Clalit helps olim access health care in their own language

New immigrants to Israel often face challenges when accessing medical care, even before they step into a clinic. Booking appointments, comprehending referrals, explaining symptoms, or discussing medication can become daunting tasks for those still learning Hebrew. To alleviate these barriers, Clalit, a healthcare organization, is offering olim access to medical and administrative services in various languages, ensuring they receive care in their preferred language.

At Clalit’s Givat Shapira clinic in Jerusalem, a multilingual team comprising doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and administrative staff exemplifies how language support can enhance health care accessibility and personalization. For Dr. Benji Goldstein, a doctor at the Givat Shapira clinic, providing care to English-speaking olim involves more than merely speaking their language; it also entails understanding the challenges they encounter when first navigating Israel’s healthcare system.

Raised in Israel and educated in Canada, Goldstein returned to Canada for his medical studies before specializing in family medicine. At the Givat Shapira clinic, he assists patients in comprehending not only their diagnosis and treatment but also how to navigate appointments, referrals, and follow-up care. For olim, being able to converse with a doctor in their native language can make it easier to articulate pain, understand diagnoses, and ask questions they might otherwise refrain from asking.

This principle extends beyond the physician’s office. At the clinic, nurses, pharmacists, and administrative staff help guide patients through appointments, treatments, and follow-up care. Dr. Goldstein highlights that this guidance is particularly beneficial for immigrants who are encountering Israel’s healthcare system for the first time.

New patients often arrive feeling overwhelmed by the unfamiliar structure and uncertain about where to begin. "Understanding how it works can be a little bit confusing," he notes. "They're often very relieved after they get over that initial feeling of being overwhelmed." Yael Lakin, who immigrated from California at 18, experienced this firsthand when she became pregnant with her first child.

At first, she found it challenging to understand what steps to take, which doctors to consult, and how to schedule appointments. Having come to Israel for a gap-year seminary program, Lakin decided to remain and now raises two children in the country. After transitioning to Clalit, she found that accessing care became much simpler.

"I came to Clalit, and from there, it was very smooth," she explains. While language plays a crucial role, it is just one aspect of the patient experience. When patients can communicate with staff in a language they are comfortable with, they are better equipped to understand instructions, express concerns, and participate actively in medical decisions.

For parents, this clarity is particularly reassuring when seeking care for a child. As Lakin remarks, "The doctor here knows me. He knows my kids. He recognizes them." "There’s a lot of trust that he knows what he’s doing and that he’s familiar with how my children usually behave." Dr. Goldstein emphasizes that effective medical care starts with understanding the individual, not just the immediate condition.

"I’d like to say, first and foremost, I’m a person, and then I’m a doctor," he states. "I’m not treating a laceration. I’m treating a person with a laceration." For olim, being understood carries both medical and emotional significance. A familiar language enables patients to articulate their experiences more accurately, while multilingual staff can make procedures, prescriptions, and next steps less intimidating.

The Givat Shapira clinic offers a range of services, including family medicine, nursing care, pharmacy services, and administrative support, all under one roof. However, Clalit’s broader objective extends beyond a single clinic. By offering services to olim in languages they comprehend, Clalit aims to help new immigrants navigate the healthcare system with greater confidence, whether they are interacting with a doctor, receiving nursing care, filling a prescription, or scheduling an appointment.

For families establishing their lives in Israel, language support in healthcare can transform an unfamiliar medical system into one that feels clearer, safer, and more welcoming. This initiative is a collaborative effort between Clalit Healthcare services.