Patient Perspectives on Identifiers for Immigrant Patients in Electronic Health Records

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Health Equity Research
• Sociomedical Sciences

Background:

• Identifying immigrant patients in Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems is vital for advancing health equity and research.
• Previous stakeholder interviews identified language, country of origin, time in the U.S., and race/ethnicity as suitable EHR identifiers for immigrants.
• A gap exists in understanding immigrant patients' perspectives on these identifiers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the perspectives of non-English language preference (NELP) immigrant patients regarding the use of EHR identifiers.
• To assess patient acceptance and concerns about using specific data points for identifying immigrant populations in healthcare settings.

Main Methods:

• Conducted interviews with NELP immigrant patients in an Emergency Department setting.
• Gathered patient insights on the perceived utility and potential implications of EHR identifiers for immigrants.

Main Results:

• Patients supported using language and country of origin as identifiers.
• Patients expressed a lack of understanding about EHR data collection and its purposes.
• Significant concerns were raised regarding the documentation of sensitive information and potential repercussions.

Conclusions:

• While language and country of origin are viable identifiers, patient education on EHR data is essential.
• The current anti-immigrant policy landscape necessitates caution when using these identifiers.
• Providers must consider all potential uses and implications to ensure ethical and equitable application of EHR data for immigrant populations.