Advocacy II: Serving our Immigrant Patients

In the second episode of our advocacy mini series with Dr. Anna Yap, we dive into the critical intersection of emergency medicine and immigration health. As emergency physicians, we frequently care for undocumented patients, asylum seekers, and refugees—individuals who face significant barriers to medical care, including fear, cost concerns, and language obstacles. Dr. Ellen Shank, a UC Davis health policy fellow and expert in migrant healthcare, joins us to explore the legal and ethical responsibilities of emergency providers, including how to navigate interactions with immigration enforcement, protect patient rights, and provide trauma-informed care. We’ll discuss practical ways physicians can advocate for these vulnerable populations, from facilitating asylum medical exams to supporting protective hospital policies. Tune in for an essential discussion on how emergency physicians can go beyond medical treatment to become informed advocates for their patients in an evolving immigration landscape.

Has ICE come to your ED? Share your story with us on social media @empulsepodcast or at ucdavisem.com

Host:

Dr. Sarah Medeiros, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at UC Davis

Guest Host:

Dr. Anna Yap, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine and Director and Health Policy & Administration Fellowship Director at UC Davis

Guest:

Dr. Ellen Shank, Emergency Physician and Health Policy Fellow at UC Davis. 

Resources:

ACEP: Navigating Immigration Enforcement in the Emergency Department

Red Cards/Tarjetas Rojas (download and print in multiple languages)

Q&A on Immigration Enforcement for Hospitals (Greater New York Hospital Association)

“Know Your Rights” video for patients in several languages (Immigration Institute of the Bay Area)

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Thank you to the UC Davis Department of Emergency Medicine for supporting this podcast and to Orlando Magaña at OM Productions for audio production services.

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