Language Line Services Announces Introduction of On-site Interpretation Service in Pacific Northwest

New Offering Complements Suite of Language Access Tools Available to Hospitals and Legal Businesses in Oregon and Washington State

Monterey, CA – (January 29, 2009) – Local healthcare institutions, law firms and legal-focused businesses in Oregon and Washington have a new option for improving communications with their multilingual patients and clients thanks to the launch of a face-to-face, on-site interpretation offering by leading language services company Language Line Services. 

The new service will complement the company’s suite of language access tools ranging from over-the-phone and video interpretation, to document translation and interpreter training/certification, now available to local healthcare and legal industry organizations.

“The ever-diversifying patient populations of U.S. hospitals demand new tools that aid communication between healthcare providers and limited-English speakers,” said Louis Provenzano, Language Line Services’ President and Chief Operating Officer.  “Similarly, the variety of languages spoken in the U.S. can create a challenge for businesses that need to communicate with limited-English speakers on a regular basis. We are proud to introduce a face-to-face interpretation offering for heath care organizations and legal businesses in the Pacific Northwest.”

In addition to its on-site interpretation offering (http://www.languageline.com/onsite), Language Line Services provides corporations, healthcare institutions and government organizations a variety of language solutions to help them meet the needs of their growing limited-English speaking clients, patients and constituents.

Language Line Services, with interpreters in over 170 languages, was founded in 1982 as an over-the-phone language interpretation company. Over the past 26 years, and with offices in Monterey, CA, Portland, OR, Glendale, CA and around the globe, Language Line Services has expanded its offerings to help businesses speak their customers’ languages using innovative solutions, including:

• Over-the-phone interpretation – simple, 3-way communication between an organization, its patient or customer, and an interpreter.  Available within seconds anytime, anywhere, from any type of phone
• Language Line® Video Interpreter Service – for timely, over-video American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation with deaf and hard of hearing clients; as well as with limited-English speaking clients in selected languages
• Document Translation and Localization – translating software, content management solutions, websites, on-line help, multimedia applications, training materials, and other applications
• The Language Line® Phone – unique, dual-handset telephone to access interpreters in face-to-face situations
• Language Line® University – to test, train and certify bilingual employees and interpreters
• Language Line® BiMedical.net – new, Web-based service that generates bilingual medical forms and questionnaires and allows patients to immediately communicate their medical needs to caregivers.
• Language Line® Personal Interpreter Service – for small businesses and entrepreneurs who need instant access to telephone interpreters without having to set up contract accounts
• Language Line® LanguageTrak  – provides timely alerts on emerging language trends in specific market areas
• Language Line® Direct Response – permits businesses to answer limited-English speaking callers in their preferred languages by professional interpreters before being connected with English-speaking service agents

Growing Language-Support Needs in Pacific Northwest:

In Portland

• 68,976 foreign-born residents in Portland
• 105.3% increase in Portland immigrant population since 1990
• 53.4% foreign-born residents in Portland speak limited-English
• 16.9% of Portland residents speak a language other than English at home
  

In Seattle-Tacoma

• 94,952 foreign-born residents in Seattle
• 49,754 Seattle residents admit to speaking English less than “very well”
• 40.2% increase in Seattle immigrant population since 1990
• 45.9% foreign-born Seattle residents who admit to speaking limited-English

About Language Line Services

Language Line Services, the world’s leading provider of language-based services, is a trusted partner to thousands of organizations whose focus is to effectively serve the rapidly expanding market of limited-English speakers.

The company delivers a dynamic suite of solutions spanning translation, transcription, on-site, telephone and video interpreting, interpreter certification, localization and localized software and devices, enabling clients to communicate with customers in their preferred language.

Through its leading-edge technology infrastructure, Language Line Services provides support for more than 170 spoken languages and American Sign Language to its industry-leading portfolio of clients across markets including healthcare, financial services, government, telecom, manufacturing, insurance, entertainment, travel, and more.

For information on how Language Line Services is helping clients achieve their strategic multi-cultural marketing and regulatory compliance objectives, please call 1-800-752-6096.