Media contacts:
Alicia Sands Lurry, 404/616-6389, alurry@emory.edu
March 27, 2003


 



Emory Physician Integral In Success of Pediatric Hispanic Clinic at Hughes Spalding Children’s Hospital



ATLANTA ­ A Saturday pediatric clinic for Hispanic children living in Fulton and DeKalb counties is making steady progress, having served 50 patients since January and 200 in 2002, according to Flavia Mercado, MD, assistant clinical professor, in the Department of Pediatrics at the Emory University School of Medicine, who helped developed the clinic at Hughes Spalding Children’s Hospital. The Multicultural Pediatric Clinic, opened since April 2002, serves children ages newborn to 18 years old. The clinic averages seven patients each Saturday.



Dr. Mercado said she is pleased with the clinic’s progress. The clinic has transitioned from serving patients once each month to every Saturday since last August.

"It’s going really well," said Dr. Mercado, associate medical director of Department of Multicultural Affairs at Grady Memorial Hospital, and medical director of the Multicultural Clinic. "The word is getting out, and people are coming. Most of our patients do have appointments, but we also accept walk-ins."

Several pediatricians, family physicians and bilingual nurses staff the clinic, which was established to provide culturally appropriate health care services to the growing number of Hispanic children in metro Atlanta - many of whom were born at Grady Hospital. A language interpreter is also on hand to provide translation services, since approximately two-thirds of the children’s parents do not speak English.

Of all the patients seen at the Multicultural Pediatric Clinic, 64 percent are newborn to one year old; 14 percent are comprised of two- to five-year-olds; and 22 percent are ages 6 to 18 years.

"The majority of our patients are Hispanic, but the clinic is open to any family coming to Hughes Spalding," Dr. Mercado said. "But what makes our clinic so important is that it offers health services at non-traditional times for working families to see a physician without missing work. We’re also providing quality health care in a culturally sensitive appropriate environment, which offers families the opportunity to hear medical information in their preferred language."

To make an appointment, please call (404) 616-4390. ATLANTA ­ A Saturday pediatric clinic for Hispanic children living in Fulton and DeKalb counties is making steady progress, having served 50 patients since January and 200 in 2002, according to Flavia Mercado, MD, assistant clinical professor, in the Department of Pediatrics at the Emory University School of Medicine, who helped developed the clinic at Hughes Spalding Children’s Hospital. The Multicultural Pediatric Clinic, opened since April 2002, serves children ages newborn to 18 years old. The clinic averages seven patients each Saturday.

Dr. Mercado said she is pleased with the clinic’s progress. The clinic has transitioned from serving patients once each month to every Saturday since last August.

"It’s going really well," said Dr. Mercado, associate medical director of Department of Multicultural Affairs at Grady Memorial Hospital, and medical director of the Multicultural Clinic. "The word is getting out, and people are coming. Most of our patients do have appointments, but we also accept walk-ins."

Several pediatricians, family physicians and bilingual nurses staff the clinic, which was established to provide culturally appropriate health care services to the growing number of Hispanic children in metro Atlanta - many of whom were born at Grady Hospital. A language interpreter is also on hand to provide translation services, since approximately two-thirds of the children’s parents do not speak English.

Of all the patients seen at the Multicultural Pediatric Clinic, 64 percent are newborn to one year old; 14 percent are comprised of two- to five-year-olds; and 22 percent are ages 6 to 18 years.

"The majority of our patients are Hispanic, but the clinic is open to any family coming to Hughes Spalding," Dr. Mercado said. "But what makes our clinic so important is that it offers health services at non-traditional times for working families to see a physician without missing work. We’re also providing quality health care in a culturally sensitive appropriate environment, which offers families the opportunity to hear medical information in their preferred language."

To make an appointment, please call (404) 616-4390.


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