Norwood, MA – May 19, 2015 – Norwood Hospital welcomed adult ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) and ASE (Adult Secondary Education) students to the hospital campus for an informational Health Fair on Wednesday, May 13th. The goal of the session was to demystify the health care process for individuals who don’t speak English as a first language.

Adult students taking ESOL and ASE classes at Blue Hills Adult Education in Norwood and Blue Hills Regional Technical School/Adult Education in Canton were invited to the event. Shahab Mohiuddin, MD, a Norwood Hospital Primary Care Physician based in Walpole, spoke to students about the importance of preventative health care, vaccinations, and annual check-ups. The Nursing Director of the Norwood Hospital Emergency Department, Stephanie Czyryca, RN, BSN, explained the importance of seeking immediate help in serious medical situations and the process of visiting an Emergency Room. Students also learned about their legal rights to interpreter services in healthcare environments, the importance of clear communication with healthcare providers, and the impact of good nutrition on their overall health and well-being.

“To require medical attention in a country where you don’t speak the first language fluently can be terrifying,” said Carla Fogaren, Director of Diversity and Interpreter Service for Norwood Hospital and Steward Health Care. “We were able to help close the gap a bit today. Students left the session more prepared to take a proactive role in their health, and unafraid about seeking medical attention when necessary.”

It is estimated that nearly one-fifth of the U.S. and Massachusetts populations do not speak English as a first language. The Steward network of hospitals, including Norwood Hospital, has highly trained teams of medical interpreters available on-site to facilitate communication between providers and patients with limited proficiency in English. Medical interpreters accessed via telephone and remote video ensure that more than 200 languages and dialects are available for both scheduled and unscheduled appointments 24 hours a day. This technology includes support for American Sign Language when in-person interpreters are unavailable.

About Norwood Hospital
Norwood Hospital is a full-service, 263-bed community hospital for adults and children with a focus on delivering world-class health care along with the latest advances in technology and treatment options. Norwood Hospital is part of the Steward Health Care System LLC, the largest integrated community care organization in New England which combines over 3,000 physicians, 10 acute care hospital campuses, managed care, insurance programs, home care, an imaging operation, and a number of other post-acute services, to provide the most cost effective and highest quality of integrated patient care. Additional information is available at www.norwood-hospital.org