Rochester Regional Health - Refugee Healthcare Program

What is it?

To help treat the unique needs of refugees, the Refugee Healthcare Program hired previously resettled refugees as “patient navigators” to offer interpretation and care coordination. They also share resources among many partners including the area’s primary refugee resettlement agency, the Department of Human Services and the Department of Public Health. The program recently launched the Center for Refugee Health to care for refugee and immigrant populations in Rochester.

Who is it for?

Refugees in the Rochester area.

Why do they do it?

The number of refugees continues to grow. Approximately 10 percent of Rochester’s residents are former refugees with unique needs that include inadequate past medical care, exposure to untreated diseases and experiences that include torture and terrorism.

Impact

Since 2008, 96 percent of the more than 5,000 refugees arriving in Rochester have established care with a primary care provider, and the number of culturally competent providers has drastically increased.

Contact: James Sutton
Director, Office of Community Medicine
Telephone: 585-922-6400
Email: james.sutton@rochesterregional.org