The Newcomer Health ECHO series is designed to increase medical providers’ knowledge of the resettlement and health issues of newcomers, including refugee, immigrant and migrant (RIM) populations. The series reviews resettlement pathways, evidence-based screening recommendations, and more common diagnoses and treatment approaches for pediatric and adult populations.
This ECHO series arose from a Center of Excellence on Newcomer Health working group that is funded by the CDC. Today there are more than 500 registrants and more than 150 have attended each monthly session. Participants are joining from across the country.
“With the influx of Afghan arrivals starting last October, we wanted to increase knowledge of newcomer and refugee care to primary care providers who may not have experience caring for this population. We designed the ECHO to reach this audience since many may be seeing newcomers for the first time,” said Jessica Deffler, Family Medicine Physician and Medical Director of the Wyss Wellness Center in Philadelphia. “We hope that this allows providers to feel more comfortable taking care of new arrivals by building medical knowledge as well as cultural competence.”
Speakers from the community are invited to share insight into the culture, health beliefs and attitudes toward health care of RIM communities. “This has been helpful for providers to develop sensitive approaches to counseling and to know where there may be opportunities for education,” said Deffler.
The next Newcomer Health session – Ukrainian Health Considerations – will be held January 31. Click here to register.
