Mercy Hospital of Fairfield

3000 Mack Rd
Fairfield, OH 45014
513-870-7197

Project Title
Caring for Hispanic patients in the Mercy Fairfield OB Clinic
Grant Description
To provide access to prenatal care for Hispanic women at Mercy Hospital Fairfield
Focus Area
Community Primary Care
Region Served
Butler County, OH
Award Amount
$16,600
Year Awarded
2004
Grant Duration
12 months
Results Interpreter services were provided throughout the grant period, and the hospital employed a full time interpreter in the summer of 2005.  Directional signage was provided to locate maternity services.  A total of 22 forms were translated by Cinci Lingua.  The program was publicized through a cable access program, the Mercy Community Advisory Board, and Butler County Jobs and Family Services.  A strong relationship has been developed with Cincy Cinco.  Referrals to Lincoln Heights Healthcare Connection and Butler County Community Health Center were made to facilitate services for newborn care.  A childbirth class was offered in 2005 but had no attendees.  This concept was modified to accommodate the patients by showing a video at their regular clinic appointment.

7 Hispanic families were served in 2004 and 31 Hispanic families were served in 2005.

100% of the newborns were signed up for Medicaid in 2004 and 2005.  The program received $10,000 in Ohio Tobacco grants for years 2004-2005, and $21,647 for 2006 and 2007.  $10,000 was received from Sisters of Mercy of the Americas for 2004-2005.  Local churches have made monetary and clothing donations.  Mercy Health Partners has provided a full time medical interpreter since summer of 2005.

Twenty-four nurses received on-site cultural competency and language training with facilitation from Miami University and Command Spanish, Inc.

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Project Title
Hispanic Diabetes Education Program
Grant Description
To provide culturally appropriate diabetes classes and educational materials to the Hispanic/Latino population in the greater Fairfield area
Focus Area
Community Primary Care
Region Served
Butler County, OH
Award Amount
$8,000
Year Awarded
2004
Grant Duration
12 months
Results An RN was trained to be a diabetes educator.  The hospital used an in-house interpreter and a contract interpreter to serve Spanish speaking patients.  Documents were created for physicians to refer their patients to the education program. Brochures, videos and NIH toolkits were purchased and distributed to patients.  Screenings were done at several health fairs.

Twenty Hispanic patients completed the Diabetes Education Program.  This number of participants was far below the projected 100 patients.

The program, despite its slow start, continues to grow and is being replicated in other Mercy facilities.  Diabetes education will continue to be provided at Mercy Hospital Fairfield with the assistance of a medical interpreter.  Additionally, Mercy Franciscan’s nurse outreach program at St. Raphael is using materials purchased through the grant to provide diabetes education and food models to Hispanics located through the WIC program and other agencies and businesses in Hamilton that serve Hispanic families.  A local donor pledged $100,000 per year for three years to continue this outreach program.

This program was successful in participating in diabetes screening, developing a brochure, and physician referral forms in Spanish, and providing interpreter/translation services. It was not successful in recruitment of patients to attend the Hispanic Diabetes Education classes.

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Project Title
Planning Primary Care Services for the Medically Underserved in Greater Hamilton, Ohio (Butler County)
Grant Description
To support planning to establish a primary care health center, the Joseph/Long Center, that will serve low-income and uninsured populations in Hamilton, Ohio
Focus Area
Community Primary Care
Region Served
Butler County, OH
Award Amount
$51,500
Year Awarded
1999
Grant Duration
12 months
Results

Mercy Hospital has:

  • Opened a new infrastructure development organization, Butler County Community Health Consortium, was incorporated to serve as the 501(c)(3) for operating the primary care health center.  Board membership and governance issues were addressed.
  • A stakeholder survey was conducted by the Consortium that yielded 718 responses from residents of Butler County.  Based upon the response data, along with additional information from a provider survey, the Consortium decided to limit the initial scope of services to providing only primary medical care services.  Some public health services, such as immunizations and STD testing will be made available at the proposed site.
  • A considerable amount of time was spent in identifying sources of ongoing support for the start-up operations.  Funding commitments have been secured from the following organizations: Mercy and Ft. Hamilton Hospitals, Butler County and the City of Hamilton.

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