Interview with a Client

Interviewer: Hello, thank you for taking the time to speak with me today. Could you please start by telling me a little bit about yourself?

Client: Sure. I was born in Mexico and I speak Spanish and English fluently. I came to the United States when I was 10 years old and I’ve been living in California ever since.

Interviewer: How do you access the healthcare system? What resources are used?

Client: I have Medi-Cal, which is the California Medicaid program. I use a variety of resources, including my local community health center, the county hospital, and private doctors’ offices.

Interviewer: Do you have a primary care physician or nurse practitioner?

Client: Yes, I have a primary care physician at my local community health center. I really like her. She’s very knowledgeable and she takes the time to listen to my concerns.

Interviewer: Are there any healthcare disparities that you have experienced?

Client: Yes. I think that there is a language barrier between me and some of the healthcare providers that I’ve seen. I’ve also had some difficulty finding doctors who accept Medi-Cal.

Interviewer: Do you think that your socioeconomic status has influenced your level of or quality of healthcare?

Client: Yes, I think that it has. I think that people with Medi-Cal are often treated differently than people with private insurance. I’ve had some doctors who have made me feel like I’m not as important because I have Medi-Cal.

Interviewer: Have you ever experienced any issues during your care while at a healthcare facility?

Client: Yes. Once, I went to the emergency room and I had to wait for hours to be seen. I was in a lot of pain and I felt like I wasn’t being taken seriously.

Interviewer: What specific needs would you like to have addressed when visiting a healthcare practitioner or facility?

Client: I would like to have healthcare providers who are respectful and who take the time to listen to my concerns. I would also like to have healthcare providers who are knowledgeable about my culture and my language.

Interviewer: Do you require assistance with community resources to improve your level of care?

Client: Yes, I would like to have more information about community resources that can help me to improve my health. I’m interested in learning more about nutrition classes, exercise programs, and support groups.

Teaching Moment

One way to improve the level of care for clients like this interviewee is to provide them with information about community resources. There are many community resources available that can help people to improve their health, such as nutrition classes, exercise programs, and support groups.

Healthcare providers can play a role in connecting clients with these resources. For example, a healthcare provider could provide a client with a list of community resources or make a referral to a specific resource.

Healthcare providers can also help clients to navigate the healthcare system. For example, a healthcare provider could help a client to find a doctor who accepts Medi-Cal or who speaks Spanish.

By providing clients with information about community resources and helping them to navigate the healthcare system, healthcare providers can play a role in improving the level of care for all clients