Southeast Georgia Communities Project (SGCP) provides a broad range of health education and human services to the 11,000 farmworkers and their families living in a heavily agricultural, 5-county area of southeast Georgia. 95% of farmworkers in our region do not have health insurance of any kind and, in Georgia, are not covered by Workers' Compensation. Health resources are limited and specialty care, if and when available, can require a 200-mile roundtrip to medical facilities. Ninety-five percent of farmworkers are Latino. In May 2000, SGCP began implementation of the Health Links Project. Funded through the Health Resources and Services Administration, the goal is to increase access to health care for farmworkers by providing medical interpretation and health education. Health Links works with local physicians to raise awareness of the critical role interpretation plays in medical encounters with Limited English Proficient (LEP) patients. Prior to project inception, surveys were conducted of local health care providers and farmworkers to determine access barriers and quality of interpretation provided during clinical encounters. 74% of provider respondents reported that LEP patients presented at their clinic at least weekly. However, 77% of providers reported that volunteers or family members/friends were most often used as interpreters. Follow-up surveys will be conducted as the project nears the end of its first year. A comparative analysis of survey results will be included in the presentation. Strategies to address issues of access to high quality interpretation and health education in a resource-poor rural area will be discussed.
Learning Objectives: Audience will gain an understanding of the challenges faced in implementing interpreter services in rural areas. Audience will learn how to implement an interpreter services program in a rural area. Audience will learn the benefits of linking health access services with other programs and services to develop a comprehensive suite of services for farmworkers and other rural immigrant populations.
Keywords: Rural Health Care, Migrant Workers
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Southeast Georgia Communities Project
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.