(Press-News.org) Contact information: Warren Robak
robak@rand.org
310-451-6913
RAND Corporation
Foreign-educated health workers play vital role in US health system
Changes may be needed to stabilize workforce
Foreign-educated and foreign-born health professionals play a vital role in the U.S. health care workforce, but strategic shifts such as changes in immigration laws may be needed to stabilize the nation's health workforce, according to a new RAND Corporation study.
The two groups fill important gaps in the U.S. health care workforce, particularly among primary care physicians, nurses in hospital settings and other areas with worker shortages, according to findings published in the November edition of the journal Health Affairs.
However, continuing to rely on foreign-educated and foreign-born health workers may reduce incentives for the nation to address problems such as the inadequate supply of primary care physicians and lead to a less-stable U.S. health care workforce, researchers say.
"There is no cohesive national policy that outlines a strategy for how to incorporate foreign-born and foreign-trained health professionals into the U.S. workforce," said Dr. Peggy G. Chen, the study's lead author and an associate natural scientist at RAND, a nonprofit research organization. "Policy changes could increase the stability of the nation's health care workforce, while also improving the experiences of foreign-born health workers."
The study outlines the contributions that foreign-educated and foreign-born health professionals make to the U.S. workforce, including:
Physicians who were educated outside the United States account for about 25 percent of the U.S. physician workforce, with the largest groups being from India, the Philippines, Pakistan, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
Foreign-born registered nurses account for 12 percent to 15 percent of the total RNs in the United States, with 5.4 percent both foreign born and foreign educated. The largest number of foreign-educated and foreign-educated RNs are from the Philippines, followed by Canada, India, the United Kingdom and Nigeria.
Among direct care workers, a category that includes nursing aides and home health aides, foreign-born individuals account for 20 percent to 24 percent of the workforce. The largest numbers of foreign-born direct care workers are from Mexico, the Philippines, Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. It is estimated that 20 percent of direct care workers are undocumented immigrants.
Four major categories of visas allow legal admission to the United States for health professionals, but none is exclusive to health care workers, researchers say. The most formalized channels of entry are for foreign-educated physicians, who often come to the U.S. for medical residencies and stay once their training is finished.
Despite their significant representation in the workforce, foreign-born and foreign-educated health workers say they often face problems such as unethical recruitment practices, discrimination in the workplace and difficulties navigating cultural differences. In addition, migration of health workers to the United States may leave lower-income nations with workforce shortages and weaker health systems.
The study's authors say U.S. policymakers may want to consider immigration changes to make it easier to recruit needed health professionals such as direct care workers. In addition, domestic health care organizations need to commit to improving recruiting practices and workplace conditions for migrants.
###
Other authors of the study are Elizabeth Bradley and Leslie Curry of the Yale School of Public Health and the Yale Global Health Leadership Institute, David Auerbach of RAND and Ulrike Muensch of Vanderbilt University.
Support for the study was provided by RAND's Investment in People and Ideas program, which combines philanthropic contributions from individuals, foundations, and private-sector firms with earnings from RAND's endowment and operations to support research on issues that reach beyond the scope of traditional client sponsorship.
RAND Health is the nation's largest independent health policy research program, with a broad research portfolio that focuses on health care costs, quality and public health preparedness, among other topics.
Foreign-educated health workers play vital role in US health system
Changes may be needed to stabilize workforce
2013-11-05
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Gas injection probably triggered small earthquakes near Snyder, Texas
2013-11-05
Gas injection probably triggered small earthquakes near Snyder, Texas
A new study correlates a series of small earthquakes near Snyder, Texas between 2006 and 2011 with the underground injection of large volumes of gas, primarily carbon dioxide (CO2) — ...
Brain aging is conclusively linked to genes
2013-11-05
Brain aging is conclusively linked to genes
Finding is crucial step in determining normal aging
For the first time in a large study sample, the decline in brain function in normal aging is conclusively shown to be influenced by genes, say researchers from ...
The nitrogen puzzle in the oceans
2013-11-05
The nitrogen puzzle in the oceans
Nitrogen isotope effects by anammox deciphered
A team of scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, the University of Basel, and Radboud University Nijmegen has now revealed the details of an important ...
