From left: ICHS Executive Director Ron Chew, ICHS CEO Teresita Batayola, and former Governor Mike Lowry

International Community Health Services (ICHS) hosted their 3^rd annual Bloom gala on May 18, raising funds for charity care for uninsured and under-insured patients. Read the full story

International Community Health Services (ICHS) honored their longest working employees in December, highlighting the careers of some of their most dedicated team members. In addition to those honored, several employees have been with ICHS for nearly the organization’s entire 40-year existence. Read the full story

By Brad Wong

When teenager Jiahao Hu stepped into the International Community Health Services school-based health center in Seattle in September, he spotted a familiar face – Anthony Chen, an ICHS staff member.

The two had met during a summer program and Hu, a student at the Secondary Bilingual Orientation Center, had arrived that day because of an illness. The two were raised in Southern China. Both spoke to one another in Cantonese.

Read the full story

ICHS CEO Teresita Batayola with ICHS Foundation Executive Director Ron Chew (Photo provided by ICHS)

On Oct. 21, the Atsuhiko and Ina Goodwin Tateuchi Foundation awarded a grant of $175,000 to the International Community Health Services (ICHS) Foundation to support women’s health care access. Read the full story

International Community Health Services (ICHS), which operates medical-dental clinics in the International District and at Holly Park, will close its clinics one day a month because of significant cuts in state funding. Read the full story

Supporters at the Bloom Gala listen as ICHS Executive Director Teresita Batayola speaks. (Photos by Dave Greer)

Accepting the Bamboo Award on behalf of Susan G. Komen for the Cure is Executive Director Cheryl Shaw (Photos by Dave Greer)

International Community Health Services (ICHS) held its annual Bloom Gala, which brought together more than 400 ICHS supporters to raise more than $200,000 for patient care. The event was held at the Westin Hotel in Seattle.

ICHS awarded is Bamboo Award for Health to The Puget Sound Affliliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Dr. David McLanahan. ♦

Jocelyn Chui
Northwest Asian Weekly

The facade of the ICHS facility in the International District (Photo provided by ICHS)

For new immigrants, coming to America without knowing the language may sometimes make the experience unpleasant. What can make the situation really worrisome is not being able to relay health-related inquires.
Fortunately, with the presence of International Community Health Services (ICHS) in Seattle, API members who are not fluent in English can receive proper medical care with the help of interpreters.

A 26-year-old woman went to ICHS after learning that she has a blood clot near the optic nerves in her brain. She spoke anonymously because she worries that her job may be adversely affected if her employer were to find out about her clot.

Coming to America from China three years ago, the woman does not speak fluent English. However, she has been a frequent visitor of ICHS.

“I was really worried and I had a lot of questions,” the woman said in Cantonese. “Each time I visited the Holly Park clinic, there were interpreters to help me.” Read the full story

A bear mascot was a big hit with children and their parents at the ICHS back-to-school fair on Aug. 8 (Photo by George Liu/NWAW)

International Community Health Services (ICHS) held the first of its two back-to-school fairs on Aug. 8 at the International District Medical & Dental Clinic in Seattle.

The day was filled with activities and prizes for kids and families.

ICHS is a nonprofit community health center that offers affordable health care services to Seattle and King County’s Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities, as well as other underserved communities.

Its next fair will be held on Aug. 15 at 11 a.m. at the Holly Park Medical & Dental Clinic in Seattle. ♦