Normalized Healthcare Utilization Among Refugees Resettled in Philadelphia, 2007-2016

Background/Purpose: About 70,000 new refugees are resettled in the United States each year, of which approximately 600 are resettled in Philadelphia. This project seeks to better understand the patterns of healthcare utilization, including primary care, emergency, and hospitalization, among refugees resettled in Philadelphia, PA, between 2007 and 2016. Methods: Demographic and healthcare utilization data for 1,144 refugees seen at Jefferson Family Medical Associates were compiled from the Jefferson Longitudinal Refugee Health Registry. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the demographic characteristics of the refugee population. Negative binomial count regressions were used to test for significant correlations between major demographic variables and healthcare utilization. Results: Refugees had an average of 7.24 (SD = 9.35) and a median of 4 primary care visits. Visits rates were highest during the first eight months post resettlement and declined significantly after expiration of Refugee Medical Assistance. Country of origin and year of arrival were significantly associated with differing rates of healthcare utilization. Discussion: Overall, refugees utilized primary healthcare services at a slightly higher rate than the U.S. average. There are differences in utilization among various sub-populations within the refugee community. Future studies should further explore these differences in healthcare utilization patterns among recently resettled refugees

Comprehensive Refugee Health Surveillance in Philadelphia: A Combined Resettlement and Clinical Patient Registry

Oral presentation at the 6th Annual North American Refugee Health Conference, Niagara Falls, New York. Goal: To improve the success of refugee resettlement and health outcomes in Philadelphia by establishing a multi-agency registry with social services and clinical measures

Barriers and Facilitators To Cervical Cancer Screening Among Iraqi Refugees Resettled in Philadelphia: A Qualitative Analysis of Patient and Provider Perceptions

Oral presentation at the 6th Annual North American Refugee Health Conference, Niagara Falls, New York. Research Questions: 1. What is the prevalence of cervical cancer and cervical cancer screening among recently resettled refugees seen at Jefferson\u27s Center for Refugee Health? 2. Are patient-and provider-identified barriers to cervical cancer screening at CRH consistent with those identified in previous research efforts? 3. What are patient-and provider identified facilitators to cervical cancer screening for Iraqi refugee women

Public Health in Undergraduate Medical Education—An Innovative Four-Year Area of Concentration

The development of programmatic tracks providing students with academic opportunities outside of the traditional medical curriculum represents a national trend in medical education. With five-year HRSA funding, TJUSKMC created a four year longitudinal area of concentration in Population Health. Key components include: Year 1 – enhanced population health components of Introduction to Clinical Medicine, community immersions Summer – population health related programs locally and globally Year 2 – case studies linked to Fundamentals of Clinical Medicine applying social and behavioral foundations of Public Health Year 3 – enhanced clerkship experiences Year 4 – community-based electives and completion of a Capstone Project. Five cohorts (180 students) have entered the program with benefits including a certificate upon program completion, recognition in Dean’s letters, and 15 credits applied to the Jefferson MPH program. A description of the program will be presented along with characteristics of enrolled students, implementation, evaluation, and sustainability plans in the SKMC’s Second Centennial Curriculum. Objectives: Participants viewing this poster should be able to: 1. Organize an approach to integrating population health content into a health professional curriculum. 2. Apply a methodology to recruit students into an area of concentration in population health. 3. Identify the challenges inherent in curricular reform and innovation

Teens 4 Good: Positive Youth Development Through Urban Community Gardening

Background and Rationale Teens that grow up in poor, blighted neighborhoods are at risk for a variety of negative outcomes, including poor health.1 In Philadelphia and many other urban communities, disparities in race, income, and education impact access to and consumption of fresh, healthy foods.2 Youth development programs (YDP) have grown as a viable solution to ameliorate negative outcomes among at-risk youth.3 Community gardens have been introduced in many urban environments to address issues of food insecurity.4 Teens 4 Good (T4G) is a youth-led entrepreneurial program that converts vacant city lots into community gardens. T4G was founded in 2005 by the Federation of Neighborhood Centers. The program targets urban at-risk youth attending Philadelphia public high schools. T4G Summer Internship: Teens are paid to plant, harvest, and sell produce to local communities. Teens are also involved in designing marketing materials, managing finances, and other business operations. Program Goals: Improve leadership skills, self-efficacy, and work readiness skills in youth, empowering them to become healthy young adults, and leaders who give back to their community. Ameliorate income and place barriers to accessing healthy affordable food by converting vacant city lots into community gardens. In 2013, 40 teens participated in the 6-week T4G summer internship program (June – August). During this time the study authors conducted a supplemental program evaluation to describe how and to what extent T4G is contributing to Positive Youth Development (PYD), and how and to what extent T4G is impacting teens’ families and the community