Hospital Launches 1st Pinoy Medical Program in US
Don Tagala, ABS-CBN North America
Posted at 12/04/15 10:02 PM
NEW JERSEY – For some Filipinos, being hospitalized in the US has its challenges. But one hospital in New Jersey is addressing that by offering a special kind of service for the Filipino-American community.
Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, New Jersey launched the first-ever hospital-based Filipino medical program in the US on Wednesday.
The hospital will now provide services that meet the medical needs of Filipino-Americans in a culturally sensitive environment that feels like home.
“I think patients can say they feel more at ease seeing somebody of their own race, like having a Filipino doctor, being a Filipino, they would rather speak to a Filipino doctor and be taken care of by a Filipino nurse,” said Dr. Raymond Villongco.
Dr. Villongco is one of the 20 Filipino-American doctors on staff who will be providing customized care for Filipino patients.
Customized services would include providing Filipino food, Filipino newspapers and even The Filipino Channel in every Pinoy patient’s room.
“It’s very exciting to know that, you feel home away from home, so parang ang nag-aalaga sa iyo nanay mo,” said Bergenfield Councilman, Arvin Amatorio.
Holy Name will also offer free health screenings for diabetes and hepatitis, and Affordable Care Act enrollment.
When it comes to safety and security of its patients and employees, the staff at Holy Name Medical Center have participated in a ‘Live Shoot Drill’ with the Teaneck Police Department to train them on how to deal with an active shooter.
With the success of its Asian health services program, officials hope this Filipino services program would be replicated in many more communities in the US.