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Proyecto Salud Spanish Language Health Clinic
Eliminating Barriers to Healthcare for Low Income Latin Americans
Columbus and Bartholomew County have experienced many of the same demographic changes in recent years as other parts of the country. There has been an upsurge in the number of Japanese, Chinese, Indian, and in most recent years, Latin Americans. Those from Latin America have presented the greatest community challenge, due to their arriving in greater numbers, the sudden influx and the social characteristics of the group. Many come from rural origins, have less formal education and tend to come from the lower income levels in their countries. The result is that the barriers for integration
are higher.
Proyecto Salud volunteers and patients.
In the late 90’s, community leaders were increasingly concerned about whether these new immigrants had access to healthcare. The formation of the Proyecto Salud Action Team has been a welcome solution. Proyecto Salud volunteers provide Spanish-language support for primary healthcare in partnership with Volunteers in Medicine Clinic, a Healthy Communities Initiative, serving the needs of the uninsured population of Bartholomew County. Using the existing clinic and having bilingual interpreters for an extra shift for Spanish-language service created a main point of care and a reference site for our new Latin American neighbors.
Proyecto Salud volunteers staff a weekly bilingual clinic at VIM, and also serve as a network of interpreters that assist patients who receive care from other health providers to their physician appointments, offer support and advocacy for expectant women, host educational and outreach events, and staff a healthcare helpline.
Proyecto Salud facilitates individual health improvement, not just the provision of care. For more information about the work of the Proyecto Salud Action Team, please call 812-376-5939.
FIVE YEARS LATER 2000 2004
Approximate number of Spanish 1,000 5,000
speaking people in our community
Patients served at VIM during Spanish 290 477
language clinic hours
Patients helped through our patient 75 275
support and outreach initiatives
Calls taken on the Spanish language 0 384
telephone Healthcare Helpline
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