Primarily authored by EthnoMed Director Dr. Carey Jackson, these posts explore current issues and spotlight organizations related to immigrant and refugee health care. We also occasionally feature guest authors.
At Harborview Medical Center, we believe that every patient deserves the highest quality of care, regardless of language or culture. Our Interpreter Services team plays an essential role in making this possible, with an incredible staff who collectively speak over seventeen languages and manage interpretation for a staggering 400+ patient encounters every single day.
As the last days of summer give way to fall in the northern hemisphere, cultures worldwide look forward to religious and cultural observances that ask them to reflect on and celebrate community. These observances often carry profound emotional weight, particularly for individuals from refugee, immigrant, and migrant backgrounds. For many, these are joyous occasions; for others, they can stir up more complex emotions.
Meet JT Christianson, a Spanish Caseworker Cultural Mediator (CCM) working in the Harborview Medical Center surgery department.
Meet Anab Abdullahi, a Somali Caseworker Cultural Mediator (CCM) working in the Harborview Medical Center ICU and in-patient services.
Kim Lundgreen, a Vietnamese Caseworker Cultural Mediator (CCM) has been working at Harborview Medical Center for almost thirty years.
Nuivis Ferro-Gonzalez shares about her role as a Spanish Caseworker Cultural Mediator (CCM) working with ICU/Onocology patients.
Rose works with Spanish speaking population and helps her patients with diabetes management. In this video she explains her work in helping patients maintain a goal level of blood glucose levels.
Yodit, an Amharic speaking CCM helps advocate for her patients and ensures that both patient and provider understand one another and that the patient is receiving medical care appropriate for their culture and their needs.
Leticia Magana works primarily with patients in the Nephrology clinic at Harborview Medical Center. In this video she explains her work with Spanish speaking patients and the importance of educating them about medication compliance.
Jennifer is key conduit for Cambodian community member who seek healthcare at Harborview Medical Center and UW Medicine.
Diana works with complex medical issues and emphasizes the importance of keeping their healthcare appointments.
Omar helps patients learn to manage their diabetes which can help avoid complications and emergency room visits. Omar uses a number of educational tools to teach his patients about diabetes management.