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Multilingual Patient Communication Starts with Accurate Translation
Patient-facing materials are healthcare documents and communications designed for individuals receiving care, including informed consent forms, educational brochures, discharge instructions, and digital health content. These materials are essential for improving patient understanding, supporting informed decision-making, promoting treatment adherence, and enhancing health literacy.
In the United States, CMS regulations under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act mandate language access for Limited English Proficient (LEP) patients. Globally, regulatory bodies such as the FDA and EMA require patient communications to be accurate, multilingual, and culturally appropriate.
Sesen is a language services provider dedicated to life sciences. We support hospitals, clinics, and healthcare organizations in translating patient-facing content with precision, clarity, and regulatory alignment to improve patient outcomes across all languages.
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Patient-Facing Materials We Translate
Sesen translates a full range of patient-facing materials to help healthcare providers and life sciences organizations communicate effectively across languages. From printed forms to digital content, we ensure linguistic accuracy, cultural relevance, and regulatory compliance in every translation.
Consent and Instructional Documents
Clear and accurate translations of medical instructions and consent documents are critical for patient safety and regulatory compliance. We specialize in:
- Informed Consent Forms (ICFs)
For clinical trials, surgical procedures, and diagnostic testing - Patient Information Leaflets (PILs)
Required in the EU and other regions for prescription medications - Discharge Instructions
Post-treatment guidance for outpatient or inpatient care - Pre- and Post-operative Instructions
Translated to ensure proper preparation and recovery
Educational Materials
Well-translated educational materials promote health literacy and treatment adherence across diverse populations. We translate:
- Health Literacy Brochures
Plain-language materials to explain complex medical topics - Disease Awareness Guides
Multilingual content for community outreach and prevention campaigns - Medication Adherence Guides
Patient-facing explanations of dosage, timing, and side effects - Preventive Care Campaigns
Public health communications for screenings, vaccines, and wellness
Forms and Patient Communications
We support multilingual intake, onboarding, and routine patient communication through:
- Patient Intake Forms
Personal health history, demographics, and insurance details - Telemedicine Onboarding Materials
Instructions for remote consultations and platform access - Appointment Reminders
SMS, email, and print formats in the patient’s preferred language - Billing and Insurance Communications
Clarity around costs, claims, and coverage for LEP patients
Digital Health and Mobile Content
Digital health platforms require accurate and intuitive translations to deliver a consistent patient experience. We translate:
- Mobile Health App Instructions
Navigation, usage guidance, and health tracking language - Patient Portal Content
Secure access, test results, messaging, and educational resources - eHealth and mHealth Interfaces
Localization of user interfaces and interactive elements
Why Patient-Facing Translation Matters
Accurate translation of patient-facing materials is essential for safe, effective, and equitable healthcare delivery. When patients clearly understand their care instructions, rights, and treatment plans, outcomes improve, and risks decrease. High-quality multilingual communication supports healthcare providers in meeting both clinical and regulatory obligations.
Improves Patient Comprehension and Outcomes
Translations written in plain language and adapted for cultural relevance help patients understand medical instructions, consent forms, and educational materials. This improves health literacy, treatment adherence, and overall care outcomes.
Reduces Risk of Adverse Events and Non-Compliance
Misunderstood instructions or consent documents can lead to medication errors, missed appointments, or failure to follow post-discharge care plans. Professional translation mitigates these risks by ensuring clarity and accuracy across all patient communications.
Supports Regulatory Compliance
Healthcare organizations must comply with regulatory mandates to provide meaningful language access. Requirements include:
- FDA 21 CFR Part 50 for informed consent documentation
- CMS Language Access Plan for LEP patient communication
- EMA Readability Guidelines for patient information leaflets in the EU
Sesen helps clients meet these standards with linguistically validated translations and version-controlled workflows.
Enhances Patient Experience and Satisfaction
Effective multilingual communication increases trust, comfort, and engagement among patients from diverse backgrounds. This is especially critical in multicultural populations where language barriers can impact access to care and satisfaction with services.
Our Translation Approach
Sesen applies a rigorous, patient-centered translation process to ensure clarity, accuracy, and compliance across all patient-facing materials. Our specialized workflows support high-stakes communication in multilingual healthcare settings, from clinical consent forms to public health campaigns.
Professional Native Linguists
All translations are performed by native-speaking linguists with healthcare expertise. Our team is trained in medical terminology, plain language principles, and patient education standards to ensure content is both clinically accurate and easy to understand.
Cultural Adaptation (Transcreation)
Beyond direct translation, we localize tone, phrasing, and visuals to resonate with the target audience. This cultural adaptation process improves relevance and comprehension while reducing the risk of miscommunication in diverse populations.
Back Translation and Reconciliation
For high-risk or legally sensitive content, such as informed consent forms and pre-operative instructions, we offer back translation and reconciliation services. This process ensures the translated text fully reflects the original meaning and meets regulatory expectations.
Terminology Management
We maintain centralized, project-specific termbases that align with approved medical terminology and patient-friendly language. This ensures consistent use of critical terms across materials, languages, and document versions.
Formatting and Multilingual Desktop Publishing (DTP)
Sesen adapts the visual layout of translated content for each language to support readability, cultural preferences, and regulatory formatting requirements. Our multilingual DTP specialists deliver publication-ready files across all formats, including print, PDF, XML, and InDesign.
Regulatory and Quality Standards
Sesen is committed to delivering patient-facing translations that meet the highest standards for quality, safety, and regulatory compliance. Our processes are designed to support healthcare providers, CROs, and life sciences companies in meeting international requirements while ensuring clarity and accuracy for patients in every language.
