The Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) is a report required by the IRS as a condition of a public-serving hospital’s continuednonprofit status. For many decades, Cone Health has been a provider to newcomer residents of refugee and immigrant origin. Unfortunately, no reference to them appears in their last (2022) report even though their special health challenges are well recognized. This is obviously true for refugees who flee historically violent, war-torn conflicts or who have faced religious persecution. Instead, their needs are hidden in Cone’s racial/ethnic categories (white, Black, etc). As a public document that influences policy, it fails to recognize the unique minority populations it serves — and has often served well — but most importantly, gives no clues about how resources might be best allocated since these communities remain unnamed.
In speaking with community leaders, a common concern emerges: the disappearance of their identity, language and cultural barriers and health costs as soon as they step off the plane and are merged into Black/African American or Asian American Pacific Islander categories. Good health for every Guilford resident is a major concern shared by Cone and newcomer leaders. Good data and accurate reporting are fundamental to meeting this goal.
Andrew Young