One of many challenges involved in providing health care to undocumented workers includes getting them to come to the doctor’s office. They are going to be wary about going to the doctor because they do not want to get deported. They likely fear that if they see the doctor, there is a chance they are going to ask for documentation and thus be reported for not having it. The ones who go are probably only going as a last resort, meaning they are very sick (not getting preventive medicine). Since they are scared of being deported, they might hide the extent of their sickness. The relationship between the doctor and the patient lacks communication and trust. If the doctor doesn’t understand the context of the patient’s condition (understanding how they got sick and obstacles that stand in the way of getting better), then he or she can only do so much to help the patient. Additionally, undocumented workers might not be able to afford the medicine they need to get better or fear being asked for documentation when picking up medications; so even if the doctor figures out their illness, they may not get the medications the doctor prescribes. Another reason for noncompliance may be that the undocumented worker has heard of other, natural things to treat that illness in their home culture. However, since they can’t tell the doctor they are an undocumented worker from elsewhere, then they might not talk to the doctor about this other option. Medicine can be very important in this population though because of their close proximity in living conditions in transmitting contagious diseases. Last but not least, follow up is a huge challenge in undocumented workers. Even if they do come for medical help, they are only coming once for immediate help and they likely do not provide accurate information for follow up (fearing getting caught). This leaves no way to evaluate treatment and compliance.
Challenges providing health care to undocumented workers