Facilitating communication for foreign language speaker patients and doctors brings the notion of translation into a prospect. It is externally important for patients and doctors to understand each other. But keep in mind that this medical translation is a huge industry where every type of translation plays its significant role in making understanding easy for both audiences. For instance, pharmaceutical translation services are involved in translating medicine leaflets, their side effects, cover labels, and even patient recruitment materials. Similarly, medical device translations are involved in translating medical; device manuals and user guides.
In this read, we are going to talk about the medical translation industry and what different types of translations are in demand the most.
Medical Translation Industry
The medical translation is responsible for the elimination of linguistic and cultural barriers in delivering accurate and precise medical and healthcare information. It is the medical translation that makes sure that patients get the best medical services. It is because of the evolution of this industry that today we have found different ways to treat humans such as remote patient monitoring and the creation of devices that help patients to monitor their health.
The increase in patient education is also because of medical translation solutions. The more patients can understand their health, the more they are able to communicate with healthcare practitioners. In 2024, this medical translation industry generated revenue worth $1.57 billion. And in upcoming years, this revenue is expected to double. The globalization of this industry has resulted in an acceleration of medical services all over the world. There has been an increase in clinical trials, medical camps, and remote patient monitoring apps as medical translation is in the reach of patients and doctors.
Types of Medical Translation
As mentioned earlier, the medical translation industry is a massive one. The reason behind this massive one is because of the fact that the translation of every medical document differs from the other. It means that expertise in these different fields is needed which can not be the strongest suit of every medical translator. If a medical translator is adept in providing biotechnology translation services, it doesn't mean that he/she will also excel in medical device translation services.
Different types of medical documents need different kinds of expertise which brings abundance in the types of medical translations. Here the complexity of medical terminologies also plays a crucial role.
As the medical jargon and terminologies are constantly changing in almost every field, experts need to remain up to date with that information and one can't know all about the human heart and the human mind at the same time. This is why we have abundant doctors as well as abundant types of medical translations for the task.
Most Popular Types of Medical Translation
Every type of medical translation is important but there are a few that are needed the most.
Patient Record Translation
It involves translating patient records like medical histories, reports, and many other types. For instance, if you are consulting a foreign doctor for treatment, you will need to translate your medical records so that the doctor can understand about your health and start the treatment without unnecessary delay. This is where you need experts for the task and that's where a medical translation agency enters and makes your day. Some of the documents that need translation are:
- Clinical reports
- Doctor’s notes
- Patient’s hospital discharge notes and summaries
- Prescription records
- Treatment history
Informed Consent Forms Translation
Before starting any medical procedure or clinical trial, doctors are supposed to get the consent of their patients. For this purpose consent forms are signed by patients called patient informed consent forms. These forms are for the purpose of having a written and signed document that patients agreed to the procedure as well as its side effects if any occurred. In case of language differences, these forms need to be translated so that patients understand what they are signing up for. In the medical industry, ICFs are extremely important as they showcase the integrity and ethics of healthcare practitioners.
Medical Device Translation
This type of medical translation translates the user manuals and pamphlets that are for understanding the accurate use of medical devices. In case any malfunctions occur in the medical devices, practitioners should be able to solve them. When these manuals are translated accurately, practitioners easily understand them and are able to fix them as well.
These types of medical translations are also in demand the most in the industry.
- Medical document translation
- Medical interpretation
- Biotechnology translation
- Biology translation
Final Words!
Medical translations ensure that patients and doctors understand each other. Different types of translations are required by patients and doctors based on their demands such as medical document translation, biology translation, biotechnology translation, etc.
