Undocumented immigrants and advanced heart failure therapies

TL;DR

Undocumented immigrants struggle to access advanced heart failure treatments due to provider misconceptions and social barriers.

Contribution

The study identifies provider misconceptions and proposes legal partnerships and education to improve access for undocumented patients.

Findings

Most providers refer undocumented patients for advanced therapies, but many still see immigration status as a barrier.

Lack of provider awareness and social support are major obstacles for undocumented immigrants.

Legal partnerships and education are suggested to address these barriers.

Abstract

This study highlights the challenges undocumented immigrants face in accessing advanced heart failure therapies, despite contributing to the organ donor pool. Some key barriers are the lack of provider awareness, social support issues, and timing constraints. The survey conducted among cardiologists at Massachusetts teaching hospitals revealed that while most providers (82.5%) refer patients with undocumented status for advanced therapies, a significant percentage (87.5%) that still perceive immigration status as a barrier to transplantation. Addressing these misconceptions through legal partnerships and enhancing provider education is crucial for improving access to life-saving treatments for undocumented patients.

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