President Donald Trump’s recent change to US immigration policy is leaving many hospitals short-staffed, reports Dara Lind for ProPublica. Trump’s proclamation of June 22 bars most immigrants from entering the US on work visas. Many US hospitals, however, have been counting on foreign doctors to get these work visas and serve as medical residents.
Literally hundreds of young doctors from abroad will not be able to begin their hospital residencies as planned. Highly skilled workers planning to enter the US on H1-B visas, including practicing doctors, have not been able to enter the country. Other doctors planning to enter the US on other visas cannot get their visa applications approved because the US consulates in their countries are closed.
Trump did exempt doctors caring for hospitalized COVID-19 patients from his immigration ban. The Department of State and Homeland Security are charged with providing guidance on how to implement this exemption. To date, the exemption has been inconsistently applied.
Only now after ProPublica questioned the State Department about the implementation of the exemption, have a number of consulates begun to approve doctors’ visas. Still, some have yet to do so. This is causing staffing crises at many hospitals.
A few foreign doctors who had planned to serve as medical residents in the US treating COVID-19 patients have told ProPublica that they are still waiting approval from the federal government. The Department of Homeland Security arranged emergency consulate appointments for them. But, at their in-person meetings, they learned that the US would not approve their visas.
Recently, the State Department told ProPublica that it was still working with the Department of Homeland Security on how to implement the visa ban and exemption. Shortly thereafter, several foreign doctors whose visa applications had been rejected received approvals. But, in many countries, consulates are not approving visa applications as of yet. They apparently are still awaiting State Department guidance.
As a rule, doctors care for thousands of patients a year. So, thousands of patients are at risk for each doctor that has not succeeded at getting his or her visa approved. Hospitals serving poorer populations and in rural areas are more likely to feel the effects of President Trump’s immigration policy. These hospitals rely more heavily on foreign doctors than urban hospitals and other hospitals serving patients who are better off.
At one New York City hospital serving people with less means, foreign doctors represent a huge number of its first-year medical residents. Right now, almost half of these new residents are not able to enter the US. The same is true for a big Midwestern hospital.
Many foreign physician specialists are also currently unable to enter the US.
When there aren’t enough incoming residents to replace departing third-year residents, staffing crunches result. Short-staffing at hospitals means longer hours and less sleep for new medical residents. It also means greater stress and exhaustion. Some hospitals are relying on fourth-year medical students to take the place of foreign medical residents.
Hospitals also are in need of residents to treat a surge in patients who need non-COVID care. Non-COVID-19 patients with serious chronic conditions are scheduling much needed care that they had put off because of the pandemic.
President Trump’s ban on foreign immigrants does not apply to people who already hold visas. So, in many cases, it is foreign medical residents already in the US who are doing the heavy lifting at the hospitals. But, they might not be able to come back to the US if they leave. And, they must leave the US in order to get visa approval if they change jobs.
The majority of foreign medical residents have J-1 visas, and Trump’s proclamation did not bar them from entering the US. But, they still need consular approval. Because of the pandemic, it can be challenging to get appointments. Many of them have visa applications that remain in “administrative processing,” who knows for how long.
Whether doctors come on a J-1 or H1-B visa, they do exactly the same work. Their visa type is irrelevant. Medical residents with H1-B visas, however, have met more qualifying criteria, having completed all three phases of the US Medical Licensing exam. They also have practiced medicine in their native countries.
Here’s more from Just Care:
Leave a Reply