Our International Services Department provides a full range of support and interpreter services to assist you in navigating all aspects of your healthcare at Georgetown University Hospital from selection of your physician through inpatient stay, to family accommodation. Our multi-lingual Patient Care Coordinators (Arabic, Spanish, French and Italian) are pleased to coordinate, advocate and assist you in the following ways (for both outpatient or inpatient services):
Identify and provide referrals to physicians,
specialists or Georgetown services.
Provide complimentary medical interpreters in your
native language for the duration of your visit to Georgetown.
Schedule and coordinate appointments conveniently and
appropriately.
Inform you prior to your arrival of any medical
records or information required by Georgetown.
Provide you with a complete treatment plan and
estimate of costs.
Coordinate embassy or organizational financial guarantees, if applicable.
Assist with reservations for short- or long-term
accommodations for patients and families.
Provide any information that you may need on hospital services and procedures.
Meet the Staff
Our international team is committed to ensuring that your needs are met.
Julie Andrews - Assistant Vice President, Patient and
Physician Advocacy and International Services
Safwa Osman - Patient Services Manager
Maruja Conway - Patient Care Coordinator II
Vivian Montenegro - Patient Care Coordinator II
Sawsan Salih - Patient Care Coordinator II
Ashraf Kabil - Special Program Coordinator
Taruna (Maya) Tiwari - Administrative Assistant
Frequently Asked Questions about our International Services
Clinical specialties include: the Transplant Institute and International Center for Liver Disease, neurosciences, gastroenterology, orthopaedics and cancer. The Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center is the only facility in the Washington, DC area designated by the National Cancer Institute as a comprehensive cancer center.
Provide the following information: Your first
and last name, date of birth, address and telephone number.
Tell us your symptoms, or the name of the department where you would like an appointment.
How can I arrange for a second opinion?
Send us a medical report (translated into English) from your previous doctor that includes the diagnosis and the treatment you have received. This medical report will be sent by our office to the appropriate department to be reviewed by a doctor and a recommendation will be provided. Once the treatment plan has been determined, a cost estimate can be generated.
Do you need information about my health insurance?
Yes. Insurance information is very important. Each type of insurance is handled differently. For example, if you are a self-pay patient, payment is expected at the time of service. If you are financially covered by an embassy or an organization, a letter should be provided by them stating that they are responsible for all the medical expenses. For patients who have international insurance, their insurance information should be provided to us before seeing a doctor. Our office will contact the insurance company to request a pre-authorization for medical coverage. Patients with US-based insurance should provide us with a copy of the insurance card.
Our staff speaks Arabic, Spanish, French and Italian. We can instantly access an interpreter on the phone to communicate with you in every other language. For all other languages, professional interpreters with medical experience will be provided based on a schedule of appointments and your needs at Georgetown University Hospital.
I do not speak English; are there doctors who speak my language?
There are Georgetown physicians who are bi-lingual, but of course, this will depend on your need and your language, and we will try to refer you to these physicians wherever possible. However, interpreters are provided free of charge for all your appointments, procedures and in-patient stays at Georgetown University Hospital. As soon as your appointments are scheduled, medically-certified interpreters are assigned to you.
Do I have to pay for interpreters?
No. Professionally-trained interpreters with medical experience are provided free of cost for all your appointments, procedures and in-patient stays at Georgetown University Hospital.
Can you help me with accommodations and transportation?
Yes, we can. Our office will assist with reservations for accommodations and transportation based on your needs. Once details of your arrival and schedule at the hospital have been confirmed, our Patient Care Coordinators will assist with making suitable arrangements for your accommodations and transportation in Washington, DC.
