OAKLAND HIGHLAND HOSPITAL UNVEILS PLAN TO MEET THE NEEDS OF DIVERSE
POPULATION
"Few medical centers have taken on the challenge to care for all county
residents regardless of ability to pay. Still fewer are taking steps to
ensure the needs and expectations of a culturally diverse population are
being met."
Community Partnership Building Event
Friday, January 24, 6:00 PM
Transpacific Center, 1000 Broadway,
Downtown Oakland
OAKLAND, CA -- The Alameda County Medical Center (ACMC),
which oversees the Oakland Highland Hospital, is unveiling a new program
to meet the increasing needs of the county's culturally and ethnically
diverse population. A gathering of invited city and county officials and
community stakeholders will be held on Friday, January 24th, in downtown
Oakland.
The ACMC, under the newly created Office of Diversity
Affairs (ODA), will be responsible for implementing programs and
activities to increase cultural awareness among all medical center staff,
increase work force diversity, and foster a more positive relationship
with the community.
The ultimate goal of the new program will be a work force
better equipped to deliver respectful, quality healthcare. Better
healthcare delivery creates a healthier, more satisfied patient population
that will reap benefits for every sector of all communities in the county.
"We have the opportunity to do something very special and
innovative here by virtue of the scope of this program and the patient
population we serve," said Dr. Vanessa Burt, ODA director.
She further explained, "...Few medical centers have taken
on the challenge to care for all county residents regardless of ability to
pay. Still fewer are taking steps to ensure the needs and expectations of
a culturally diverse population are being met. Through ODA, ACMC is doing
both."
ODA was established through the efforts of the medical
center's CEO, Ken Cohen and Dr. Burt. ODA works with an Advisory Board
that includes Sharon Abrams (Medical Social Worker),
Terry Bautista (Director, ACMC
Interpreter Services & CHIA Vice-President), Dr. Lyn Berry
(Program Director, Internal Medicine-Primary Care Division), Dr. Kathleen
Clanon (Director, HIV Services), Ann Nomura (Physical Therapy), Sandra
Osibin (Director, Human Resources), Dr. Roger Peeks (ACMC Medical
Director), Soledad Lopez (Nursing Administration), and Dr. Melanie
Tervalon (founder of Children's Hospital of Oakland Multicultural
Curriculum Program in 1992).
For more information about ODA or Highland Hospital, please contact Dr.
Vanessa Burt at 510-535-7686.
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