Abstract
Between 2015 and 2019, 261,091 refugees were resettled through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. Few are chronically ill, but previously these went to emergency rooms upon arrival. We designed a pilot program to anticipate, assess, and safely assume care of chronic health needs and stabilize sick and medically complex refugees upon arrival. Academic internal medicine and pediatrics clinics are linked to the Washington State Refugee Health Program and Refugee Resettlement Agencies. Arriving refugees deemed medically complex through overseas medical evaluation or post-arrival were selected for the program. We reviewed biodata of 2,947 refugees deemed medically complex. We referred five hundred and sixty one (19%) of these for evaluation, and 257 (46%) of referrals received care. Safe transitions of care are standard practice in medical systems. This innovation in Seattle is one example of a system for the safe and cost-effective relocation of refugees with complex illnesses.
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