REFUGEE CARE AT THE
SQUIRREL HILL HEALTH CENTER
2012 PA Refugee Resettlement Consultation
Refugee care at SHHC
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Background
Relationships
Organizational structure
Challenges/ Successes
 Immunizations
 TB
treatment
 Language access
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Future
Background
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The mission of the Squirrel Hill Health Center is to
provide patient-driven, high quality, comprehensive,
evidence-based primary and preventive healthcare
and social services, with a special concern for
patients' religious beliefs, race, national origin,
primary language, age, sex, and disability status
and without regard for their ability to pay.
Founded in 2006
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
Services
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Primary care for patients of all age
 Geriatrics
 Pediatrics
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OB/GYN
Behavioral health
Care Navigation
Dental (opened December 2010)
Refugee Care at SHHC
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Preferred provider for 2 local resettlement
agencies in Pittsburgh
Complete PA initial health assessment
Provide continued care even after health insurance
and other benefits expire
Primary Refugees
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Total Initial Refugees seen as of 5/14/2012: 685
Total seen in 2011: 393
Total seen in first 4 ½ months of 2012: 167
Of the 685 total seen, 574 are Bhutanese
Refugees; 67 speak Burmese/Karen; 37 speak
Arabic
Average age of resettled refugee: 41 years old
Refugees, by Primary Language Spoken
1%
5%
10%
Nepali
Karen/Burmese
Arabic
Other
84%
Secondary Refugees
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167 Secondary Bhutanese have also been seen at
the office or on the mobile unit; total of 741
Bhutanese have been seen by SHHC
56 Secondary Burmese/Karen have also been seen
at the office or on the mobile unit; total of 123
SHHC Mobile Unit
SHHC Mobile Unit
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SHHC received funding through an American Reinvestment &
Recovery Act grant administered through HRSA to build the
mobile unit
Completed in October 2010
The mobile features two private exam rooms, a bathroom,
and a waiting area
It is staffed by one of SHHC's physicians, a medical
assistant, and a case manager
SHHC currently makes regular stops at Prospect Park
(working with refugee families and the Prospect Park Family
Support Center), POWER House, Hearing and Deaf
Services, and Milestone, Inc
Compass AmeriCorps Program
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Idea out of the Immigrants and Internationals
Advisory Council of Allegheny County DHS
Growing need for case management and social
service support for newly arrived and secondary
refugees
Members serve at resettlement agencies, family
centers, ESL providers, health center, and other
community partners, greater connecting a network
of organizations working with refugee population
AmeriCorps at SHHC
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Receive training in case management, care
coordination, and community education
Serve as main care coordinators for refugee
population
 Resettlement
agency
 Referral providers
 Health department
 Language and interpretation
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Staff mobile unit
Challenges- TB
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Coordination with resettlement agencies
Communicating with County Health Department
Following patients through latent TB treatment.
 AmeriCorps
care navigation
 Schweitzer Fellowship project
Challenges- Immunizations
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Communication with school, parents, resettlement
agency
Modifying immunization schedules and protcols
Decreasing no-shows and lack of follow up through
recall lists and reminder letters
Successes
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AmeriCorps program
Staff education and experience
Mobile unit program
Future
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Community health education through Health Corps
member
Patient Portal access
Population focused group visits around chronic
disease management
 Diabetes
 HTN
Questions?
Feel free to contact SHHC at
412-422-7442
info@squirrelhillhealthcenter.org
Meghan Powers, Program Coordinator
412-697-7932
mpowers@squirrelhillhealthcenter.org