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Posted on28 January 2025

Adapting Healthcare Policy Language for Multilingual Communities with Atlas Translations

By Rachel Lambert | rachellambert.biz | Copywriting | Content Creation | White Papers | Technical Writing

Rachel Lambert

If we all agree that access to healthcare is vital for everyone, then we’re all in agreement that everyone needs to understand healthcare policies and guidelines, right? It’s one of those “non-negotiables” we always hear about. So, when these crucial documents need to serve multilingual communities or those where English is not the primary language, the stakes are higher than ever. A single mistranslation could lead to many issues, but the ones that spring to mind are compliance, patient harm, and legal liabilities. That’s where using a professional healthcare translation agency becomes vital—and why Atlas Translations is here to help.

This week, we’re going to explore why translating healthcare policies matters, the challenges involved, and how Atlas Translations bridges the gap for diverse audiences.

Why Translating Healthcare Policy Language Matters

Healthcare policies and guidelines aren’t just paperwork when they directly influence patient safety and well-being. Misinterpreting even a single instruction can have disastrous consequences. That’s why professional translations are vital, especially when reaching diverse language populations. Here’s why:

Preventing Medical Misunderstandings

Accurate translations reduce the risk of miscommunication, which can lead to incorrect treatments or medication errors.

Meeting Compliance Standards

Healthcare organisations must adhere to stringent legal and regulatory requirements in every region they operate.

Supporting Inclusivity

Clear, multilingual policies promote equitable healthcare access, ensuring no one is left behind due to a language barrier.

By prioritising professional language translations, healthcare providers can deliver safe, effective care to all.

Challenges in Translating Healthcare Policies

Translating healthcare policies isn’t just about swapping words between languages. It’s a nuanced process with its own set of challenges.

Healthcare documents are full of complex words, acronyms, and medical verbiage. Occasionally, these terms may not have direct equivalents in other languages. A trained and experienced translator, like those we work with here at Atlas, must research and fact-check alternatives. In a worst-case scenario, the word or term could mean something entirely different in another language or cultural context.

Similarly to the above point, cultural sensitivities play a significant role in how healthcare information is received. In a deeply religious culture, certain phrases or concepts might be considered inappropriate or misunderstood without proper localisation.

Translating healthcare policy language often requires adapting those languages to local or regional expectations. Laws, medical practices, and communities will have different levels of understanding and comfort with specific topics. This makes localisation a requirement when you need the policies to fit the cultural and legal landscape.

Atlas Translations’ Approach to Healthcare Policy Translations

At Atlas Translations, we understand the intricacies of healthcare translations and have built our services to meet these unique demands. This is how we do it:

  • We work with sector-specific experts, i.e., native-speaking translators with expertise in healthcare and medical terminology.
  • Through collaboration with subject matter experts (SMEs), our translators are provided the opportunity to verify the accuracy of verbiage, acronyms, information and procedures.
  • Constant rigorous quality assurance (QA) processes ensure every document undergoes a multi-layered checking process. We take pride in our QA processes, enabling Atlas Translations to develop a reputation for error-free and culturally appropriate projects.

Our approach makes sure that your healthcare policies and guidelines are not just translated but localised with precision and care.

Tailored Solutions for B2B and B2C Audiences

B2B Clients

Healthcare organisations such as hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and regulatory bodies face immense pressure to communicate effectively across languages. Atlas Translations offers tailored solutions to help meet these goals:

Clinical Trial Documents

  • Translating protocols, patient consent forms, and trial results for global audiences.
  • Preparing multilingual investigator brochures to facilitate seamless collaboration between teams in different countries.
  • Ensuring that patient-facing materials, such as recruitment ads and education guides, are both linguistically accurate and culturally sensitive.

Healthcare Campaigns

  • Localising materials to make sure outreach resonates with multilingual communities.
  • Translating public health awareness campaigns to keep messaging clear, actionable, and inclusive.
  • Adapting training manuals and educational resources for medical professionals to reflect regional needs and compliance.

Regulatory Submissions

  • Translating documents required for approval by international regulatory bodies, such as the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
  • Providing multilingual summaries of product characteristics (SmPCs) for pharmaceutical products.

Product Labelling

  • Adapting packaging inserts, warnings, and usage instructions for medical devices and pharmaceuticals.
  • Ensuring labelling meets both local regulatory standards and patient readability requirements.

Atlas Translations is here to help your business avoid legal risks, maintain compliance, and build a reputation as an inclusive and accessible organisation.

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B2C Clients

Individuals often require fast and accurate translations of personal medical documents. Atlas Translations excels in providing services such as:

– Translating birth/marriage/death certificates, health records, and medical reports.

– Offering confidential, timely, and precise translations for personal needs.

No matter the scale of the request, we approach every project with the same commitment to accuracy and trust.

Best Practices for Translating Healthcare Policies

Translating healthcare policies is a meticulous process, and following best practices can help avoid mistakes. From language precision to technological innovation, these steps set the foundation for accuracy and accessibility.

Work with Sector-Specific Experts

Using translators with a deep understanding of medical terminology makes sure that nothing is lost in translation. Their expertise can mean the difference between clarity and confusion.

Embrace a Multi-Layered QA Process

Proofreading and cross-checking translated policies are non-negotiable steps in delivering accurate translations. Atlas’ QA processes are in place so that every document meets the highest standards.

Stay Ahead with Technology

Atlas Translations leverages advanced translation tools and software to guarantee consistency, efficiency, and accuracy in every project. This blend of technology and human expertise delivers reliable results every time.

It’s a Wrap!

Translating healthcare policies goes far beyond language; it also includes saving lives, protecting organisations, and promoting inclusivity. Atlas Translations has the expertise, technology, and human touch to make sure your healthcare policies and guidelines meet the needs of multilingual communities.

With a proven track record, a commitment to excellence, and oodles (technical word) of experience, we’re here to help you adapt, localise, and thrive.

Contact Us

We’d love for you to contact Atlas Translations. We’re here for a chat or to answer questions!

The A-Team (l to r: Steffi, Rhys, Clare, Joanna, Jim, and Anna—not shown is our Amy)

Call us on +44 (0)1727 812 725 or email us at team@atlas-translations.co.uk to let us know what you need. We respond quickly to all enquiries!

If you’d like to meet us face to face, learn more about our translation and language services, or deliver documents, please email or call us to arrange a meeting.

Use the Live Chat option during UK working hours to ask us any questions. You’ll chat with a real, live human because we’re a bot-free zone! Just click the little icon at the bottom right of your screen to start chatting with us.

If you need a quick quote, we have a handy Get a quote button located at the top of our website where you can get an estimate for your needs.

Can I Trust Atlas Translations?

Mais, oui! But if you’re after something with a bit more research behind it, here’s some info:

Atlas Translations holds two ISO certifications — ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management) and ISO 17100:2017 (Translation Services).

If the project is highly confidential, we can sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) for added peace of mind.

Are you wondering if we’re up to date on privacy? We registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) over 20 years ago and have always placed a high importance on data protection.

You can read more about our commitment to quality here.

Atlas Translations prides itself on providing fast, friendly, and high-quality language services. But don’t just take our word for it—see what our clients are saying about us.

We’re also on TrustPilot, and you can read our reviews here.

Global Voice, Local Touch

If you’re looking for some top tips for partnering with Atlas Translations, we have some top tips to share! We answer 25 of our clients’ most frequently asked questions, ranging from typesetting queries to discussing reference materials.

Click to download Global Voice, Local Touch

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