Sunday, August 09, 2009

Program helps immigrants learn health care system

This new program in Camden NJ, is helping immigrant families learn about health care for their children. - - Donna Poisl

BY WILFORD S. SHAMLIN • COURIER-POST STAFF •

David Arreola feels out of place when he takes his children to the doctor for the occasional cold or fever because he doesn't speak English well enough to explain their symptoms.

"I feel uncomfortable," said Arreola, 39, a father of six who moved from Mexico 10 years ago. "I don't have the words."

Arreola's children, ages 11 to 18, are all fluent in English, so he tells them to describe their symptoms to the doctor. But he worries about whether they're adequately explaining their symptoms and whether they're getting proper care.

Health-care providers say language and cultural barriers can stymie their effort to provide proper health care to sick children whose parents are fluent in a language other than English.
Click on the headline to read the rest of this story! This is only a small part of it.

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