Lowering Language Barriers and Providing Culturally Responsive Care

In 1977, the hospital initiated a bi-lingual ambulatory care clinic in Chinatown that operates seven days and four evenings weekly. Its annual health fair attracts some 2,500 Chinese-speaking people, many of whom have not previously received primary care. More than 34,000 visits are made annually to Chinatown Health Service

In 1987, St. Vincent's Living-at-Home Program began taking teams of Chinese-American doctors, nurses and social works into the homes of frail, homebound aged Chinese in Chinatown. This program, which began with grant funding and has continued with philanthropic support, has cared for some 160 monolingual Chinese men and women over the past several years.

In 2001, we implemented a Latino Health initiative, the Latinos Unidos En La Communidad Home Health Program to serve homebound Latino elders. Advisory board membership for Latinos Unidos includes administrators from Henry Street Settlement, the Hispanic/Latino Program of the Visiting Nurse Association, Grand Street Settlement, and the Alzheimer's Association of New York. Outreach and networking has taken place at senior centers and residences, health care and referral services, religious and advocacy organizations, and local government/community groups. Some 60 homebound Latinos were served through this program in 2005, with the support of generous donors. 

In addition our  Office of Language Services oversees interpretation services and has translated all vital patient documents into many languages. Its O'Toole Outpatient Program has two full-time Chinese interpreters to insure that Manhattan's Chinatown community has access to needed specialty services such as gastroenterology, head and neck surgery, and pediatric cardiology.

Program for Services to Deaf Patients
The hospital established this program in February 1987 to make all St. Vincent's services equally accessible to hearing-impaired patients. A sign language interpreter, available Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., provides services for more than 100 visits each month by the deaf community.