Spanish-Speaking Primary Care Doctors in Loxahatchee, West Palm Beach & Belle Glade, FL

What it involves

The practice's provider pages list the languages each physician speaks. Dr. Gurpreet Singh Sareen at the Loxahatchee office is fluent in English and Spanish. Dr. Moises Lancelot Sebastian at the Belle Glade office is fluent in English and Spanish. Dr. Shahnaz Akhter at the West Palm Beach office speaks Bengali, English, Hindi, and Urdu. Each of these is a primary care physician, so a Spanish-speaking visit can cover the same family and internal medicine care described across this site.

Who this is for

• Spanish-speaking patients who want to discuss symptoms and a plan directly with their physician
• Families who want a primary care home for several generations, with one office language everyone is comfortable in
• Bengali, Hindi, or Urdu speakers looking for a physician in West Palm Beach
• Patients whose language is not listed, who need an interpreter arranged

What to expect

• A call to the office where you tell staff the language you prefer
• Help choosing the office and physician that speak it
• An appointment, same-day or walk-in, during office hours
• A free interpreter arranged by the practice if your language is not spoken by the provider

Who speaks what, and where

Language follows the physician, and each physician sees patients at a specific office, so the office you choose and the language you need go together:

• Loxahatchee, 12977 Southern Boulevard: Dr. Gurpreet Singh Sareen, English and Spanish
• Belle Glade, 124 SW 1st St: Dr. Moises Lancelot Sebastian, English and Spanish
• West Palm Beach, 3472 Forest Hill Blvd: Dr. Shahnaz Akhter, Bengali, English, Hindi, and Urdu

Why speaking directly with your doctor matters

Dr. Sareen's page notes that Spanish-speaking patients at the Loxahatchee office can discuss their health history, symptoms, and treatment plan directly with him rather than through an interpreter. That is not just a convenience. A plan is only useful if you understand it well enough to follow it at home, from taking a medicine as directed to knowing which symptoms mean calling back. The same is true in West Palm Beach for patients who speak Bengali, Hindi, or Urdu.

Free language help if your language is not on the list

The practice's Notice of Nondiscrimination says free language services are provided to people whose primary language is not English, including qualified interpreters and information written in other languages. It lists language assistance in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, and French, and says that if your language is not listed, the practice will arrange interpretation at no cost. There is never a charge to you for interpretation. The full text is on the nondiscrimination notice page.

How to ask when you call

Say the language first, then the reason for the visit. Staff can match you to a provider who speaks it, tell you which office that is, and offer a same-day slot if one is open. If you are bringing a family member who will help interpret, say so, and ask for an interpreter anyway if you want one. The frequently asked questions page repeats which languages each physician speaks.

What you can be seen for

A Spanish-speaking or multilingual visit is an ordinary primary care visit. That includes checkups and annual physicals, blood pressure and diabetes management, same-day sick visits, and the other services the offices list. Nothing about the language changes which services are available, though some are offered at certain offices only, so ask when you book.

Insurance and cost

The practice accepts Medicare and Medicaid plans and several commercial insurers, and it posts self-pay visit fees of $160 for a new patient and $100 for a follow-up for people without insurance. Staff can confirm your plan before you come in, and interpretation is not billed to you.

Sources

• MedlinePlus — Health Information in Multiple Languages