The Diversity Health Care Pro-gram of Mexico has accredited Methodist Healthcare facilities as Hispanic Healthcare Hospitals, making them the first and only hospitals in the United States to receive this distinction. The accreditation recognizes the efforts of Methodist Healthcare to further develop its international services program to meet the needs of an increa-singly multi-cultural patient population.
Hospitals across the U.S. are becoming more aware of the needs of a diverse patient population. Diversity certification focuses on improving patient access in a multi-cultural society while eliminating potential language and
cultural barriers.
To receive the designation, Methodist Healthcare has made a commitment to several components, including the upgrading of signage in Spanish and international symbols, patient access to interpretation services and continued availability of International Services staff to assist other staff, physicians and patients. In addition, hospital materials in Spanish are more widespread, including legal documents, consent forms, patient rights materials, discharge instructions and patient education brochures.
Methodist Healthcare is the only health care system in the region with a dedicated International Services department, which has been in operation more than14 years. A pioneer in developing health care services for international patients, Methodist Healthcare also has facilitated the exchange of information between medical professionals in the U.S. and Mexico. Few health care systems in the U.S. have been as successful as Methodist in building mutually beneficial agreements and alliances with another country.
At a ceremony in early August, President and CEO Jaime Wesolowski of Methodist Healthcare joined Secretary of the Counsel on General Health Care of Mexico Enrique Ruelas Barajas, MD, Director of International Services for Methodist Healthcare Ralph Foster II, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff and State Representative Joaquin Castro to commemorate the historic event.
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