Some say our healthcare industry could be overwhelmed by increased demands because of coronavirus (COVID-19).
I personally believe we are overreacting to the coronavirus. We didn’t shut the country down when 34,000 people actually died from the flu last year. So far we’ve had 244 deaths from coronavirus.
With or without coronavirus, we have a shortage of healthcare workers...Now!
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 1.2 million job openings nationwide in the healthcare sector.
Wouldn’t it be great if the restaurant workers who are getting laid off could be trained to fill the vacancies in healthcare and construction?
Our healthcare industry currently relies on skilled immigrant workers. According to an analysis of the Census Bureau’s 2018 American Community Survey data by New American Economy [1], 24.3% of all healthcare workers, 48.9% of physicians, and 29.0% of registered nurses in the Houston Area, for example, are immigrants.
We need all hands on deck! While Congress is working on legislation responding to the coronavirus they could expand it and expedite H1-B visas for skilled immigrants in healthcare.
I pray that this alleged coronavirus “crisis” comes to an end soon so we can all get back to business.
Regardless, our healthcare industry needs the workers.
Please contact your lawmakers and encourage them to include sensible immigration measures in their coronavirus relief legislation.
May God bless you, and may He lift America out of this panic reaction.
God bless America.
[1] New American Economy analysis of 2018 American Community Survey microdata downloaded from: IPUMS USA, University of Minnesota,www.ipums.org, provided in personal communication.