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Health & Fitness

Kaiser Permanente San Jose expands "Care in Your Language" clinics

                KAISER PERMANENTE SAN JOSE  OPENS SECOND SPANISH-SPEAKING CLINIC

The sound of mariachi music filled the soaring lobby of the Kaiser Permanente San Jose Family Health Center one lunchtime. As traditionally-dressed young dancers performed,  Kaiser Permanente San Jose was heralding the beginning of a pediatric group dedicated to serving the Hispanic community.

                “Of course, we care for children, but most of them come to us with their parents,” says Dr. Padmaja Padalkar, a pediatrician and Chief of the Kaiser Permanente San Jose Hispanic Pediatric module. “And for many of the parents, English is their second language, so it’s important we communicate in Spanish.”

                Dr. Padalkar leads a group of 6 physicians in Pediatrics who are all fluent in Spanish. Receptionists and medical assistants in the group are also fluent. The group is designated “La Salud Permanente”,  and it’s a way enhancing the clinical and cultural care of Kaiser Permanente’s Hispanic members.

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                “The care experience is seamless, from the moment patients check in, when medical assistants take their vital signs,  when they see the physician: it’s all in Spanish,” says Dr. Andrea Rudominer, a pediatrician,  and founder/director of KP San Jose Hispanic clinic.

                “Up to 40-percent of Kaiser Permanente San Jose’s members are Spanish speaking”, says Dr. Rudominer, who is also the medical center’s Chief of Diversity.

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                “We expect to expand the Hispanic services over the next few months,” says Dr. Padalkar

                For many years, Kaiser Permanente has been honored with multiple awards for its translation services. All medical centers have qualified staff on hand, or speakerphone services that can translate for doctors and staff some of the 80 different languages spoken by Kaiser Permanente members. 

                “However, we know the quality of care improves when the doctor is speaking directly to the patient in their language,” says Dr. Padalkar. “It’s more personalized.”

                Right now, Kaiser’s doctors, who belong to The Permanente Medical Group, are mobilizing vast resources to enhance clinical care that takes into account the language and culture of the Hispanic community.

                For example, a robust public website, http://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/microsite?microsite=microsite_lasaludpermanente.xml

has been built to provide Kaiser Permanente Hispanic  members and others with health information in their language. The website includes creative “fotonovelas”, which weave health and wellness information into family scenes, similar to the popular “telenovelas” of Hispanic television.

                “It’s so important that we understand the culture of our member-patients,” says Dr. Chynna Bantug, Chief of the Pediatrics department at Kaiser Permanente San Jose.

                For example, Dr. Bantug leaned that in Latin countries, it is very typical for parents to consider a heavier baby as a healthier baby, making conversations surrounding what a healthy diet entails even more important.

                Dr. Rudominer points out herbal and folk remedies are part of  Latin and other cultures .

                “We are being cognizant and respectful of those in our care,” she says, “but we are reinforcing the idea of prevention.”

                                The medical group is also reaching out to community gatherings to provide health screenings and information to members and others.  

                Kaiser Permanente San Jose also has a Hispanic Ob-Gyn module, which opened a few years ago, and here’s a video of the opening: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1DKNnRF4OY

 

               

               

               





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