"Elizabeth Luciano sits in her small office looking compassionately at the young mother complaining of stomach pain. She was undocumented and had no health insurance. They met at a community event a week before and the woman cautiously approached Luciano to see if she knew of anyone who could help with her Medi-Cal application. Luciano, a former hospital nutritionist in her home country of Columbia, told her it was safe to come to her office at the Pittsburg Health Center, in the East Bay. Luciano is a promotora, a community health worker helping other Latinos understand how to improve their health and access resources in Contra Costa County. Promotoras like Luciano are playing a critical role in helping patients manage their chronic illnesses. Controlling illnesses like diabetes is key to the preventative approach clinics are increasingly turning to as a way to reduce costs and improve care. Navigating the health-care system is difficult for many patients, but perhaps the most challenging for patients like Luciano’s young mother – those who are undocumented and only speak Spanish. She had three options – pay out of pocket for care at a clinic that charges on a sliding scale, go to an emergency room, or sign up for emergency Medi-Cal, which is possible for some undocumented residents."
Posted on: Sat, 07 Sep 2013 11:52:36 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015