Assistant Clinical Professor at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont, Fellow in the International Migration Research Centre at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ont, and Director of the Centre for Family Medicine Refugee Health Clinic in Kitchener, Ont.
Family physician at the Crossroads Clinic at Women's College Hospital in Toronto, Ont, and Clinical Lecturer in the Department of Family and Community Medicine and the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto.
Can Fam Physician. 2021 Aug;67(8):575-581. doi: 10.46747/cfp.6708575.
To guide clinicians working in a range of primary care clinical settings on how to provide effective care and support for refugees and newcomers during and after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
The described approach integrates recommendations from evidence-based clinical guidelines on refugee health and COVID-19, practical lessons learned from Canadian Refugee Health Network clinicians working in a variety of primary care settings, and contributions from persons with lived experience of forced migration.
The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified health and social inequities for refugees, asylum seekers, undocumented migrants, transient migrant workers, and other newcomers. Refugees and newcomers face front-line exposure risks, difficulties accessing COVID-19 testing, exacerbation of mental health concerns, and challenges accessing health care, social, and settlement supports. Existing guidelines for clinical care of refugees are useful, but creative case-by-case strategies must be employed to overcome additional barriers in the context of COVID-19 and new care environments, such as the need for virtual interpretation and digital literacy skills. Clinicians can address inequities and advocate for improved services in collaboration with community partners.
The COVID-19 pandemic is amplifying structural inequities. Refugees and newcomers require and deserve effective health care and support during this challenging time. This article outlines practical approaches and advocacy priorities for providing care in the COVID-19 context.
为在各种初级保健临床环境中工作的临床医生提供指导，以在新冠病毒病 2019（COVID-19）大流行期间和之后为难民和新来者提供有效护理和支持。
所描述的方法整合了关于难民健康和 COVID-19 的基于证据的临床指南中的建议、在各种初级保健环境中工作的加拿大难民健康网络临床医生的实践经验教训，以及有被迫移民经历的人的意见。
COVID-19 大流行加剧了难民、寻求庇护者、无证件移民、临时移民工人和其他新来者的健康和社会不平等。难民和新来者面临一线接触风险、难以接受 COVID-19 检测、心理健康问题恶化以及难以获得医疗保健、社会和定居支持等问题。现有的难民临床护理指南是有用的，但必须采取创造性的个案策略，以克服 COVID-19 和新的护理环境中的额外障碍，例如对虚拟口译和数字扫盲技能的需求。临床医生可以与社区合作伙伴合作，解决不平等问题并倡导改善服务。
COVID-19 大流行正在放大结构性不平等。难民和新来者在这个充满挑战的时期需要并应得到有效的医疗保健和支持。本文概述了在 COVID-19 背景下提供护理的实用方法和宣传重点。
