International Princess Project

Here's information and a short video about the International Princess Project, an organization aimed at giving women and young girls new opportunities to restore their lives and empower then to live in freedom.

International Princess Project advocates for women enslaved in prostitution, helping them restore their lives and empowering them to live free. Through various initiatives, International Princess Project both helps partner organizations increase capacity and provides direct support for women in need.

Language and Cultural Barriers in Healthcare

A new study, sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, confirms the need to address language and culture in healthcare.

Nearly half of U.S. physicians say language or other cultural barriers are obstacles to providing high-quality patient care, according to a study released by the Center for Studying Health System Change. Forty-eight percent of all physicians in 2008 reported difficulties communicating with patients because of language or cultural barriers, and said they considered the situation at least a minor problem affecting their ability to provide high-quality care. Less than 5%, however, viewed those barriers as a major problem that could result in a disparity of care across ethnic and racial populations, the study reported. Efforts to overcome the obstacles were
considered modest or uneven. [link]

Healthcare providers have legal obligations to provide needed interpreter services, at least for patients with public insurance. However, physicians in solo and group practices were less likely to adopt measures to address disparities than those in institutional practices, such as hospitals, health insurers, and medical schools, according to the study.