Journal of Allied Health
Volume 43, Issue 2, 2014, Pages 79-87

International recruitment of allied health professionals to the United States: Piecing together the picture with imperfect data (Article)

Pittman P.* , Frogner B. , Bass E. , Dunham C.
  • a Milken Institute School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy, George Washington University, 2121 K Street NW, Ste 210, Washington, DC 20037, United States
  • b Milken Institute School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy, George Washington University, 2121 K Street NW, Ste 210, Washington, DC 20037, United States
  • c Milken Institute School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy, George Washington University, 2121 K Street NW, Ste 210, Washington, DC 20037, United States
  • d Milken Institute School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy, George Washington University, 2121 K Street NW, Ste 210, Washington, DC 20037, United States

Abstract

Research on the international recruitment of health professionals to the U.S. has focused almost exclusively on physicians and nurses; we are aware of no research on the migration of allied health professionals. OBJECTIVE: We examined the strengths and weaknesses of various public and private data sources on foreign-educated allied health professions in the U.S. and patched together a picture of these migrants. We focus on pharmacists, physical therapists (PTs), occupational therapists (OTs), speech language pathologists (SLPs), and medical and clinical laboratory technicians (lab techs). FINDINGS: Based on the American Community Survey, we found that 12% of PTs, 12% of lab techs, 8% of pharmacists, 4% of OTs, and 3% of SLPs are foreign-born and entered the U.S. at age 21 or older. Among foreign-born PTs, about half remain as non-citizens, suggesting the highest proportion of recent arrivals among the five professions. CONCLUSIONS: As Congress debates comprehensive immigration reform, one of the much need changes to the system is better immigration data, disaggregated by occupation. © 2014 Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions, Wash., DC.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

Needs Assessment statistical analysis education Allied Health Personnel Foreign Professional Personnel methodology Research Design certification Data Interpretation, Statistical human licensing trends statistics and numerical data procedures United States foreign worker Licensure Humans personnel management supply and distribution standards Personnel Selection migration Emigration and Immigration paramedical personnel
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84905001519&partnerID=40&md5=2594e2fa59bb5c5c899662c043b595ca
ISSN: 00907421
Cited by: 7
Original Language: English