Snakes control blood flow to aid vision
2013-11-05
Snakes control blood flow to aid vision
A new study from the University of Waterloo shows that snakes can optimize their vision by controlling the blood flow in their eyes when they perceive a threat.
Kevin van Doorn, PhD, and Professor Jacob Sivak, from the Faculty ...
Computer-aided image analysis aims to offer 'second opinion' in breast tumor diagnosis
2013-11-05
Computer-aided image analysis aims to offer 'second opinion' in breast tumor diagnosis
New technique may also have application in genomics to identify genes that influence risk of disease
BELLINGHAM, Washington, USA – Researchers at the University ...
Genetic study proves Israel's wild boars originated in Europe
2013-11-05
Genetic study proves Israel's wild boars originated in Europe
Tel Aviv University researchers say animals descended from pigs brought by the Philistines 3,000 years ago
Wild boars look more or less the same in Israel as they do anywhere else: stalky and ...
Researchers gain new insights into brain neuronal networks
2013-11-05
Researchers gain new insights into brain neuronal networks
A paper published in a special edition of the journal Science proposes a novel understanding of brain architecture using a network representation of connections within the primate cortex. Zoltán Toroczkai, professor ...
Diamond imperfections pave the way to technology gold
2013-11-05
Diamond imperfections pave the way to technology gold
Berkeley study provides unprecedented details on ultrafast processes in diamond nitrogen vacancy centers
From supersensitive detections of magnetic fields to quantum information processing, the key ...
Dolphin genetic study provides revelations
2013-11-05
Dolphin genetic study provides revelations
FORT LAUDERDALE-DAVIE, Fla. - The old saying goes: "Don't judge a book by its cover." Well, the same could be said about bottlenose dolphins.
Bottlenose dolphins are the most common and well-known of their kind – famous ...
Wives matter more when it comes to calming down marital conflicts
2013-11-05
Wives matter more when it comes to calming down marital conflicts
UC Berkeley study finds husbands less influential in conflict resolution
Marriage can be a battlefield. But a new study conducted at the University of California, Berkeley, has found that, ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
Salk scientist Joseph Ecker awarded McClintock Prize for Plant Genetics and Genome Studies
ADHD: Women are diagnosed five years later than men, despite symptoms appearing at the same age.
Power plants may emit more pollution during government shutdowns
Increasing pressures for conformity de-skilling and demotivating teachers, study warns
Researchers develop smarter menstrual product with potential for wearable health monitoring
Microwaves for energy-efficient chemical reactions
MXene current collectors could reduce size, improve recyclability of Li-ion batteries
Living near toxic sites linked to aggressive breast cancer
New discovery could open door to male birth control
Wirth elected Fellow of American Physical Society
The Journal of Nuclear Medicine Ahead-of-Print Tip Sheet: October 10, 2025
Destined to melt
Attitudes, not income, drive energy savings at home
The playbook for perfect polaritons
‘Disease in a dish’ study of progressive MS finds critical role for unusual type of brain cell
Solar-powered method lights the way to a ‘de-fossilized’ chemical industry
Screen time linked to lower academic achievement among Ontario elementary students
One-year outcomes after traumatic brain injury and early extracranial surgery in the TRACK-TBI Study
Enduring outcomes of COVID-19 work absences on the US labor market
Affirmative action repeal and racial and ethnic diversity in us medical school admissions
Cancer progression illuminated by new multi-omics tool
Screen time and standardized academic achievement tests in elementary school
GLP-1RA order fills and out-of-pocket costs by race, ethnicity, and indication
Study finds HEPA purifiers alone may not be enough to reduce viral exposure in schools
UVA Health developing way to ID people at risk of dangerous lung scarring even before symptoms appear
How can we know when curing cancer causes myocarditis?
Male infertility in Indian men linked to lifestyle choices and hormonal imbalances
An acoustofluidic device for sample preparation and detection of small extracellular vesicles
The advent of nanotechnology has ushered in a transformative era for oncology, offering unprecedented capabilities for targeted drug delivery and controlled release. This paradigm shift enhances thera
A prototype LED as thin as wallpaper — that glows like the sun
[Press-News.org] Foreign-educated health workers play vital role in US health systemChanges may be needed to stabilize workforce