Tuesday, December 22, 2009
NURSE SHORTAGE GROWING DIRE WHILE BLACKOUT ON VISAS CONTINUES
Certain voices in the nursing community are trying to make the argument that there is no nursing shortage and we need to keep protectionist policies in place. But there has been a great deal compelling evidence pointing in only one direction for many years - a nurse shortage that is already bad and will grow much worse in decades to come. Here's an article from CNN/Money that is certainly scary.
And 30 million more patients are about to gain access to health care under the reform bill on the verge of passage in Congress. If we don't have enough nurses to treat today's patients, how will we deal with an expansion of such a large magnitude.
It's time to face the music and admit that we need foreign nurses to at least help us fill the gaps while we make serious investments in the nurse education infrastructure so we can eventually have enough American-born nurses.
# posted by Greg Siskind @ 7:22 PM
Sunday, December 20, 2009
IMMIGRANTS LOSE SUIT TO KEEP GRADY HOSPITAL RENAL CLINIC OPEN
A court has
dismissed a lawsuit challenging the closure of the Grady Hospital renal clinic. The clinic serves a population of illegally present immigrants and there are fears that needed dialysis treatments will go undelivered as a result of the shutdown. Grady has been paying for three months of treatments at private clinics, but that time is about to end. The lawyer for the patients has promised to appeal.
# posted by Greg Siskind @ 6:09 PM
Saturday, December 19, 2009
PHYSICIAN SHORTAGE LIKELY TO WORSEN AS A RESULT OF THE HEALTH CARE BILL
Congress is about to
dramatically increase demand for doctors, but is still doing little about the supply of doctors (including reforming physician immigration rules that encourage American-trained doctors to leave).
# posted by Greg Siskind @ 2:19 PM
H-1C NURSE VISA PROGRAM ABOUT TO SUNSET
The little used H-1C visa program that can be used by only 500 nurses a year is
going to expire Monday and I've heard nothing about extending the category.
# posted by Greg Siskind @ 2:16 PM
Friday, December 11, 2009
NEW REPORT INDICATES FOREIGN HEALTH CARE WORKERS PLAYING CRITICAL ROLE IN US
The Immigration Policy Center
lays out the data showing that international professionals are playing a critical role across the US health care system and will be needed as shortages worsen in a number of fields.
# posted by Greg Siskind @ 11:16 AM
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