FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 6th, 2008

Immigrant community leaders and major hospital announce landmark initiative to improve access to health care for non-English speakers.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF A NEW LANGUAGE ACCESS POLICY AT BETH ISRAEL, ST. LUKE’S, ROOSEVELT, LONG ISLAND COLLEGE HOSPITAL AND THE NEW EYE & EAR INFIRMARY IS THE FIRST JOINTLY-DEVELOPED INTIATIVE SINCE THE NYS DEPT. OF HEALTH STRENGTHENED REGULATIONS REQUIRING LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE SERVICES IN LATE 2006

IMMIGRANT PATIENTS AND TOP HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATORS JOIN HANDS IN FIRST COLLABORATIVE EFFORT OF ITS KIND BETWEEN HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND CONSUMERS IN NEW YORK

WHAT:     Press conference featuring senior hospital administrators and immigrant patients describing new language access policy and unique collaborative efforts to reduce language barriers in the provision of medical services.

WHEN:       Thursday, February 7th, 2008 at 11am.

WHERE:    Beth Israel Hospital Board Room, Second Floor Administration Suite

(Enter via Emergency Room entrance ramp on East 16th Street between First Avenue and Stuyvesant Park in Manhattan)

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