Mar 14th 2008, 07:38

Communicate Effectively With Minority Patients

Bilingual/Bicultural education to make health care easier

In health care, it’s crucial for both the patient and the health care worker to understand one another. This is to ensure that medical treatment is delivered accurately - saving time, energy and maybe even saving lives.

Smash the language barrier through the 'Bilingual/Bicultural Service Demonstration Grant' program administered by the Office of Minority Health (OMH).  This program aims to improve and expand the language capacity and cultural competence of health care professionals and paraprofessionals working with Limited-English-Proficiency (LEP) minority groups.  It also improves accessibility and utilization of health care services among LEPs.

The project addresses at least one, but not more than three, targeted health areas like cancer, child and adult immunization, diabetes, environmental health, heart disease and stroke, AIDS, maternal health care including infants and children, mental health, obesity, oral health, substance use, and tobacco abuse.

Public and private non-profit minority community-based organizations and health care facilities that target serving LEP communities are eligible to apply.  Beneficiaries are community members who are not proficient with the English language and they can be either of the following: American Indians, Alaskan Natives, Asians, African Americans, Hispanics, Native Hawaiians, or any other group under them.

Contact the OMH office for other questions at 240-453-8444.

 

 

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