In 2004 the company reorganized as Language World Services, Inc. In May 2007 the company moved to a new location at 7220 Fair Oaks Blvd in Carmichael, into a new facility that was custom-designed for our needs and represents a tripling of our space to better accommodate ongoing interpreter training.
New customers such as Catholic Healthcare West (Mercy San Juan and Methodist hospitals), Sacramento Regional Transit, Sacramento County Department of Health Services as well as other federal, state and local institutions soon contracted with Language World for in-person interpreting services, language testing, translation and cultural consulting.
Custom authored scheduling software improved our office infrastructure and leveraged our electronic and telecommunications capabilities to a higher degree of efficiency and accuracy. Growth since inception has increased to well over 20,000 face-to-face assignments per year. To our knowledge, no other private agency in our region maintains a similar daily volume of on-site interpreting appointments.
Language World interpreters are carefully selected, not only for their multi-linguistic expertise, but also for their profound knowledge of the communities they serve and their sincere commitment to assisting their respective Limited English Proficient (LEP) communities.
Providing language assistance to help LEP patients in the healthcare setting requires strict adherence to a rigorous operating standard; service must be consistently excellent, carefully delivered, and continually monitored. Our interpreters must complete an orientation course, as well as participate in a minimum of 40 hours of continuing education and training for every 24 months of service. Linguistic capabilities are cross-checked with leaders from each language. New testing instruments have been specifically developed to screen and assess the linguistics and understanding of professional practices.
The majority of our interpreters are foreign-born permanent residents who hold advanced degrees and professional accreditations from both their home countries and the United States.
In April 2006, Language World Services, Inc. spun off its proprietary technological products and created a new firm called Fluency, Inc. (www.gofluently.com ). Fluency’s mission is to market and license unique Internet tools for language managers across the country. Internet products currently licensed include the Medical Interpreting Test on the Internet (www.mititest.com) and the Internet Interpreter Scheduling System.
- The mission of Language World Services, Inc. is to improve the quality of life for Limited English Proficient people by facilitating understanding across cultures and languages.
- To be a recognized leader in excellent cultural and linguistic services to California businesses, institutions, government agencies and consumers.
- To retain the most qualified professional interpreters and translators available in our market, and support their work through ongoing training opportunities and quality assurance measures.
- To assist new Americans in understanding the laws and language of the United States for the purpose of encouraging full participation in our institutions and successful integration into society.
- To promote wellness, cross-cultural understanding, and expand wealth in an increasingly complex and culturally diverse state.
Our Company History
Language World Services Inc. was created in October 2000, from the humble environs of a converted garage in a rented house in Sacramento, California. Our first customer was Kaiser Permanente, and as an agency comprised of two partners, who had been Spanish interpreters for years, our work began with the sincere desire for quality and timely fulfillment of interpreter requests at a reasonable price. Since those early days to today, we have been the interpreting agency of record for Kaiser Permanente, North Valley, which includes all outpatient clinics, professional medical offices and in-patient facilities in the Sacramento Region.
In early 2001, the Sutter Health System, most notably the downtown medical facilities of Sutter Memorial Hospital and affiliated clinics (Pediatric Oncology and Women's and Children's Services), as well as Sutter General Hospital and adjacent Sutter Cancer Center joined Language World's growing roster of clients.
During 2001 – 02, the company shifted focus from a Spanish-only agency to a full-service foreign language service bureau for the Sacramento region, with 24 / 7 capability in over 40 distinct languages and dialects spoken in Northern California. The company name was changed to “Language World, LLC” to better reflect the linguistic capabilities of the agency, and our administrative headquarters was established at 3555 Marconi Avenue, one block east of Watt Avenue, in Sacramento County.
