[PA-22] Health Care for Vietnamese Immigrants/Refugees in a Vietnamese Community in New Orleans
Velma McInnis Edmonds, DNS, APRN, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing, New Orleans, LA
Velma M. Edmonds, DNS, APRN, Patrick Brady, BSN, RN, Minh C. Dao, M.D.
LSU Health Sciences Center School for Nursing, 1900 Gravier St.; New Orleans, LA 70112
The purpose of this outreach program is to improve access to care for a population of Vietnamese refugees/immigrants living in a predominately Vietnamese community of New Orleans. Vietnamese patients present to the hospital with complications from chronic diseases. Vietnamese inhabitants of this community lack knowledge concerning access to the health care system, do not speak English, have transportation, or a primary source of health care. Therefore, the Wellspring Community Health Education Department of Pendleton Memorial Methodist Hospital, in conjunction with the School of Nursing at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, has created a Vietnamese outreach health care program.
This program is a health promotion/disease prevention program organized around screening "clinics," administered at least four times a year, by nurses, a Vietnamese pharmacist, a Vietnamese laboratory technician, student nurses, Vietnamese bilingual medical interpreters, and a Vietnamese physician whose office is located in their community. The "clinics," which last for approximately 2 ½ hours are held alternately at one of two Catholic churches within their community.
The screening consists of a health history, height, weight, blood pressure (BP), and capillary blood glucose (CBG) test. Any person with an elevated BP or CBG test is referred to the physician for counseling and follow-up. Health education is provided. Significant findings from screening include hypertension, diabetes, depression, noncompliance with medication regimes, and poor dietary habits.
A database of information is maintained at the hospital for use in case a client is admitted.
