“The Western Carolina Medical Society is looking forward to expanding our Western NC Interpreter Network (WIN) services to deaf and Limited English Proficiency (LEP) populations and their health care providers in Henderson and Transylvania counties thanks to the support of this grant,” said WCMS Foundation Chair Dr. Brent Jeffries.
Adds WCMS CEO and Foundation Executive Director Miriam Schwarz, ”WIN currently serves the medical communities in five counties-Buncombe, Yancey, Madison, Mitchell, and McDowell. Further expansion into the rural communities of WNC will serve the estimated 10,000 year round Latino population in Henderson County which swells to as many as 20,000 during harvest season, and 1000 Latinos in Transylvania County, in addition to the larger LEP community. Physicians in both counties need greater access to interpreters in multiple languages to supply quality care to these populations, conform to federal civil rights laws, and qualify as Patient Centered Medical Homes for insurance purposes.”