Stratus Video Interpreting Predicts $1 Billion Market Shift to Video Remote Interpreting by 2016 as Court and Healthcare Systems Heed Cost-Effectiveness

Clearwater, FL (PRWEB) July 24, 2014

While healthcare facilities and U.S. courts have each reported finding difficulty in providing quality interpretation services to non-English speakers within their systems, that demand doesn't appear to be slowing down. According to Common Sense Advisory, the language service market will grow from $2 billion in 2014 to $2.3 billion in 2016 (1); additionally, officials at Stratus Video Interpreting expect $1 billion of this market to shift over to video remote interpreting (VRI) in lieu of face-to-face and over-the-phone interpreting (OPI). Stratus maintains that the growing limited English proficiency (LEP) population within the U.S. is signaling a need for more efficient, cost-effective and advanced technology with regard to language services--and with such technology available, Stratus is calling for nationwide standardization in an effort to maintain equal access to language services for every U.S. citizen.

Currently, courts and hospitals nationwide are finding themselves facing substantial delays and costs due to an increasing LEP population combined with a lack of timely access to qualified interpreters. As of 2011, the U.S. LEP population sits at 25 million--an increase of 81% since 1980--and 94% of those individuals reside in core urban areas or surrounding counties. (2) According to Stratus CEO Sean Belanger, healthcare facilities and courts located within these urban areas must often hire an interpreter from another county, and as a result, they are left facing the cost of gas/mileage, in addition to the interpreter's hourly rate--which, with overtime, can reach upwards of $55 per hour for certified and professionally qualified court interpreters. (3) As costs and demand have steadily increased, a more affordable and effective solution is being sought by healthcare and court systems alike--a solution which some say has been found in VRI, which combines the benefits of both OPI and face-to-face interpreting by offering the same personal one-on-one feel of face-to-face interpreting, but with the cost structure and speed of answer equal to that of OPI.

"VRI is much more economical and efficient than either face-to-face or OPI interpreting," said Belanger. "With VRI, you're getting high quality face-to-face interpreting, combined with the affordability of on demand interpreting--you only pay for what you use, when you use it. VRI gets interpreters in front of patients faster, is available 24 hours a day, and accomplishes all of this at lower cost."

Case in Point:

One client, a facility within a 33-hospital system located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S., previously spent over $4 million annually on face-to-face interpreting, prompting it to adopt VRI. Over a three-week period in December, 2013, every interpreting session in two departments at the hospital was analyzed. The study found that VRI helped the facility's language services costs decrease from over $9,000 to $2,500, representing a 72% cost reduction. Upon completion of the study, one hospital representative commented:

"The proof is in the numbers. With VRI, we can serve our patients more quickly and effectively while also saving money...it's a no-brainer."

Stratus officials say that VRI technology reduces costs by as much as 80%. Stratus' application offers a cloud-based network of certified spoken language interpreters, and can be used to supplement an existing interpreting infrastructure or to replace live and over-the-phone interpreters altogether with their VRI system.

"When you look at today's interpretation landscape, it's clear that video remote interpretation is the way the industry is moving. In order for VRI to be effective, it has to offer high quality interpretation along with efficiency and cost-effectiveness – Stratus does this beautifully," said Dan Gatti, Chairman and Executive Director of Health Cloud Solutions, Director of technology of Texas Association of Healthcare Interpreters and Translators and California Healthcare Interpreting Association board member. "[Stratus'] system is easy to use, [is applicable to] any device – thus protecting your hardware investment – and all of their interpreters are highly experienced."

Stratus specializes in the medical field and court interpreting, but the company's technology is applicable to every industry. In its effort to assist hospitals in maintaining compliance while also reducing malpractice suits due to interpreting errors, Stratus upholds the standards of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) for protecting sensitive patient data by ensuring that all essential security measures are in place.

For more information about Stratus and its services, visit http://www.stratusvideo.com.

About Stratus Video Interpreting:

Stratus Video Interpreting provides on-demand interpreter services by using technology to connect clients with interpreters in over 175 spoken and signed languages in less than 30 seconds. Stratus' cloud-based video solution delivers an array of unique features to virtually any Internet-enabled PC, Mac, smartphone or tablet. Stratus clients use the technology to connect with their own staff interpreters, as well as with Stratus interpreters, who have years of healthcare and courtroom experience and hold multiple certifications. With Stratus, state-of-the-art video remote interpreting is made available with virtually no capital investment. Stratus averages 65,000 video calls a day, up from 40,000 in mid-2013. Stratus Video is the sister company of The Z® (CSDVRS, LLC, dba ZVRS), which was established in 2006 and developed by and for deaf and hard of hearing individuals, setting the industry standard as the nation's premier Video Relay Service Provider and the first VRS Provider to receive a 5-Year certification from the FCC. For more information, visit http://www.stratusvideo.com.

1. DePalma, Donald A., Vijayalaxmi Hegde, Hélène Pielmeier, and Robert G. Stewart. The Language Services Market: 2013. Publication. Common Sense Advisory, May 2013. Web. 22 July 2014.

2. Whatley, Monica, and Jeanne Batalova. "Limited English Proficient Population of the United States." Migrationpolicy.org. N.p., 25 July 2013. Web. 3 June 2014. migrationpolicy.org/article/limited-english-proficient-population-united-states.

3. Akers, Helen. "How Much Money Do Court Interpreters Make?" Chron.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 June 2014. work.chron.com/much-money-court-interpreters-make-8287.html.

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