Nearly 22,000 people in Somerset County are of Indian descent, according to the U.S. Census. Due to language or cultural barriers, many people in the Indian community aren’t receiving the medical services they need. To improve their access to health care, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Somerset launched the Indian Medical Program in November 2018.
“Some people in the community are hesitant to get medical help,” says Shisha Patel, coordinator of the program. “For instance, some elderly people don’t want to be a burden to their families. So they don’t bring up a health problem until an emergency arises.”
Shisha is a Gujarat native who speaks Gujarati and Hindi languages fluently. She helps hospitalized patients understand their discharge summaries; schedules medical appointments; arranges roundtrip transportation to the hospital; recommends specialists; fills out forms; and accompanies patients to treatments. She also provides translation and interpretation services. So far, Shisha has assisted more than 150 patients. “This helps patients avoid the Emergency Department,” says Shisha.
Improving preventive care
Preventive care isn’t part of Indian culture, so “one of my goals is to have people in the community come for screening tests,” says Shisha. She organizes screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and prostate cancer at local community centers and the hospital. She also runs community education programs, which feature speakers on various topics, such as diabetes and cancer. “Indian people are at higher risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular disease and various cancers,” says Alpesh Patel, MD, a cardiologist at RWJUH Somerset.
“We’d like to eliminate the health disparities in these areas.” The program is modeled on the successful Chinese Medical Program, which launched in June 2018 to improve access to care for members of the Chinese community. The Chinese Medical Program, which also features a bilingual patient navigator, has already helped many people obtain medical appointments and screenings.
So far, the Indian Medical Program appears to be a success. “Patients love the personalized service I provide,” says Shisha. “They like the fact that I’m from the same culture. I understand and respect their language and traditions. Once people receive my help, they continue reaching out to me because they’re comfortable.”
For more information on the Indian Medical Program at RWJUH Somerset, call 908.595.2348.