Implementing Federal Immigration Medical Examinations into a United States Student-Run Free Clinic

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Healthcare Access
• Immigrant Health

Background:

• The Immigration Medical Examination (IME) is a mandatory requirement for U.S. permanent residency.
• High costs and limited accessibility of IMEs create significant barriers for low-income immigrant populations.
• Equitable healthcare access for underserved populations necessitates addressing these IME challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the benefits and process of integrating IME services into a student-run free clinic.
• To demonstrate a model for serving low-income immigrant populations with essential health evaluations.
• To highlight the feasibility and impact of such integrated services.

Main Methods:

• Reviewed IME requirements, cost barriers, and existing student-run clinic models.
• Developed and implemented an IME program at the Knights Landing One Health Center (KLOHC).
• Conducted a retrospective chart review of patients receiving IME services from May 2022 to May 2024.

Main Results:

• KLOHC provided IME services to 204 patients, with 177 adult records analyzed; 84% were Hispanic/Latino and 79% Spanish-speaking.
• Significant cost reduction was achieved, with services free for target communities and $250 for others (vs. $400-$900 privately).
• IME screenings identified treatable conditions like tuberculosis and STIs; a waitlist indicated high demand.

Conclusions:

• Integrating IME services into student-run clinics is a feasible and effective strategy to expand healthcare access for immigrants.
• The KLOHC model demonstrates cost-effectiveness, improves healthcare accessibility, and provides valuable training for future healthcare professionals.
• This initiative offers a replicable framework to address critical gaps in immigrant healthcare and promote health equity.