Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 16, Issue 4, 2014, Pages 576-585

Integrated primary care improves access to healthcare for newly arrived refugees in Canada (Article)

McMurray J.* , Breward K. , Breward M. , Alder R. , Arya N.
  • a School of Business and Economics/Health Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University, 73 George Street, Brantford, ON N3T3Y3, Canada
  • b Department of Business and Economics, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
  • c Department of Business and Economics, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
  • d Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
  • e Office of Global Health, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada

Abstract

In this study we quantify the impact of a partnership between a dedicated health clinic for government assisted refugees (GARs), a local reception centre and community providers, on wait times and referrals. This study used a before and after, repeated survey study design to analyze archived administrative data. Using various statistical techniques, outcomes for refugees arriving 18 months prior to the introduction of the clinic were compared with those of refugees arriving in the 18 months after the clinic was established. Our investigation revealed wait times to see a health care provider decreased by 30 % with the introduction of a dedicated refugee health clinic. The likelihood of GARs being referred to physician specialists decreased by 45 %, but those referred were more likely to require multiple referrals due to increasingly complex medical needs. Referrals to non-physician specialist health care providers nearly doubled following the availability of the clinic. The time-limited, but intense health needs of GARs, require an integrated community-based primary healthcare intervention that includes dedicated health system navigators to support timely, more culturally appropriate care and successful integration. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

Primary care Canada Refugee Before and after study

Index Keywords

Waiting Lists male Canada health service hospital admission patient referral statistics and numerical data female Referral and Consultation Health Services Accessibility refugee Humans Health Services Needs and Demand organization and management human primary health care Refugees health care delivery
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84904403882&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-013-9954-x&partnerID=40&md5=f7f1d9c8beeade59e0efab38c6a8d3a4
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-013-9954-x
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 13
Original Language: English