Undocumented Patients

Assessment & Plan

• “The services offered by clinics, hospitals, and health systems are built around a concept of a typical patient. Actual patients, however, often diverge from the type imagined.”

• “[Immigration-related] anxiety can affect your health. You are safe to express your concerns here.”

Patient Advocacy:

Medical providers have an ethical duty to provide patients with the best care possible. Caring for complex patients can feel daunting, but advocating for undocumented patients can be integrated into your clinical practice in simple, but meaningful ways. Any provider can start by using our one-page guide to learn about the legal rights of both patients and providers. Providers at safety-net institutions are on the front lines of providing care to this patient population. This guide is specifically geared toward safety-net providers and offers guidance on how individuals and more broadly, healthcare systems, can advocate for undocumented patients.