Immigration policies directly affect about one-fifth of the U.S. healthcare workforce, particularly those who care for the elderly, according to a study published in the June issue of Health Affairs.
Based on information from the U.S. Census Bureau's Annual Social and Economic Supplement of the 2018 Current Population Survey, researchers found immigrants accounted for the following:
- 18.2 percent of healthcare workers
- 23.5 percent of formal and nonformal long-term care sector workers
- 27.5 percent of direct care workers
- 30.3 percent of nursing home housekeeping and maintenance workers
The authors considered anyone born outside of the U.S. an immigrant for the purpose of the study. Immigrants account for about 15.5 percent of the population, indicating they disproportionately work in healthcare.
"In light of current shortages, high turnover rates, low retention rates, growing demand for direct care workers, and immigrants' already disproportionate role in filling such jobs, policies that curtail immigration are likely to compromise the availability of care. Moreover, the anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies that restrict immigration threaten the health and well-being of immigrants who are entrusted with the care of the nation's elderly and disabled people," the study authors wrote.
The census data also indicated immigrant healthcare workers tended to be older and more educated, more often male, and more often Hispanic, non-Hispanic Asian or non-Hispanic black than U.S.-born healthcare workers. This means they often bring more language skills and cultural awareness to help better treat patients of varied backgrounds.
Read more here.
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