by Damian Kelly
Conducting community outreach at local schools, libraries, churches, day labor centers or nonprofits usually consists of distributing brochures/pamphlets with information about the organization and its available services/resources. Community members interested in applying for such services usually have to take an extra step and visit the facility itself to begin the process. Individuals and/or families with busy schedules often don’t have time and/or lose interest when they are unable to enroll in services on-site at the outreach events.
No such obstacles exist at Kheir Clinic’s outreach events where Spanish-Bilingual Community Health Specialists provide comprehensive outreach to all community members. This consists of distributing informational flyers and brochures specifically tailored to the service area/population and providing enrollment assistance for no or low cost services such as Medi-Cal, Healthy Way LA Unmatched (also known as My Health LA) and CalFresh, depending on eligibility and income requirements.
Each Community Health Specialist has an iPad/laptop computer available on-site at each outreach event for fast and easy enrollment of community members into programs for which they are qualified. Once enrollment is complete, patients can also be scheduled for appointments with a provider at Kheir Clinic.
Lead Community Health Specialist William Vasquez said Kheir’s outreach events exist primarily to serve one main objective.
“The overall objective of our outreach events is prevention through education. By informing and educating patients about the importance of managing their health and well-being, we are helping prevent them from contracting illness and/or chronic diseases,” Vasquez said.
Kheir also conducts special weekly outreach events called Teen Clinics at Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools where a medical provider and nurse provide basic medical services such as routine check-ups, physicals and prescribing of medications to students. Providers also conduct mental health assessments and refer students to a Kheir counselor if necessary. One of Kheir’s Community Health Specialists also participates in the events to provide information and enrollment services to teens and their parents. Teen students requiring more complex/invasive procedures such as blood work or a pregnancy test are scheduled for an appointment at the Clinic.
A leadership program is also being established at Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools where students will be trained in coordination with Kheir’s team of medical providers and health specialists to serve as health advocates for their student body. These ambassadors will help inform and educate their peers about the importance of managing their health and practicing healthy habits such as regular exercise, safe sex, annual physicals, immunizations and lab work.
New patients coming to Kheir Clinic for the first time can expect a culturally and linguistically-sensitive health care environment for all populations, including Korean Americans. All service staff is bilingual in English and Spanish or English and Korean, and a Language Line is available for those with other linguistic needs. Other services available to patients at Kheir include an Imaging Department with digital mammogram and X-ray machines.
It’s all part of Kheir’s comprehensive approach to providing quality health and human services to the underserved and uninsured residents of Southern California.
To learn more about health care programs and eligibility requirements, please call Kheir’s Patient Resources Department at (213) 637-1080 to speak with a Certified Enrollment counselor.
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Korean Health Education, Information & Research Center (KHEIR)
The KHEIR Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit service agency, was founded in 1986 to serve as a liaison between recently immigrated Korean Americans and existing health and human services in Los Angeles. Since, it has evolved into a comprehensive multi-service agency that renders primary and preventive health care, with a special focus on providing culturally and linguistically appropriate support to the low income, limited-English speaking Korean and Latino residents. The KHEIR Center includes the only full-time community clinic in the United States that offers assistance in English, Spanish and Korean. With funding from government agencies, public and private foundations, and individual donations, KHEIR will continue its mission of caring for the community by providing quality health and human services to the under-served and uninsured residents of Southern California.
www.lakheir.org
KHEIR Administration
3727 W. Sixth St., Ste. 210
Los Angeles, CA 90020
t: (213) 427-4000
f: (213) 427-4008
KHEIR Community Clinic
3727 W. Sixth St., Ste. 200
Los Angeles, CA 90020
t: (213) 637-1070
f: (213) 251-8647
KHEIR Human Services
3727 W. Sixth St., Ste. 230
Los Angeles, CA 90020
t: (213) 637-1080
f: (213) 637-1075
KHEIR Adult Day Health Care Center
Vermont
3030 W. Eighth St.
Los Angeles, CA 90005
t: (213) 389-6565
f: (213) 389-6262
