Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset has launched a new Indian Medical Program with a trilingual patient navigator who will assist in coordinating care for members of the Indian community.
Shisha Patel, a Gujarat native who speaks Gujarati and Hindi dialects fluently, will serve as the program coordinator. Patel previously served as a health educator for the Indian community with the hospital’s Community Health Department. She is a graduate of Kean University and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in public health.
Patel will assist patients with making medical appointments; arranging round-trip transportation for medical appointments; finding specialty doctors; filling out forms; accompanying patients to treatments at both the hospital and doctors’ offices; and providing translation/interpretation services.
The hospital also launched a Chinese Medical Program in June with a bilingual patient navigator.
“We recognize that there are members of our community who are not getting the health care services they need due to language barriers,” said Tony Cava, president of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset. “Our Chinese Medical Program has already been making a tremendous difference in helping members of the Chinese community get prompt access to medical care and improve their overall health and we are pleased to now offer the same patient navigation services for the Indian community.”
To contact the Indian Medical Program at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, call 908-545-2348.