This module explores policies and data relevant to the health status of the nearly 600,000 people in Colorado identified as immigrants, migrants, or refugees. These populations face considerable health inequities that are compounded by living and working in rural settings. Strategies for improving immigrant health outcomes are suggested with a special focus on the importance of advocating for rural populations.
Natalie Pool PhD, RN
Raised in rural western Colorado, Natalie Pool PhD, RN is an Associate Professor of Nursing at the University of Northern Colorado. She has a diverse clinical background including COVID vaccination of immigrant and refugee populations in northern Colorado and nursing care of Latin American migrants in metro Denver. Dr. Pool’s research includes evaluating interventions for increasing cultural awareness among entry-level nursing students and exploring the role of implicit bias among interdisciplinary healthcare teams during clinical decision-making.
Learning Objectives
After completion of this module, the student will be able to:
Explore the legal parameters of immigrants, migrants, and refugees and the rights and responsibilities of healthcare providers in serving these populations in Colorado.
Analyze existing healthcare data related to immigrant/migrant/refugee populations in Colorado, especially in rural areas.
Understand the role of the social/structural determinants of health (including rurality) in immigrant/migrant/refugee healthcare outcomes in rural Colorado.
Discover strategies to improve access to healthcare services and the quality of care delivered to immigrant/migrant/refugee populations in rural Colorado.