Finding a doctor who speaks your language shouldn’t be hard. When you’re explaining your symptoms, discussing your health history, or asking questions about treatment, you deserve to be understood—and to understand what’s being said to you.
Language barriers in healthcare are more than inconvenient—they can be dangerous. Studies show that patients who don’t share a language with their doctor are more likely to:
- Misunderstand their diagnosis
- Take medications incorrectly
- Miss follow-up appointments
- Avoid seeking care altogether
At Syracuse Community Health, we believe quality healthcare should be accessible in your language. Whether you’re more comfortable speaking Spanish, need interpretation services, or want forms translated, we’re here to help.
En Syracuse Community Health, ofrecemos atención médica en español.
Let’s talk about the services we offer for Syracuse’s Spanish-speaking community.
Spanish-Speaking Providers at Syracuse Community Health
We have healthcare providers who are fluent in Spanish on staff at multiple locations. When you schedule your appointment, just let us know you prefer a Spanish-speaking provider, and we’ll connect you with one.
Our Spanish-Speaking Team:
While we can’t list every provider here (staff changes regularly), we have Spanish-speaking:
Family Medicine Doctors:
- Provide comprehensive primary care for all ages
- Conduct appointments entirely in Spanish
- Understand cultural health perspectives and traditions
Nurse Practitioners:
- Women’s health specialists
- Family planning providers
- Primary care practitioners
Medical Assistants & Support Staff:
- Help with check-in and paperwork
- Take vital signs and prepare you for your visit
- Answer questions in Spanish
When scheduling your appointment, say: “Necesito un proveedor que hable español” or “I need a Spanish-speaking provider.”
Our scheduling staff will match you with a provider who speaks Spanish fluently.
Available at Multiple Locations:
Spanish-speaking providers are available at:
- 930 S. Salina Street – Comprehensive Care Center
- 819 S. Salina Street – Quick Care
- 1120 E. Fayette Street – East Side Location
- 2020 Oswego Street – North Side Location
Llame al 315-476-7921 y pida “un proveedor que hable español”.
Professional Interpretation Services for All Appointments
What if your preferred provider doesn’t speak Spanish? You can still see them.
Syracuse Community Health provides professional medical interpreters at no cost to you. This is your right under federal law—language should never be a barrier to getting healthcare.
How Interpretation Works:
Phone Interpretation:
- Immediate access during your appointment
- Professional medical interpreters (not just bilingual staff)
- Accurate translation of medical terms
- Confidential service
In-Person Interpretation:
- Available for complex appointments (surgeries, serious diagnoses, detailed treatment plans)
- Request in advance when scheduling
- Interpreter present in the room with you
- Ensures clear communication
Video Interpretation:
- Remote interpreter via video
- See the interpreter’s face while they translate
- Good for appointments where visual cues help
Languages Beyond Spanish:
While this article focuses on Spanish services, we provide interpretation for many languages:
- Arabic (العربية)
- Somali (Soomaali)
- Nepali (नेपाली)
- Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt)
- Karen
- Swahili (Kiswahili)
- And many more
No matter what language you speak, we can help you communicate with your healthcare provider.
How to Request an Interpreter:
When scheduling: “Necesito un intérprete de español” or “I need a Spanish interpreter”
At check-in: Tell the front desk staff you need an interpreter
During your visit: If you realize you need interpretation help, just ask
There is no charge for interpretation services. They’re included in your care.
Patient Forms & Materials in Spanish
Paperwork is confusing enough in English—you shouldn’t have to struggle through it in a language you’re less comfortable with.
Forms Available in Spanish:
We offer all major patient forms in Spanish:
New Patient Registration:
- Formulario de registro de pacientes nuevos
- Basic information about you and your family
- Insurance information
- Emergency contacts
Medical History:
- Historial médico
- Past illnesses and surgeries
- Current medications
- Allergies
- Family health history
Consent for Treatment:
- Consentimiento para tratamiento
- Explains your rights as a patient
- Permission for treatment
- Privacy practices (HIPAA)
Sliding Fee Scale Application:
- Solicitud de escala de tarifas
- Income-based fee determination
- Financial assistance application
Release of Medical Records:
- Autorización para divulgar información médica
- Transfer records from previous doctors
- Share information with specialists
Where to Get Spanish Forms:
- Download from our website – Forms available in English and Spanish
- Request when scheduling – We’ll mail or email them to you
- Get them at check-in – Available at all our locations
- Ask staff – Our front desk can provide any form in Spanish
Completing forms at home in Spanish saves time when you arrive for your appointment.
