La Clinica Del Pueblo Inc

Programs: Community health action - the community health action (cha) department assesses health needs within the community as a whole, and develops strategies grounded in public health and community mobilization to address these needs at the individual, family, group, community, or structural level, as appropriate. Cha concentrates on health issues/needs most prevalent with la clinica's patient population, including: chronic illness & disease (hiv, diabetes,cardiovascular), domestic violence, reproductive health, mental health, access to care, latino youth lgbt, and promoting healthy active lifestyles. Cha fulfills a critical role in integrating primary health, behavioral health and health education at la clinica; and provides trainings, outreach, and advocacy, helping la clinica reach its goal to build a healthy latino community. Cha is responsible for training la clinica's community health-workers (promotares); and providing public health trainings with community partners, as well as providing health education classes including: fitness and healthy cooking. Each spring cha hosts a community health festival to promote healthy active lifestyles among the latino community.

patient services - la clinica serves patients through all stages of life, from prenatal to geriatric care. The medical services unit provides adult, pediatric, prenatal, and adolescent primary care, as well as diabetic and reproductive health care. Doctors and other health professionals provide evaluations, education, immunizations, diagnosis, and treatment, as well as referrals when needed. As part of la clinica's mission to provide culturally appropriate health care, traditional latin american herbal and nutritional remedies have been incorporated into the delivery of comprehensive health care services. We offer services regardless of a person's ability to pay and charge patients on a sliding scale, based on income and number of dependents. This department plays a critical role in helping to break down the barriers to health care faced by low-income patients, uninsured and underinsured latinos and other individuals in need that come to la clinica. Services include; hiv case management; entitlements assistance; housing assistance, referrals for food, clothing, medicine, and medical equipment. The patient support services unit staff educates and enrolls eligible clients into medicaid, medicare and other programs, and helps patients apply for pharmaceutical company assistance programs. In addition, the unit provides direct health education services targeting those with or at risk for developing diabetes, hypertension and/or obesity. These patients have the opportunity to attend cooking classes, support groups and exercise sessions that help them improve their health and to adopt healthier life styles.

interpreter services - over ten percent of people in the dc metro area have limited english proficiency. Very few doctors and care providers are trained bilingual medical staff, which can create a huge divide between patients and their providers. La clinica provides medical interpretation in over eight languages on-site and for all medical facilities in the area to help break down that divide. Any dc residents with managed care can use our interpreters' services. La clinica and its interpreters are members of the dc language access coalition and work to build capacity through the design and implementation of language access programs around the district.

behavioral health - la clinica's holistic approach to healthcare views mental health as a vital component to healthy living, and staff work to de-stigmatize therapeutic care in the eyes of la clinica's patients and the broader latino immigrant community. We provide individual, couple, and family counseling services for a broad range of issues, and we offer psycho-educational support groups that reach a broad range of clients. Comprehensive outpatient substance abuse treatment services are available, including support groups and referrals to detoxification and residential programs.