The Latin Community and the Ability to Access Healthcare

8/14/2019 The Latin Community and the Ability to Access Healthcare http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-latin-community-and-the-ability-to-access-healthcare 1/2 The Latin Community and the ability to Access Healthcare Stephen Carpio 7/10/07 The Hispanic community has a unique situation as to their accessibility to healthcare. There are variables and cultural manifestations that are significantly more diverse than other minority populations. The language barrier is one of the significant factors that encumber their ability to access adequate healthcare for their family members. There are supplementary factors also involved the increase cost of health insurance and the availability of health clinics. Often, funding of clinics and doctor’s offices is done on the state, county, and federal level. New York City and Long Island have today a lack of culturally competent healthcare professionals in these clinics. It is evident that healthcare personnel must redirect and enhance the way they address the complex social needs of this growing minority group. I believe minority health outcomes for individuals with limited English could be improved with providers being taught cultural competency techniques at the teaching hospital level. The cultural competency techniques should include interpreter services, recruitment and retention of minority staff, training, coordination with culturally competent health programs. Hospitals must be actively involved on many levels and reach out to the communities they serve for optimum outreach success. Since our focus is Long Island where Stony Brook is a mainstay in the Hispanic community an advisory board can be convened on behalf of the present state of the Hispanic uninsured in both Suffolk and Nassau County. In addition, the county and state could work in conjunction with Hispanic community leaders to review facilities that are not working to fill the gap of affordable and accessible healthcare to families. A preventive care action board can be convened to distribute bilingual brochures advocating screening and testing for HIV and other infectious diseases. The promoting and advocacy of more Hispanic medical professionals in all fields of health care at the teaching hospital level. This would be an added benefit to many area hospitals and local clinics. In conclusion, collaboration among all sectors of healthcare must happen with provider organizations for the outreach to the Hispanic community to succeed. The physicians, businesses and insurers must collaborate for the

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Transcript of The Latin Community and the Ability to Access Healthcare

Page 1: The Latin Community and the Ability to Access Healthcare

8/14/2019 The Latin Community and the Ability to Access Healthcare

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-latin-community-and-the-ability-to-access-healthcare 1/2

The Latin Community and the ability to Access Healthcare

Stephen Carpio

7/10/07

The Hispanic community has a unique situation as to their accessibility tohealthcare. There are variables and cultural manifestations that aresignificantly more diverse than other minority populations. The languagebarrier is one of the significant factors that encumber their ability to accessadequate healthcare for their family members.

There are supplementary factors also involved the increase cost of healthinsurance and the availability of health clinics. Often, funding of clinics anddoctor’s offices is done on the state, county, and federal level. New York Cityand Long Island have today a lack of culturally competent healthcareprofessionals in these clinics.

It is evident that healthcare personnel must redirect and enhance the waythey address the complex social needs of this growing minority group. Ibelieve minority health outcomes for individuals with limited English could beimproved with providers being taught cultural competency techniques at theteaching hospital level.

The cultural competency techniques should include interpreter services,recruitment and retention of minority staff, training, coordination withculturally competent health programs. Hospitals must be actively involvedon many levels and reach out to the communities they serve for optimum

outreach success.

Since our focus is Long Island where Stony Brook is a mainstay in theHispanic community an advisory board can be convened on behalf of thepresent state of the Hispanic uninsured in both Suffolk and Nassau County. Inaddition, the county and state could work in conjunction with Hispaniccommunity leaders to review facilities that are not working to fill the gap of affordable and accessible healthcare to families.

A preventive care action board can be convened to distribute bilingualbrochures advocating screening and testing for HIV and other infectious

diseases. The promoting and advocacy of more Hispanic medicalprofessionals in all fields of health care at the teaching hospital level. Thiswould be an added benefit to many area hospitals and local clinics.

In conclusion, collaboration among all sectors of healthcare must happenwith provider organizations for the outreach to the Hispanic community tosucceed. The physicians, businesses and insurers must collaborate for the