Patient Education Materials:
We also provide health education materials in Spanish:
- Medication instructions (Instrucciones para medicamentos)
- Disease management information (Manejo de enfermedades)
- Preventive care guides (Guías de atención preventiva)
- After-visit summaries (Resumen de la visita)
Services We Provide // Servicios que ofrecemos
Syracuse Community Health offers comprehensive healthcare services. Here’s what’s available:
Atención Primaria // Primary Care
What we treat:
- Enfermedades agudas (gripe, infecciones) // Acute illnesses
- Enfermedades crónicas (diabetes, presión alta) // Chronic diseases
- Exámenes físicos anuales // Annual physical exams
- Vacunas // Immunizations
- Cuidado preventivo // Preventive care
Who we see:
- Toda la familia, desde bebés hasta adultos mayores
- All ages, from babies to seniors
Salud de la Mujer // Women’s Health
Servicios incluyen:
- Exámenes ginecológicos // Gynecological exams
- Cuidado prenatal // Pregnancy care
- Planificación familiar // Family planning
- Anticonceptivos // Birth control
- Mamografías y Papanicolaou // Mammograms and Pap smears
Pediatría // Pediatrics
Para sus hijos:
- Visitas de niño sano // Well-child visits
- Vacunas infantiles // Childhood immunizations
- Cuidado de enfermedades // Sick visits
- Exámenes escolares y deportivos // School and sports physicals
Salud Dental // Dental Care
Servicios dentales:
- Limpiezas // Cleanings
- Empastes // Fillings
- Extracciones // Extractions
- Cuidado dental preventivo // Preventive dental care
Salud Mental // Behavioral Health
Apoyo para:
- Depresión y ansiedad // Depression and anxiety
- Asesoramiento // Counseling
- Tratamiento de adicciones // Addiction treatment
- Terapia familiar // Family therapy
Servicios de Diagnóstico // Diagnostic Services
Disponible en el lugar:
- Análisis de sangre // Blood tests
- Radiografías // X-rays
- Pruebas de laboratorio // Laboratory testing
We Welcome Everyone // Bienvenidos Todos
Sin Importar Tu Estatus de Seguro // Regardless of Insurance Status
One of the most important things to know: You do NOT need health insurance to receive care at Syracuse Community Health.
We offer a sliding fee scale (escala de tarifas móviles) based on:
- Your household income (ingreso familiar)
- Number of people in your household (número de personas)
What this means:
- If you earn less, you pay less
- If you have no income, we still provide care
- Payment plans available
- No one turned away due to inability to pay
We accept:
- Medicaid (Medicaid)
- Medicare (Medicare)
- Most insurance plans (la mayoría de los planes de seguro)
- Self-pay with sliding fee scale (pago propio con escala de tarifas)
We Never Ask About Immigration Status // Nunca Preguntamos Sobre Estatus Migratorio
This is very important to understand:
✓ We DO NOT ask about immigration status
✓ We DO NOT report to immigration authorities
✓ Your healthcare information is completely confidential
✓ You are safe seeking care here
Your health information is protected by federal HIPAA laws. We cannot and will not share your information with immigration officials or anyone else without your written permission.
Healthcare is for everyone. You deserve medical care regardless of where you were born or what your immigration status is.
Safe, Confidential Environment // Ambiente Seguro y Confidencial
At Syracuse Community Health:
- Your privacy is protected (Su privacidad está protegida)
- All information stays confidential (Toda la información es confidencial)
- You are treated with respect (Le tratamos con respeto)
- No judgment, only care (Sin juicio, solo atención)
Many immigrant families in Syracuse trust us with their healthcare. We have served our community for over 40 years, including welcoming everyone regardless of where they come from.
Cultural Competency: More Than Just Language
Speaking Spanish is important, but it’s not everything. At Syracuse Community Health, we also understand:
Traditional Health Beliefs:
We respect:
- Remedios caseros (home remedies) and natural approaches
- Curanderos and traditional healers
- Cultural beliefs about health and illness
- The role of fe (faith) in healing
Our providers work with your beliefs, not against them. We’ll let you know when medical treatment is necessary, but we respect your cultural practices.
Family-Centered Care:
In many Hispanic/Latino cultures, healthcare decisions involve the whole family. We welcome:
- Family members at appointments
- Including family in care decisions
- Respect for elders’ wisdom
- Understanding family responsibilities
Bring your family to appointments if it helps you feel comfortable.
Understanding Social Factors:
We recognize that health is affected by:
- Work schedules (many families work multiple jobs)
- Transportation challenges
- Financial stress
- Language barriers
- Immigration concerns
- Access to healthy food
Our providers and staff work to address these social determinants of health, not just your medical symptoms.
