July 2023
DIRECTOR’S DESK CHRISTINA R. GHALY, MD
I hope you are enjoying the warm summer months and the pause before school resumes. The summer months are a nice reminder to enjoy the outdoors with summer concerts and venues that take on a new life in the warm evenings.
LA Health Services serves individuals from all over the county – including many who primarily speak a language other than English. In a healthcare setting, miscommunication between a patient and a healthcare provider can contribute to health disparities, medical errors and patient dissatisfaction.
Research demonstrates that the use of professional medical interpreters helps to improve healthcare outcomes and satisfaction among patients with limited English language proficiency. LA Health Services has committed resources to ensure the availability of effective and efficient use of healthcare interpreters through in-person, real-time video, telephone and apps on smartphones.
Our Office of Language Access and Inclusion (OLAI) has recently released its annual report. There is an article on the important work the office is doing to help meet the needs of patients and health care providers to communicate effectively. Take a look at the annual report if you can. Among the findings, over 53% of our patients prefer to speak a language other than English. Fifty-one percent (51%) of patients request their services in Spanish. Thank you to the healthcare interpreter teams throughout the department, the staff who work tirelessly to improve access to language services and to the healthcare providers who make use of the various language services resources.
July is Disability Pride month in commemoration of the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in July of 1990. Look below to learn more about it.
Congratulations to Olive View-UCLA Medical Center for completing the fire alarm/nurse call system replacement project. See below to learn more about this important endeavor.
Correctional Health Services is launching a weekly yoga class at Century Regional Detention Facility (CRDF). See below.
Thank you for all you do.
Dr. Christina Ghaly
Language Access Highlights & Accomplishments: Office of Language Access and Inclusion 2022 Annual Report
Language Access Highlights & Accomplishments: Office of Language Access and Inclusion 2022 Annual Report https://dhs.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/OLAI-article-thumbnail-1024x359.png 1024 359 Health Services Los Angeles County //dhs.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/dhs-logo.svgAs we begin the new fiscal year, The Office of Language Access and Inclusion (OLAI) is proud to showcase department-wide accomplishments in Language Access in the OLAI 2022 Annual Report.
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July is Disability Pride Month
July is Disability Pride Month https://dhs.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Pride.png 671 425 Health Services Los Angeles County //dhs.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/dhs-logo.svgDisability Pride Month is celebrated in July, in commemoration of the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The American Bar Association discusses the history of Disability Pride Month and what it means. Essentially, Disability Pride Month is an opportunity to celebrate the full authentic selves of individuals who have a disability.
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Olive View-UCLA Medical Center Celebrates the End of the Fire Alarm/Nurse Call Project
Olive View-UCLA Medical Center Celebrates the End of the Fire Alarm/Nurse Call Project https://dhs.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Olive-View-UCLA-image-1-1024x683.jpg 1024 683 Health Services Los Angeles County //dhs.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/dhs-logo.svgOver the past 1.5 years, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center (OVMC) has dedicated over 3,000 manpower hours preparing, relocating, and reoccupying 188 departments, inpatient units, clinics, and offices for our Fire Alarm / Nurse Call System Replacement Project.
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Correctional Health Services Implements Yoga and Meditation
Correctional Health Services Implements Yoga and Meditation https://dhs.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/CHS-implements-yoga-and-meditation-1-1024x768.jpg 1024 768 Health Services Los Angeles County //dhs.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/dhs-logo.svgThe first yoga class at the Century Regional Detention Facility took place earlier this month as part of the Forensic In-Patient (FIP) Stepdown program. Instructors are volunteers through Prison Yoga and Meditation; a volunteer organization that brings yoga and meditation to inmates in various correctional facilities throughout the state.
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