Standards › Standard 25 › Policies
Policy · HMG-POL-001 · Version 1.0 · Approved by the ASF Expert Committee
Supports: 25.1
At a glance
- Care is adapted to each patient’s migration and displacement experience (HMG-FRM-001).
- Examinations are explained first, and the patient can ask for the way they are done to change.
- Barriers to access from legal status are identified and addressed.
- Continuity of care is supported when the patient moves.
- Stop and get help straight away if: a traumatised patient is examined in a way that repeats past harm.
1. Purpose
To make sure care is adapted to each patient’s migration and displacement history, and does not repeat harm (25.1).
2. Scope
| Applies to | Clinical and support staff in the hospital |
| Locations | All wards, clinics and departments of the facility |
| When | Whenever the activity described is carried out |
| Does not apply to | Activities covered by another document listed in section 15 |
3. Definitions
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Clinical lead | The doctor or nurse in charge of the area at the time |
4. Background
A person who has fled war or been displaced often carries trauma and mistrust of institutions. Care that does not take this into account can be harmful even when it is technically correct.
5. Responsibilities
| Role | Responsibility | Competence |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical lead for migrant health | Owns the migration-informed care rule | Clinician |
| Treating clinician | Adapts care and records the history | Clinician |
6. Materials and equipment
| Item | Requirement | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Records and forms named in this document | Current version | Checked before use |
7. Safety
- Stop and call for help if a patient is at immediate risk. Do not delay urgent care to complete paperwork.
8. Before you start
- Confirm the forms and equipment named in this document are available and current.
9. Procedure
Step 1. Take the history.
- Record the migration and displacement history, with the patient’s consent (HMG-FRM-001).
Key point: Recorded.
Step 2. Adapt the care.
- Explain each examination first, and adapt the way it is done.
Key point: Adapted.
Step 3. Address barriers.
- Identify any barrier from legal status and act to address it.
Key point: Addressed.
10. Decision points
- No decision points in this procedure.
11. Special situations
| Situation | Action |
|---|---|
| Out of hours | Follow the same steps. Use the on-call contact on the wall of the area. |
12. Escalation
- Any serious problem goes to the duty clinical lead at once and to the clinical director the same day.
13. Monitoring
| Measure | Target | Frequency | Owner | If not met |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patients with a migration history recorded where relevant | 95% | Monthly | Clinical lead for migrant health | Escalate to medical director |
14. Records
| Record | Kept in | Retention |
|---|---|---|
| Record named in this document | Patient record or the area file | the period set by the facility’s records policy years |
15. Training
- Staff are trained in this document at induction and refreshed each year, with a recorded competency check.
16. Related documents
| ID | Title | Use |
|---|---|---|
| HMG-FRM-001 | Migration history and trauma-aware assessment record | Record |
17. Evidence
| Reference | Note |
|---|---|
| E-009 | Based on the WHO and IOM Global Competency Standards for Refugee and Migrant Health and the WHO mhGAP Intervention Guide (2019). |
| E-006 | ASF Policy Framework v1.2. Adapted. |
| E-009 | ASF Expert Committee consensus. |
18. Change history
| Version | Date | What changed | Approval |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | the date of approval | First version | set Expert Committee approval |
E-learning for this document
References
- Accréditation Sans Frontières (2026). ASF Policy Framework v1.2. (E-006)
- Accréditation Sans Frontières (2026). ASF Expert Committee consensus on Standard 1. (E-009)