Community Engagement // Participación Comunitaria
Syracuse Community Health is actively involved in serving Syracuse’s Hispanic/Latino community:
Community Events:
We participate in:
- Health fairs at local churches (ferias de salud)
- Back-to-school events (eventos de regreso a clases)
- Community festivals (festivales comunitarios)
- Free health screenings (exámenes de salud gratuitos)
Partnerships:
We work with:
- Spanish Action League of Onondaga County
- Local churches with Hispanic congregations
- Syracuse City School District for school-based clinics
- Community organizations serving immigrants
Health Education:
We provide:
- Spanish-language health workshops
- Nutrition and cooking classes
- Chronic disease management education
- Information about navigating the healthcare system
How to Schedule an Appointment in Spanish // Cómo Programar una Cita en Español
Ready to become a patient? Here’s what to do:
Llame al: 315-476-7921
When you call, you can say:
“Hola, me gustaría hacer una cita con un doctor que hable español.”
(Hello, I would like to make an appointment with a doctor who speaks Spanish.)
“¿Tiene proveedores que hablen español?”
(Do you have providers who speak Spanish?)
“Necesito ayuda en español.”
(I need help in Spanish.)
Our Spanish-speaking staff will help you:
- Choose a provider (escoger un proveedor)
- Schedule your appointment (programar su cita)
- Answer questions about insurance or sliding fee scale (responder preguntas sobre seguro o tarifas)
- Explain what to bring (explicar qué traer)
Best Times to Call:
Our phone lines are open:
- Monday-Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Spanish-speaking staff available throughout the day
Walk-In Option:
Quick Care at 819 S. Salina Street accepts walk-ins:
- Monday-Friday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Sunday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
No appointment necessary for urgent needs.
Locations Convenient to Syracuse’s Hispanic Community // Ubicaciones Convenientes
Five Locations Across Syracuse:
1. Comprehensive Care Center
930 S. Salina Street, Syracuse, NY 13204
Our largest facility with all services
2. Quick Care
819 S. Salina Street, Syracuse, NY 13204
Walk-ins welcome, extended hours
3. East Side Location
1938 E Fayette St Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
Convenient to East Side neighborhoods
4. North Side Location
603 Oswego Street, Syracuse, NY 13208
Servingthe North Side community
5. Onondaga Community College
Residence Hall C
139 OCC Dr S, Syracuse, NY 13215, USA
Student and community health
Transportation // Transporte:
Bus Routes:
- Centro buses serve all our locations
- Routes 443 and 448 stop near our Salina Street locations
- Free parking available at all locations
¿Necesita ayuda con el transporte? Ask us about transportation assistance programs.
What to Bring to Your First Appointment // Qué Traer a Su Primera Cita
Please bring:
✓ Identificación con foto (Photo ID)
- Licencia de conducir, identificación estatal, pasaporte, matrícula consular
✓ Tarjeta de seguro (Insurance card) – si tiene seguro
✓ Lista de medicamentos (List of current medications)
- Incluya vitaminas y suplementos
✓ Documentos de ingresos (Income documentation) – si aplica para escala de tarifas
- Recibos de sueldo, declaración de impuestos, carta de desempleo
✓ Historial médico (Medical records) – si tiene
✓ Lista de preguntas (Questions for your doctor)
¿No tiene todo en la lista? ¡Venga de todos modos! We’ll work with what you have.
Your Health Matters // Su Salud Importa
Having access to healthcare in your own language isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. When you can communicate clearly with your doctor, you:
- Get better diagnoses
- Understand your treatment
- Take medications correctly
- Feel more comfortable asking questions
- Build trust with your healthcare provider
Syracuse Community Health is committed to serving all of Syracuse, including our Hispanic/Latino neighbors.
Whether you’ve been in Syracuse for decades or just arrived, whether you have insurance or not, whether you speak English fluently or not at all, you are welcome here.
Schedule Your Appointment Today //Programa Su Cita Hoy
📞 Llame: 315-476-7921
🏥 Cinco ubicaciones en Syracuse
💚 Proveedores que hablan español disponibles
📄 Formularios en español
🔒 Ambiente seguro y confidencial
💰 Escala de tarifas para personas sin seguro
No espere para cuidar su salud.
Don’t wait to take care of your health.
Su familia merece atención médica de calidad en su idioma.
Your family deserves quality healthcare in your language.
Para Más Información // For More Information:
Website: syracusecommunityhealth.org
Teléfono: 315-476-7921
Facebook: Syracuse Community Health
Descargue formularios en español de nuestro sitio web.
Download Spanish forms from our website.
Syracuse Community Health: Cuidando a nuestra comunidad desde 1978.
Serving our community since 1978.
