Center of Excellence in Newcomer Health
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Spotlight
Clinical Guidance and Clinical Decision Tools: Minnesota Center of Excellence in Newcomer Health
The Minnesota Center of Excellence in Newcomer Health (MN COE) assists the CDC with the revision and integration of new content in various refugee screening guidance documents (CDC: Refugee Health Domestic Guidance).
In addition, the MN COE develops and disseminates applications to improve clinician understanding of the screening guidance focused on newcomer populations, support implementation of guidance-directed care, and provide training and quality improvement on best practices. The MN COE leverages existing infrastructure and relationships with partners to enhance and disseminate electronic health record tools and an interactive online guidance tool, CareRef, for clinicians working with refugees.
Best and promising practices in domestic medical screening
Key clinical and cultural considerations
When conducting the domestic medical screening and providing ongoing care, clinicians should refer to these considerations to address health equity and disparities and work collaboratively across sectors to address the unique needs of newcomers.
Key Clinical and Cultural Considerations for the Domestic Medical Screening
Child health screening guidance: Ask Where
Guidance for clinicians about how to ask newcomers in a culturally sensitive way where they were born or where they came from.
Immigrant Health Matters
A quarterly series of brief vignettes focused on immigrant health and health equity. Articles are designed to be read in three minutes and provide clinicians' and immigrants' perspectives of challenges in achieving health equity.
Population-specific guidance
Afghan
- Afghan Clinical Guidance
Health screening guidance for clinicians caring for Afghans, webinars and trainings, health and safety guidance, health profiles, translated materials, benefits, and other resources. - OB-GYN Care for Afghans: A Toolkit for Clinicians
This toolkit includes information regarding Afghanistan, health care and health outcomes in Afghanistan, traditional practices and cultural norms for pregnant and postpartum Afghan women, recommendations for providing OB-GYN care and general health care to new Afghan arrivals, and tools for providers and patients. - Afghan Cultural Adaptation of the Survey of Well-Being of Young Children (SWYC)
Translation and cultural adaptation of the SWYC developmental screening tool in Pashto and Dari. This process ensured linguistic and cultural accuracy of the SWYC for the Afghan newcomer community, making it more accessible and relevant for caregivers.
Haitian
- Haitian Clinical Guidance
Health screening guidance for clinicians caring for Haitians, webinars and trainings, health and safety guidance, health profiles, translated materials, benefits, and other resources.
Ukrainian
- Ukrainian Clinical Guidance
Health screening guidance for clinicians caring for Ukrainians, webinars and trainings, vaccination resources, health and safety guidance, health profiles, translated materials, benefits, and other resources.
Clinical decision support for newcomer health
Health care, public health, and informatics professionals from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (Pennsylvania), Denver Health and Hospital Authority (Colorado), HealthPartners (Minnesota), and Thomas Jefferson University (Pennsylvania) worked with national experts to identify opportunities for electronic health record (EHR) improvement and evidence-based, standardized care for newly-arrived refugees and other newcomers. The product contributes to efficient data extraction from EHRs for surveillance purposes.
This MN COE collaboration led to the creation of the Refugee Health Decision Support tools.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ): Refugee Health Decision Support
Order sets, documentation templates, and supporting resources available for download at no cost via the Clinical Decision Support (CDS) Connect repository from AHRQ.
- To learn more about Clinical Decision Support tools, visit PolicyLab: Providing Tools for Clinicians to Better Support Immigrant Health.
- Contact refugee.cds@email.chop.edu with any technical assistance requests, questions, or comments.
Development of the Refugee Health Decision Support Module was funded by Centers for Excellence in Refugee Health grant 5 NU50CK000459-02 (MN) from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As a federally funded project, it is subject to federal copyright restrictions and open access policies.
While this artifact to build an Epic SmartSet is the work of partners funded by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this artifact is not the work of CDC nor of the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). The selection, omission, or content of items in the artifact does not imply endorsement or any other position taken by CDC or MDH, and CDC and MDH assume no responsibility for accuracy. The artifact belongs to its authors and all questions should be directed to its authors. However, the “Guidelines for the U.S. Domestic Medical Examination for Newly Arriving Refugees” referenced in this artifact were developed by CDC to help state public health departments and medical professionals/clinicians in determining the best tests to perform based on evidence during routine post-arrival medical screening of refugees. These guidelines are only intended as recommendations and should not be construed as either mandates or medical advice. Refugee health care providers with any questions should contact their state refugee health coordinator.
Use of trade names and commercial sources is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. References to non-CDC sites on the Internet are provided as a service to readers on this site and do not constitute or imply endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. CDC is not responsible for the content of pages found at these sites. URL addresses listed on this site were current as of the date of publication.
CareRef
CareRef is a tool that guides clinicians through conducting a routine post-arrival medical screening of a newly arrived refugee to the U.S. The output of this tool is based on current CDC Domestic Refugee Screening Guidance. CareRef recommends screening tests and other preventive care based on the demographic and geographic factors that contribute to risk. Clinicians should be aware that the guidance may not accurately reflect the needs of non-refugee populations. CareRef was created by the MN COE, led by the Minnesota Department of Health, in partnership with Minnesota IT Services.
CareRef: Clinical Assessment for Refugees
VaxRef
VaxRef is a web-based application that translates immunization records into English. Multilingual users including newcomers, interpreters, health care workers, and community organization staff can use this tool. Once the form is completed, an English translation of the record will be sent to the email address provided by the user. All original immunization documents must be attached to the translated record when meeting a health care provider. This application does not give medical advice or vaccine guidance. Please consult with a health care professional for advice and information about vaccinations.
VaxRef: Immunization Record Translator
Welcome to VaxRef Companion Guide (PDF)
Welcome to VaxRef Transcript (PDF)