Procedures for Routine Refugee Health Assessment
This section outlines the steps of the Refugee Health Assessment (also known as the Domestic Medical Exam/Screening or DME) process that resettlement agency case managers, private sponsors, community partners, and local public health nurses should take to ensure a timely and complete Refugee Health Assessment. For newcomers with complex medical conditions, the process may be different. Please refer to Medically Complex Case Care Coordination for additional information.
As partners in this process, it is helpful to keep in mind that resettlement agency case managers, private sponsors, and community partners are assisting newcomers with many time-sensitive needs. The Refugee Health Assessment is only one of several immediate responsibilities when welcoming newcomers (i.e., securing housing, school enrollment, employment, etc.). Likewise, local public health refugee health nurses have many additional responsibilities, and the Refugee Health Assessment is one of several components of their work at their agencies.
The role of the Minnesota Refugee Health Program (MRHP) is to facilitate the Refugee Health Assessment by supporting local public health, resettlement agencies, private sponsors, and other community partners who provide direct services to newcomers. Local public health, resettlement agencies, private sponsors, and community partners are encouraged to use MRHP both as a consultant and active participant in the coordination of health services. The responsibilities of MRHP include:
- Receive and review overseas medical exam results.
- Provide instruction/guidance to local public health and medical clinics.
- Assist local public health, resettlement agencies, private sponsors, and other community partners, as needed.
- Train local public health, resettlement agencies, health care providers, and community partners in best practices in refugee health.
- Respond to questions, issues, and concerns related to refugee health.
Elements of a successful Refugee Health Assessment process
Strong communication with refugees
It is important that the newcomer understands the importance of the health assessment and what to expect throughout the process. The U.S. health care system is very different from many of the health care systems in other countries.
Develop positive initial relationships between newcomers and health care providers
Helping newcomers have a good experience with the U.S. health care system encourages newcomers to complete the health assessment and access primary care in the future.
Recognize factors that affect coordination and completion of the Refugee Health Assessment
It is important to know certain aspects of the health assessment process that may affect the outcome of the assessment, such as:
- Cultural humility
- Family dynamics and the influence of family structure and children
- Gender sensitivity
- Language barriers
Benefits of a strong relationship between partners
- Increases likelihood of a complete Refugee Health Assessment.
- Promotes early detection and treatment of health problems.
- Increases newcomers’ knowledge of the U.S. health care system.
- Increases newcomers’ awareness of available community resources.
- Improves communication between local public health, resettlement agencies, private sponsors, and newcomer communities.
Communication best practices
Communication and relationship-building among partners and newcomers are key to ensuring a successful, complete, and timely Refugee Health Assessment. Best practices include:
Email encryption
Any email containing identifiable protected health information should be send with encryption.
- Contact your IT department if you are unable to open or send encrypted emails.
Communications on case changes
It is important that resettlement agency case managers, local public health, and MRHP are all quickly made aware of case updates that may affect coordination of the Refugee Health Assessment, including (but not limited to):
- Change in phone number
- Change in address
- Change in health status, including emergency room or urgent care visit, hospital admission, or new health concerns
- Delays in Medical Assistance (health insurance)
Procedures timeline
This information is intended for case managers and local public health staff supporting refugees through Reception & Placement resettlement through local resettlement agencies. Private sponsors should reference the Community Sponsors page.