Asylum seekers and the role of the acute care physician

Abstract There has been a recent influx of migrants and asylum seekers to the United States. They often arrive with poor social support and an inability to access reliable health care. This can lead to overutilization of emergency departments (ED) while awaiting legal proceedings. With asylum seeker...

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Main Authors: Kevin Molyneux, Elizabeth Singer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-06-01
Series:Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.13196
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author Kevin Molyneux
Elizabeth Singer
author_facet Kevin Molyneux
Elizabeth Singer
author_sort Kevin Molyneux
collection DOAJ
description Abstract There has been a recent influx of migrants and asylum seekers to the United States. They often arrive with poor social support and an inability to access reliable health care. This can lead to overutilization of emergency departments (ED) while awaiting legal proceedings. With asylum seekers in all 50 states, it is important for emergency physicians (EP) to understand the barriers to care and difficulties asylum seekers face, and to gain tools to improve both migrants’ and community health. Migration and experiences within the United States can worsen pre‐existing health conditions. EPs are uniquely positioned to screen for acute pathology and link people to care. Psychiatric illnesses may present differently in asylum seekers. EPs must understand the sequalae of trauma to address it. EPs must also be aware of legal protections for asylum seekers to care for these patients, and recognize challenges faced by the population to mitigate health disparities.
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spelling doaj-art-917f1a5f4f404aae9220b957bf0890c42025-08-20T03:37:06ZengElsevierJournal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open2688-11522024-06-0153n/an/a10.1002/emp2.13196Asylum seekers and the role of the acute care physicianKevin Molyneux0Elizabeth Singer1Department of Emergency Medicine Columbia University New York New York USADepartments of Emergency Medicine and Medical Education Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York New York USAAbstract There has been a recent influx of migrants and asylum seekers to the United States. They often arrive with poor social support and an inability to access reliable health care. This can lead to overutilization of emergency departments (ED) while awaiting legal proceedings. With asylum seekers in all 50 states, it is important for emergency physicians (EP) to understand the barriers to care and difficulties asylum seekers face, and to gain tools to improve both migrants’ and community health. Migration and experiences within the United States can worsen pre‐existing health conditions. EPs are uniquely positioned to screen for acute pathology and link people to care. Psychiatric illnesses may present differently in asylum seekers. EPs must understand the sequalae of trauma to address it. EPs must also be aware of legal protections for asylum seekers to care for these patients, and recognize challenges faced by the population to mitigate health disparities.https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.13196asyleeasylum seekerdetentionhealth disparitiesimmigrationinterpreter
spellingShingle Kevin Molyneux
Elizabeth Singer
Asylum seekers and the role of the acute care physician
Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open
asylee
asylum seeker
detention
health disparities
immigration
interpreter
title Asylum seekers and the role of the acute care physician
title_full Asylum seekers and the role of the acute care physician
title_fullStr Asylum seekers and the role of the acute care physician
title_full_unstemmed Asylum seekers and the role of the acute care physician
title_short Asylum seekers and the role of the acute care physician
title_sort asylum seekers and the role of the acute care physician
topic asylee
asylum seeker
detention
health disparities
immigration
interpreter
url https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.13196
work_keys_str_mv AT kevinmolyneux asylumseekersandtheroleoftheacutecarephysician
AT elizabethsinger asylumseekersandtheroleoftheacutecarephysician