A Medical Home for Immigrant Families

Doctors successfully removed a 13-year-old patient’s non-functioning kidney, but his post-operation prescriptions created problems. His Spanish-speaking parents couldn’t read the instructions. One medication needed prior authorization from an insurance company. The parents sought help at the familiar front desk of Children's National at Adams Morgan.

“The parents were stressed,” says Dr. Daniel Newman, the center’s associate medical director. “They felt more comfortable coming here — where they have been coming for years as their bilingual medical home— than calling their surgical team.” Dr. Newman and staff sorted out the details of the prescription.

Our Columbia Heights location provides bilingual medical care to a largely Latino patient population — from basic health literacy to mental health services. Dr. Newman says many non-English speaking patient families have developed trust in providers, in some cases across generations. As a result, Dr. Newman says, when  they need mental health support, they are more open to receiving it. “I can walk across the hall and make an introduction to our psychologist in Spanish. It works wonders.”