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wellness
W
hen you’re sick, it often
helps to see a doctor.
And the easier the doctor
is to talk to, the better.
But talking with a doctor can
be hard if he or she doesn’t speak
the language you know best.
Check your Provider Directory for
information about the languages
spoken by our providers and their
sta . Our Member Services sta
can help you nd a doctor’s o ce
that speaks your language. ey
can also get you an interpreter so
you can talk to your doctor or to
Kern Family Health Care (KFHC).
It is important that you do not
use family members, friends or
especially children as interpreters.
If you cannot nd a doctor who
meets your language needs, we can
help. We o er:
Sta members who are bilingual
in English and Spanish.
Over-the-phone language
interpreters for more than
200 languages.
Sign language interpreters.
is must be scheduled ve to
seven days in advance for regular
appointments and as soon as
possible for urgent appointments.
By o ering these services to you,
we make sure the doctor knows
what you’re saying and you know
what the doctor is saying. With
an interpreter’s help, you can get
answers to all of your questions.
It is also important that you read
all the materials we mail you. All
our written materials are available
in English or Spanish. If KFHC
sends you something in English
and you need it in Spanish, please
call us. If you receive an important
letter from us and you cannot read
it, please call us and we can have
somebody help you read it.
It’s free!
These services are free
and easy to use. Just call us at
661-632-1590
(Bakersfield)
or
800-391-2000
(outside of
Bakersfield), day or night.
We
speak
your
language
KFHC mailing address: 9700 Stockdale Highway, Bakersfield, CA 93311
Kern Regional
Center special
services
Kern Regional Center provides
ser vices to people with special
needs. Some of the ser vices are:
Counseling.
Help with family support.
Autism screening.
The Kern Early Start program
is also offered through Kern
Regional Center. It ser ves
children who have special needs
from birth until age 3 years.
These special needs include:
Problems due to premature
birth.
Major learning or muscle tone
problems.
Down syndrome.
Cerebral palsy.
Kern Early Start also helps
children who:
Have been seriously ill.
Have a developmental delay in
areas such as walking or talking.
Have parents who need help
due to their own special needs.
Kern Early Start will work with
you and your child. The goal is
to increase the child’s skills and
development. There is no cost to
take part.
Take action.
To learn more
about how Kern Regional Center
can help you and your child, call
800-479-9899
.
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family
health