Spanish Speaking Pediatric Clinic Boosts Health Care Access
Grasping the doctor’s explanation of a necessary treatment or medical procedure for a child can be intimidating for their parents, even more so when it’s not delivered in their primary language.
"I know firsthand it can be challenging to make that jump from one language to the other, especially when you're dealing with kids and when you're dealing with a stressful situation," says Jose Diaz-Mirón, M.D., explaining why he started Children's Hospital Colorado's Clínica de Cirugía Pediátrica — Pediatric Surgery Clinic — the first of its kind in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region, created for families and patients who speak little to no English to help them navigate through the challenging health care system.
According to the 2020 census, nearly 30% of Denver area residents identify as Hispanic. Statewide, the figure is 22%, creating an enormous need for medical care services that can be explained and delivered in Spanish and removing a layer of stress for parents and families.
Not understanding medical terms can seriously impact the quality and access to medical care. Dr. Diaz-Mirón clinic has seen the need for services grow quickly, and many families have expressed their gratitude for the availability of surgical expertise, consultations and medical guidance delivered in their primary language.
To attend the clinic, patients must be referred by their doctor at Children's Hospital Colorado or by their family's physician.