university in the US. Many of our linguists hold a college degree in their native language with post-graduate study in the US.
The linguists with whom we work are accomplished professionals holding various credentials and relevant work experience. Examples of the types of credentials held include:
- Active Member, American Translators Association
- Associate Member, American Translators Association
- Escort Interpreter, US Department of State
- Certified Interpreter, US Federal Court
- Certified Interpreter, California State Court
- OTIAQ (Ordre des traducteurs et interprètes agréés du Québec)
When selecting new linguists, we perform a thorough review of their resume and work history. We customarily provide prospective linguists with a sample passage to translate and this sample, along with other passages submitted by the translator, are then evaluated by a known, capable and qualified linguist. In selected circumstances, an appropriate community review group will provide input on the skills of the linguist.
When working with a new linguist, we will generally place them in a subordinate role on a translator/editor team and have their work reviewed/edited by one of our senior linguists. This allows us to observe and evaluate the linguist’s performance in a real world setting. If the new linguist does not perform satisfactorily in this setting, we evaluate whether continued effort would be appropriate.
Translators
We rely on experienced teams of linguists whom we have carefully selected and certified, which are comprised of at least one translator and an editor, to perform the translation. MAGNUS staff format and review the materials for completeness and linguists usually perform an additional review to ensure that nothing has been inadvertently altered in the formatting process. Translations are randomly sent for an independent review to ensure that linguist teams continue to meet our required quality standards. We also actively seek client feedback.
We also offer additional quality control services from which our clients can select if desired. These include independent review by a subject matter professional, back translation, and community reviews. We are happy to consult with clients about the benefits and costs of each additional service.
Interpreters
Because our interpreters are so carefully selected and trained, our interactions with patients, both by telephone and in person, tend to be shorter giving a direct, positive impact on overall costs.
MAGNUS currently has nearly 6,000 interpreters who can provide face-to-face, telephonic or Video Remote Interpreting. We understand the high degree of trust that is placed in the hands of our linguists, so we are very selective in our recruiting and ongoing evaluation. Our interpreters are recruited and screened for the following attributes:
- Mastery of both languages
- Wide general knowledge similar to what is expected of a person with at least a bachelor’s degree
- Wide ranging vocabulary covering very formal to informal language and slang
- Ability to understand and relay messages quickly, in either direction
- Demonstrated customer service skills
- Professional experience performing consecutive interpreting, preferably by telephone and for a minimum of 3 years for telephonic interpreters
- Commitment to professional ethics/standards
- Membership in and/or accreditation by a relevant professional association
During their interview and training we also evaluate their:
- Learning ability and acceptance of feedback
- Telephone voice in terms of confidence and strength
- Ability to listen and relay information accurately and completely
- Respect for the role of interpreter to facilitate communication, without alteration
- Ability to be impartial and objective at all times
- Professional demeanor and willingness to follow appropriate directions
- Strong customer service orientation
- Cultural competence for effectively understanding the messages being interpreted