In an industry where mistranslation could put a life at risk, why is it important for language service providers (LSP) to leverage in-country review (ICR) for quality medical translations? When translating medical documents like patient medical records, medication labels, or medical device manuals, it is imperative for the manufacturers, patients, and end users that translations be of the highest quality and accurate, which can be achieved through the process of in-country review. In-country review (ICR) is one of many important strategies that LSPs can employ to ensure the translation is not only accurate from a subject matter point but also both culturally and linguistically appropriate for any target audience. While some companies may have preferences for the terminology they use, or standardizing the terminology is necessary for guaranteeing a safe outcome, in-country review is an essential step of the translation process that ensures the finished translation is best-suited for international markets and customers.
What is In-Country Review (ICR) and How it Works
Broadly, in-country review is a process in which a native speaker of the target language conducts an in-house review or client review of the translation to ensure it is accurate both linguistically and culturally for the target audience. ICR can be applied to a wide range of documents, content, and materials, but in the medical industry, it is especially useful for translations of content like:
- Medical Device Manuals
- Medication Labels
- Regulatory Compliance Documents
- Medico-Marketing Materials
- Surgical Instrument Safety Labels
- Medical Patents
By using a client review of the translated document, the individual conducting the review can use their industry knowledge, linguistic skills, and sense of company identity to ensure that finished product aligns with the standards of the company while remaining clinically accurate and culturally acceptable.
Why In-Country Review Matters in Medical Translations
Consistency in terminology is an important consideration for LSPs, and the ICR process in a cost-effective localization solution that ensures the terminology used from the project glossary remains consistent. Conducting an ICR additionally helps to prevent a range of issues associated with poor-quality translations, including mistranslations, spelling and grammatical errors, cultural and regional appropriateness, and subject matter accuracy. For translations in the medical industry, where mistranslations could have real-world impacts on patients’ health and well-being, ICR is a necessary step in the localization process that companies should leverage for quality and accurate translations. When working with an LSP that offers different localization solutions for delivering quality projects to the client, it is essential that companies consider the different applications and uses for each localization solutions. Whether this means linguistic validation for patient questionnaires or ICR for product labels, LSPs like CSOFT Health Sciences have the experience and global network of linguists to ensure your project is completed quickly and the final product is appropriate for medical markets abroad. Visit lifesciences.csoftintl.com to learn more about our in-country review and other localization solutions.