Certified Quality Management Systems
We are certified under ISO 17100, ISO 9001, and ISO 13485, which govern translation quality, general quality management, and medical device translation processes. These certifications reflect our structured workflows, qualified linguist requirements, and continuous improvement practices.
Regulatory Compliance
Sesen translations align with global and regional healthcare regulations, including:
- FDA requirements, such as 21 CFR Part 50 for informed consent
- EMA guidelines for patient leaflets and readability
- National mandates for language access in multilingual populations, including CMS guidelines for LEP (Limited English Proficient) patients in the United States
Data Privacy and Security
Our data handling protocols comply with HIPAA and GDPR, ensuring patient data is processed securely and confidentially. All project files are managed through encrypted, access-controlled systems hosted on secure AWS infrastructure.
Version Control and Linguistic Validation
We use version control systems to track changes across document updates and maintain audit trails. For high-risk patient-facing content, we offer linguistic validation, back translation, and reconciliation services to ensure the translated content is medically and culturally appropriate.
Languages We Support
Sesen provides professional translation of patient-facing healthcare materials in more than 150 languages, helping hospitals, clinics, and life sciences organizations communicate clearly with diverse populations around the world.
We offer full support for top Limited English Proficient (LEP) languages required by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), including:
- Spanish
- Chinese (Simplified and Traditional)
- Arabic
- Tagalog
- Vietnamese
- Portuguese
- Russian
- Korean
- French
Our global linguist network also includes specialists for emerging and regionally specific languages to support multilingual patient communication across North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America.
All translations are performed by professional native linguists with healthcare expertise, ensuring regulatory alignment and cultural sensitivity. Whether you are localizing consent forms, patient portals, or health education materials, Sesen delivers accurate and patient-appropriate translations in the languages your community speaks.
A full list of supported languages is available upon request. Optional downloadable language guide or interactive language map can be added to this section for enhanced usability.
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Success Stories and Use Cases
Sesen partners with leading healthcare providers, life sciences companies, and digital health platforms to deliver high-quality translations of patient-facing materials. Below are selected examples that demonstrate our experience and capability across different healthcare settings.
Clinical Trial Support for a Hospital Network
Translated dozens of Informed Consent Forms (ICFs) into 12 languages to support multilingual patient enrollment across multiple trial sites
Discharge Summary Translation for Regional Health System
Delivered culturally adapted discharge instructions and medication guidelines for a large hospital group in California, improving post-discharge compliance among LEP patients
Global Vaccine Education Campaign
Localized patient education brochures, social media content, and outreach flyers for a multinational vaccine manufacturer targeting low-literacy populations in 20 countries
eHealth Portal Localization for Telemedicine Expansion
Translated patient interface, instructional videos, and onboarding workflows for a Latin America–focused telehealth platform entering Spanish, Portuguese, and Quechua-speaking markets
These use cases reflect our deep domain knowledge and flexible translation workflows designed to meet clinical, regulatory, and patient engagement goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you ensure translations are understandable to patients?
We apply plain language principles, cultural adaptation, and health literacy best practices. All content is translated by professional native linguists with healthcare experience and reviewed for clarity, tone, and patient comprehension.
Can you work with editable PDFs or scanned forms?
Yes. We accept a wide range of file formats including editable PDFs, Word, InDesign, and XML. For scanned forms or non-editable documents, our team can recreate layouts and prepare them for accurate translation and formatting.
What’s your turnaround time for urgent hospital materials?
Turnaround time depends on document complexity and language pairs, but we offer expedited services for urgent needs. For high-priority hospital materials, we can allocate additional linguists and deliver within 24 to 72 hours, subject to scope.
Do you offer DTP and layout formatting for brochures?
Yes. Our multilingual desktop publishing (DTP) specialists adapt layout, fonts, and formatting to accommodate language expansion, right-to-left scripts, and regulatory requirements. We deliver print-ready and digital assets that mirror the original design.
Can you provide certified translations if required?
We offer certified translations for patient-facing materials that require legal or regulatory documentation. Certificates of accuracy and translator qualifications can be included upon request for audits, compliance submissions, or legal purposes.
Trusted Experts in Patient Communication Across Languages
Sesen is a specialized language services provider exclusively focused on the life sciences. We help healthcare organizations translate patient-facing materials with precision, cultural relevance, and regulatory alignment. Our deep industry knowledge, qualified linguists, and secure workflows make us a trusted partner for multilingual patient communication.
100% Life Sciences Focus
We work exclusively within healthcare, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and clinical research, bringing unmatched domain expertise to every project.
Regulatory Experience
Our team is well-versed in FDA, EMA, and CMS requirements for patient-facing documentation, including informed consent, discharge instructions, and health education.
Plain-Language and Cultural Expertise
Linguists are trained in health literacy principles and cultural adaptation techniques to ensure clarity and appropriateness for diverse patient populations.
Secure Infrastructure
All projects are managed through AWS-hosted systems with encryption, access control, and audit capabilities to meet HIPAA and GDPR standards.
Transparent Pricing and Fast Turnaround
We provide clear estimates, flexible engagement models, and expedited services for urgent hospital or regulatory needs.
Dedicated Project Management
Every client receives a dedicated project manager to oversee timelines, coordinate linguists, and ensure consistent quality from start to finish.
Confidentiality Guaranteed
NDAs are available upon request to protect sensitive patient or institutional information.
Ready to Translate Your Patient-Facing Materials?
From multilingual consent forms and discharge instructions to public health campaigns and digital health interfaces, Sesen delivers precise, patient-centered translations tailored for healthcare settings. Our team ensures every message is clear, compliant, and culturally appropriate.