Policy Briefing: Addressing Language Barriers That Impact Health Care for Millions of People

[Harold Schiffman]

Policy Briefing: Addressing Language Barriers That Impact Health Care
for Millions of People
Two Studies Focus on Serving Patients with Limited English Proficiency
in Our Safety Net

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On Monday, June 16 at 12:00 p.m. EDT.,
health policy experts will discuss the challenges of serving people
with limited English proficiency (LEP) at health care safety net
organizations. LEP people often confront barriers to care that must be
addressed to ensure access to quality heath care and better health
outcomes. However, serving LEP populations can present staffing and
organizational resource challenges. The National Association of
Community Health Centers (NACHC), and the Association of Clinicians
for the Underserved (ACU), will share the findings of two separate
studies that examine language access barriers and propose strategies
to counter them.

The speakers include: Dan Hawkins, Senior Vice President, Policy and
Programs, NACHC; Luis Padilla, M.D., Medical Director, Upper Cardozo
Health Center, Unity Health, Inc., Washington, D.C.; Sharon E.
Barrett, MS, Staff Consultant and Principal Investigator for the
Association of Clinicians for the Underserved Report; Christina
Stevens, Program Director, Fairfax County Community Health Care
Network, and Steve Hitov, Managing Attorney, National Health Law
Program (NHeLP).


WHAT:
    Policy Briefing
WHERE:
  Kaiser Family Foundation, 1330 G Street NW, 2nd floor
WHEN:
  June 16 at 12:00 p.m.
NOTE:
  Members of the press and public can also listen to the briefing via
conference call: Dial 1-866-302-6660. Conference Code: 105-197-9594.


The reports were funded by NHeLP under a grant from The California
Endowment. The reports arise from the work of a diverse group of
national organizations developing a consensus-driven agenda to improve
policies and funding for access to quality health care for LEP
individuals. The group includes advocacy groups, hospitals and other
healthcare provider associations, caregivers, interpreters and
language companies. The briefing is open to the public and press.
Advance embargoed copies of the report can made available upon request
and will be posted at press time at www.nachc.com, www.clinicians.org,
and www.healthlaw.org.

http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080610006365&newsLang=en

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