The Impact of Undocumented Status on Healthcare Access and Patient Outcomes

Document Type

Poster Presentation

Publication Date

4-17-2026

Keywords

fsc2026

Abstract

Undocumented immigrants in the United States face significant barriers to healthcare access, resulting in disparities in health outcomes and increased mortality. This integrative review examines how immigration documentation status influences healthcare access and patient outcomes among adult populations. A systematic search of PubMed, CINAHL, and ProQuest databases was conducted in February 2026, focusing on peer-reviewed studies from the past 20 years that addressed patient outcomes. Four studies met inclusion criteria and were appraised using the Johns Hopkins Evidence Appraisal Tool.

Findings revealed four major themes: reduced access to routine care, fear and psychological distress as barriers to seeking care, structural barriers to higher-level services, and poorer health outcomes including increased mortality. Undocumented immigrants were less likely to have a usual source of care, more likely to delay treatment due to fear of deportation, and more reliant on emergency services. Structural barriers, such as immigration enforcement during medical transport, further delayed care and worsened outcomes.

Overall, documentation status was identified as a significant social determinant of health, contributing to inequities in healthcare utilization and outcomes. The review highlights the need for policy reform, improved access to primary care, and increased advocacy by nurses to ensure equitable, patient-centered care regardless of immigration status.

Comments

Poster presented at the 2026 Fisher Showcase, St. John Fisher University, April 17, 2026.

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