Healthcare for Immigrants and Refugees

By Marcia Carteret

With the changing demographics in the population of the United States, healthcare providers across the country will continue to see significant numbers of individuals and families who have immigrated to the U.S. or applied for refugee/asylee status here. Many of these newcomers are from countries where the national culture is dramatically different from that of the United States. Though the rate of immigration today is actually lower than during the last era of mass migration, when Europeans came in droves from the Old World, the absolute number of immigrants in the United States is currently at an all-time high. It is important for health care providers to understand the special challenges some of these patients and families present due to the stresses they may have endured before coming to the U.S. and the extreme hardships many face in trying to establish themselves in this country.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Marcia Carteret
• Release date: Dec 14, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301377626

Marcia Carteret

I am a senior instructor in healthcare communications for the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. My area of expertise is patient-provider communication --specifically, challenges related to cross-cultural, limited English proficiency, and low health literacy communication. I train residents, faculty, staff, PAs and nurses at The Children’s Hospital of Colorado and across the Anschutz Medical Campus. In addition, as Director of Healthcare Communication for Colorado Children’s Healthcare Access Program, I travel extensively statewide training health care professionals in private practices and rural health clinics to improve communication with patients and families from all cultural backgrounds. With over a decade's experience as an interculturalist specializing in healthcare, my books provide reading audiences with a skill-based approach to using communication in the service of reducing health disparities for at-risk populations.

Book preview

Dimensions of Culture Healthcare Series®:

Healthcare for Immigrants and Refugees

By Marcia Carteret, M.Ed.

This book is dedicated to Marla Tanaka

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Published at Smashwords by Carteret Communications

www.dimensionsofculture.com

Copyright 2012 Marcia Carteret M.Ed.

©All rights reserved.

No portion of this ebook publication may be reproduced without the author’s permission.

ISBN: 9781301377626

This publication was made possible in part due to

support of Colorado Children’s Healthcare Access Program (CCHAP)

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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Table of Contents

Part 1: The Psycho-social Experience of Immigrant and Refugee Families

The Opportunity Structure for Immigrants Today in the U.S. Economy

Immigrant and Refugee Acculturation Stress Factors

Crucial Factors for Success

Social Demotion for Middle-Class Immigrants/Refugees

Shifts in Family Dynamics

Changes in Parent-Child Relationships

Common Generational Acculturation Gaps

Part 2 Migration Challenges Specific to Children

2010 Census Statistics on Immigrant Children

Health Insurance Statistics for Immigrant Children

Psychosocial Implications of Immigration on Children

Poverty Rates

Family Separations Due to Migration

Quality of Care Taking Relationships During Migration Separation

Experiences of Violence

Identity Formation in the Host Culture

Value Judgements by Professionals Working with Immigrants and their Children

Part 3: Preparing for Medical Consultations with Refugees

Immigrants/Refugees/Asylees: Understanding Immigration Status & Related Health Benefits

Health Considerations for Refugees Upon Arrival

Conducting an Initial History/Physical Exam: Recommendations of the CDC

Common Cross-Cultural Medicine Challenges with Immigrant and/or Refugee Populations

Delays in Seeking Treatment

Compliance Challenges

Traditional Healing Practices and Body Modification

Trauma among Refugees

Major Psychosocial Issues After Resettlement

Best Practices in Providing Health Care to Immigrants and Refugees

Suggested Topics for Further Reading

About the Author

Contact: Dimensions of Culture® and Marcia Carteret, M. Ed.

Introduction ⁍

With changing demographics in the population of the United States, healthcare providers across the country will continue to see significant numbers of individuals and