Refugee Healthcare Resilience and Burdens: A 10-year Mixed-Methods Analysis of System Shocks in Canada

Abstract

Background: System shocks, including sudden policy changes, refugee surges and pandemics, strain healthcare systems. These shocks compound existing vulnerabilities in refugee healthcare, limiting ability to provide patient care, but can also catalyze resilient adaptations. Investigating how local refugee health systems respond to shocks is critical to understanding resilience. Methods: We conducted a sequential explanatory mixed–methods study (2011–2020) at a specialized refugee health centre in Alberta, Canada, investigating four health system shocks: IFHP Funding Cuts (2012), Syrian Surge (2015), Yazidi Resettlement (2017), and COVID–19 (2020). We analyzed patient sociodemographic characteristics, health center utilization, and healthcare provider supply, conducting interrupted time series analysis of mean monthly appointments (total, family physicians, specialists and multidisciplinary team) and rates of change. We adapted a Health System Resilience framework to thematically analyze interviews with centre leaders and integrated these findings with quantitative findings to assess resilience and operational burdens. Findings: From 2011 to 2020, 10,661 refugees from 106 countries attended 107,642 appointments. Mean monthly appointments rose from 455 to 2,208 (3.9–fold, p<0.01). Monthly appointments increased between IFHP and Syrian periods (610.8 to 937.9, p<0.01), but not between Syrian Surge and Yazidi Resettlement (p=0.29). During COVID–19, mean appointments remained stable (1,412.4 to 1,414.0, p=0.11), but additional monthly appointments rose from 6.3 to 110.4 (17.5–fold, p<0.01). Over ten years, mean provider hours increased from 320 to 736 (2.3–fold), and from 59.5 to 871.4 (14.6–fold) for family physicians and multidisciplinary team members. Qualitative analysis revealed resilience capacities but highlighted costs such as burnout, vicarious trauma, and financial strain. Integration showed the centre developed resilience but experienced notable operational burden. Interpretation: Over a decade, a specialized refugee health centre adapted to successive shocks, transforming into a beacon clinic. It demonstrated resilience through care expansion and innovation, but with notable costs, financially and to health worker wellbeing. Funding: None