Altrecht undertakes a great number of initiatives to make the facility and the offer of treatment suitable for ethnic minority clients, as well. If the client and the healthcare worker do not speak the same language, an interpreter is called in via the Tolk- en Vertaalcentrum Nederland [Dutch Center for Translation and Interpreting]. Altrecht also has care consultants and healthcare workers at various branches who do speak the client’s language.
By improving the treatment (healthcare and prevention programs) and training the therapists in intercultural healthcare, the care for the ethnic minority clients is made more accessible. It is expected that all of the healthcare workers at Altrecht are able to offer all clients, regardless of origin, good and effective care.
For some clients, a short course of treatment, close to home, is sufficient; for others, it is essential to have a number of sessions per week, while there are even other clients who must be admitted temporarily to a clinic. There are forms of group therapy for ethnic minority and Dutch men, women, young adults and parents, and also groups for Dutch and ethnic minority men and women with chronic pain symptoms. Each of these forms of treatment demand adjustments in the care when they are geared to ethnic minority clients. Altrecht tries to learn from experience in order to develop increasingly better and more effective specialized care.
Already, more than half of all of our clients come from the ethnic minority target group. Moreover, there is a high degree of satisfaction among these clients. We have chosen to continue the policy for the coming years. One specific initiative is NOAGG, a department with healthcare in one’s own language and culture. Here, healthcare is offered by healthcare workers who speak Turkish and Moroccan. For other ethnic minority target groups, new initiatives are being developed at various locations. Thus, Altrecht continues to view ethnic and cultural differences as a challenge and are working on client-oriented care in a multi-cultural environment. This makes Altrecht attractive not only for clients from ethnic minorities, but also for ethnic minority staff members who see that Altrecht is consciously making a difference. Anyone who feels personally involved and would like to contribute to an intercultural organization is, therefore, warmly welcomed!
For treatment at Altrecht you must contact your family doctor. He or she can refer you to the appropriate department.
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