Refugee Care

INTRODUCTION -

The clinical information contained in this application is a consensus from the physician group working at the Calgary Refugee Health Program, and is based on years of experience treating most of the refugees and refugee claimants in Calgary. It is meant to be used as a clinical resource to guide Canadian family physicians through the initial screening and management of newly arrived refugees and refugee claimants.

While these recommendations apply mainly to refugee patients, they could also be useful for physicians seeing newly arrived immigrants.


CONTENT -

Refugee Care is divided into 5 main sections:

1. First Visit
Key information to guide physicians through their first appointment with newly arrived refugee patients:

Canadian Refugees - Facts, Interim Federal Health Program, Initial Medical History, Initial Physical Exam, Screening Recommendations, Other Tests, Specific Populations, Immigration Medical Exam

2. Lab Results
Laboratory findings on the initial screening tests and their respective management:

Complete Blood Count, G6PD Deficiency, Hemoglobinopathies, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, Latent Tuberculosis, Schistosomiasis, Strongyloidiasis, Syphilis, Varicella Immunity

3. Common Issues
Other commonly encountered medical conditions in refugee patients and their respective management:

Dyspepsia and H. Pylori, Female Genital Cutting, Gastrointestinal Parasites, Hearing Loss, Hematuria, Lead Poisoning, Malaria, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Scabies, Tinea Capitis, Vitamin D Deficiency

4. Maps
Maps commonly used in refugee care (mainly distribution/prevalence maps):

Female Genital Cutting, G6PD Deficiency Allele, Global Iodine Status, Loa Loa, Malaria, Schistosomiasis, Strongyloidiasis, Zika Virus

5. Tables
Lists and algorithms commonly used in refugee care:

G6PD Deficiency - Substances to Avoid, Interpreting Hepatitis B Serology, Countries with a High Hepatitis B Prevalence, Syphilis Diagnostic Algorithm, Countries with a High TB Incidence, Zika Virus Screening


AUTHOR -

Clinical content and application design by:
Guillaume Mongeau-Martin, MDCM CCFP DTM&H

This clinical resource was reviewed and approved by the physician group at the Calgary Refugee Health Program.


FEEDBACK -

For any feedback or comment regarding this application, please email Dr. Mongeau-Martin at refugeecareapp@gmail.com


DISCLAIMER -

The recommendations contained in this application should not be considered as official clinical guidelines. They simply represent our current practice at the Calgary Refugee Health Program.

Refugee Care is intended only for use by licensed medical practitioners and medical students. Every medical practitioner is responsible for their actions. It is the responsibility of the prescriber to verify the indications, contraindications and dosage of the medications they prescribe. The clinical judgement of physicians should always prevail over these recommendations, and specialist consultation is advised where appropriate.

The author of Refugee Care makes no claims regarding the accuracy of the information contained herein. The author of this application and its content shall not be liable for any injury and/or damage to people or property arising from the use of this application.

The clinical resources, articles and websites on which the clinical content in this application is based are all properly referenced in the References section. The images posted in this application are all accompanied by direct URL links to the original source.

This is a non-profit application that is free to download and use. It contains no advertising. The sole goal of Refugee Care is to improve the health of refugees and refugee claimants across Canada by educating family physicians about refugee care.