From crisis to care at a refugee community health centre: a community-based participatory qualitative study of refugee experiences and outcomes.

Forcibly displaced refugees often face unmet health needs and barriers to care after resettlement. In response, many resettlement countries have established specialized health clinics and centres. However, evidence on refugees' healthcare experiences and outcomes within these diverse models of care remains limited. This study examines refugee patients' experiences and perceived outcomes at the New Canadians Health Centre, a specialized refugee community health centre in Western Canada that provides primary healthcare during the first two years of resettlement, guided by principles for social justice, equity, and inclusion. Through community-based participatory research and qualitative description, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 31 patients, including men and women from seven different countries of birth, and analysed inductively using qualitative content analysis. Patients reported improved access to care through reduced individual and structural barriers; receipt of comprehensive care facilitated by integrated services; strong trust and cultural safety fostered by supportive patient and healthcare provider relationships; enhanced health literacy and greater capacity for system navigation; and perceived improvements in overall health and wellbeing. Opportunities to continue to strengthen care were also identified. The findings highlight key aspects of the centre's model of care that strengthened refugees' healthcare experiences, including phone-based interpretation, proactive patient outreach, and caring healthcare providers, along with opportunities to refine services to better address evolving needs. These insights can inform the development and enhancement of refugee-serving healthcare models across international resettlement contexts.