Health care of refugees in 2015 - Evaluation of an ambulance for refugees in a Cologne emergency accommodation (Cologne Model)

• Published in: Gesundheitswesen (Bundesverband der Ärzte des Öffentlichen Gesundheitsdienstes (Germany)) Vol. 78; no. 12; p. 808
• Main Authors: Borgschulte, H S, Bunte, A, Neuhann, F, Weber, L T, Wiesmüller, G A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: German
• Published: Germany 01.12.2016
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Ambulances - utilization; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Germany - ethnology; Health Care Surveys; Health Services Accessibility - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Middle Aged; Referral and Consultation - utilization; Refugees - statistics & numerical data; Sex Distribution; Utilization Review; Vulnerable Populations - ethnology; Vulnerable Populations - statistics & numerical data; Workload - statistics & numerical data; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1439-4421
• DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-121251

Access to medical care is a core element in the care of refugees and asylum seekers, and should therefore be guaranteed in a barrier-free way. In practice, there are usually numerous access barriers and the first contact with the German Health Care System takes place in form of a statutory examination to exclude infectious diseases. In addition to the introduction of health insurance cards for refugees, an offer of medical consultation for several hours a week in the municipal emergency accommodations provides an opportunity for low threshold access to primary care and a bridging function to the integration into the regular health care system. This offer is independent of the obligatory initial examination according to § 62 Asylum Law (AsylG) 1. The evaluation of the first year of such a health care center is presented.