PRIVATIZATION PLAN THREATENS HEALTH FOR ELDERLY ARMENIANS

Haytoug.org
Jan 22 2010

The Glendale Health Center (GHC) is one of LA County’s most successful
primary care clinics, with over 3,500 patients and 11,000 patient
visits each year. The vast majority of these patients are uninsured
and medically-underserved Armenian and Spanish-speaking elderly.

A proposal to hand over the Center to a private agency is currently
being considered by the LA County Board of Supervisors. Such a
privatization threatens to drive up costs and leave many of the
patients without the adequate, affordable care they need. Patients
will also likely be relocated to facilities determined by the private
health care provider and left without the culturally and linguistically
competent care they depend on.

Arbi Derghokasian, an intermediate clerk at GHC, spoke to Glendale
City Council members this past September, pointing out the dangers
that privatization posed to the Health Center’s clients.

"Most of Glendale health’s providers, nurses and clerks speak
Armenian. The primary bidder does not employ a single worker who
speaks Armenian," Derghokasian said. "I know an elderly patient who
goes to another hospital to get her prescription refilled. The problem
is they don’t provide her translation services and that process is
always very difficult for her."

Take Action to Save Glendale Health Center!

Call today!

Call L.A. County Supervisor Antonovich at (213) 974-5555 and let him
know that you oppose privatizing Glendale Health Center; that our
community depends on the Glendale Health Center as a medical home
for quality care!

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