The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #63790

Emily Galpern, MPH candidate¹, Amanda Goldberg, MPH candidate¹, and Regina Lagman, MPH candidate². (1) Health Education, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132, 510-658-4055, emilyg@sfsu.edu, (2) Health Education, San Francisco State Universtiy, 1600 Holloway Ave., San Francisco, CA 94132

While those served by the safety net in San Francisco come from a multitude of cultures and speak many languages, there is a gap in the linguistic and cultural competence of health professionals serving these communities. The authors of this paper conducted a community assessment in conjunction with Welcome Back, a state-wide international health worker assistance center whose mission is to build a bridge between the pool of foreign-trained health professionals living in California and the need for health professionals who speak the language and understand the culture of their patients. The assessment involved interviewing the administrators of 10 community health clinics and public hospitals to document the workforce need in the local safety net for linguistically competent physicians and nurses and to illustrate administrators’ attitudes toward and opinions of foreign-trained health professionals. The project includes recommendations for clinics and hospitals to better meet the needs of their limited- English proficient patients, suggestions for the SF Welcome Back Center in serving the needs of their clients (foreign-trained health professionals), and directions for future policy work.

Learning Objectives:

• This poster session is intended to help viewers understand the gap in linguistic competence of the San Francisco safety net, which impedes patient/provider communication and therefore jeopardizes positive health outcomes. The poster session will also illustrate health administrators' attitudes toward foreign-trained health professionals, who provide a valuable pool of culturally and linguistically competent health professionals who could serve in the safety net and play an important role in reducing health disparites.

Keywords: Access to Health Care, Health Disparities

Related Web page: www.e-welcomeback.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Welcome Back Center of San Francisco
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: field study