Asian Outreach Program

Bridging the Gap

The Asian Outreach Program was established by Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in 1997 in an effort to reach out to the growing Asian Community in the East Bay. At that time, an advisory committee was formed from community members, physicians and medical center staff. They were responsible for evaluating the needs of the Asian community and advising and supporting the activities of the Asian Outreach Program.

Asian Outreach Mission
To bridge cultural gaps in order to increase health care access in the Asian community.

Program Components

Community Education & Outreach

In 2000, with the help of the Chinese American Physicians Society (CAPS), the Health Resource Center was opened to the community. Located on the second floor of the Renaissance Plaza in the heart of Oakland’s Chinatown, the Health Resource Center provides free health education materials in a variety of languages. In addition to brochures, reference books and videos can be viewed at the center as well.

Asian Outreach works with a variety of community groups to provide presentations about various health topics. Ranging from senior health issues to disease prevention and overall wellbeing, Asian Outreach strives to educate in a culturally appropriate manner.

Since its inception, Asian Outreach has participated in the Oakland Chinatown StreetFest by providing blood pressure screenings and health education materials. This weekend-long event provides the perfect opportunity to service the community. Other events such as the annual Lion’s Club Health Fair, allow us to be in touch with our community while working alongside other community-based organizations.

Asian Volunteer Program

Asian Outreach has implemented a variety of programs to better serve our Asian patients. One example is the Asian Volunteer Program which gives patients the ease and comfort of communicating with someone in their primary language during their stay at the medical center. This service helps ease the transition into the hospital for patients and families with limited English proficiency.

Asian Breast Health Project

The Asian Breast Health Project provides education and outreach to expand awareness of good breast health and early detection and treatment of breast cancer in the Chinese communities of Oakland and Berkeley. The project provides navigation for women needing to access screening services as well as those who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. The project also includes a monthly breast cancer support group for Cantonese speaking women.

For more information, please contact Mae Cheng, BSN, PHN, Community Health Advocate at (510) 869-8231.

The Communities We Serve

Asian Outreach serves a large and diverse community.

• In the 2000 National Census: Asian Americans make up 4.2% of the US population.
• In Alameda County: 22.6% identified themselves as Asian (includes Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Other Asian)
• At Alta Bates Summit Medical Center: Asians make up 15% of the patients we serve (22% Summit Campus, 9% Alta Bates and Herrick Campuses combined)

Our Advisory Committee

The Asian Outreach Advisory Committee was established in 1996 with early accomplishments such as:

• Hospital-wide signage translation
• “Asian" menu created for inpatients
• Translation of in-hospital documents & phonetic charts
• Participation in community events
• Creation of Health Resource Center
• Creation of the Asian Volunteer Program

Asian Outreach Advisory Committee, 2008
Vanessa Chan, M.D.
Mae Chen, BSN, PHN
Lisa Cheng
Barbara Crawford
David Der, M.D.
Randall Gee, PT
Georgiana Lam
Walton Lee
Theresa Low, RN, BSN, CPHQ
Lawrence Ng, M.D.
Hanh Nguyen
Leslie Paine
Christine Smallwood
Clara Song, MSW
Arlene Swinderman
Grace Tom, R.N.
Kazuko Tsuchiya
Tracy Wei
Beatrice Wong

Our Partnerships

The accomplishments of Asian Outreach are due to the partnerships formed with various community organizations such as: American Cancer Society, Asian Cancer Coalition, Asian Network, Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, Chinese American Physicians Society, Ethnic Health Institute, Health Access and the Health Ministry Program. In order to continue expanding and changing to meet the needs of the diverse Asian community, we strive to nurture these existing relationships and to form new partnerships to bridge the cultural gaps that exist in healthcare.

How You Can Help - A Call to Action

Our program is continually changing and expanding its services to meet the needs of all our Asian communities. To support that goal, we welcome participation on many levels. Individuals may participate in the Asian Outreach program through our various ongoing volunteer opportunities. Organizations are invited to participate in our education or outreach programs, and health care professionals are invited to join our Speaker’s Bureau to provide information to the community on their areas of expertise.

Registered nurses, and other clinically trained health care providers are often needed for our various health screenings in the community. If you have an interest in working directly in the community, please contact us for information about our outreach events.

Contact Asian Outreach

Whether you are interested in volunteering at a health event, partnering with our organization, or would simply like to learn more about the Alta Bates Summit Asian Outreach Program, please contact us!

Arlene Swinderman, Program Coordinator
Asian Outreach Program
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
3012 Summit Street, 3rd Floor
Oakland, CA 94609
(510) 869-8229
(510) 869-8236 Fax