Upwardly Global’s new report, “lllinois’ Trailblazing Solution to Doctor Shortages: Opening Doors for Immigrant, Refugee, and Asylee Healthcare Professionals,” highlights the state’s progress in filling healthcare shortages by enacting legislation that allows internationally trained medical professionals to more quickly restart their careers in the field.
The report examines recent legislative strides in Illinois, highlighting the state’s strong momentum and political will, as well as recommendations and opportunities for implementation. It urges a strong and united focus on permanent solutions, which need to be codified in legislation with cooperation from regulatory agencies, healthcare systems, and specialized immigrant-facing workforce organizations.
As U.S. health systems grapple with the enduring effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, a larger looming challenge is on the rise: our drastic shortage of healthcare professionals. The American Hospital Association predicts a shortage of over 3.2 million healthcare workers by 2026 including nurses, nurse assistants, lab technicians, respiratory therapists, and other support positions. At the same time, nearly 99 million people in the U.S. are living in an area with a shortage of physicians or designated primary care professionals, with the shortfall predicted to reach 37,800 to 124,000 physicians by 2034. Without sufficient qualified professionals at every level, our health systems are left ill-prepared to care for our aging population, and our communities are becoming increasingly vulnerable to health threats.
As we struggle to meet our healthcare talent needs, there are large numbers of internationally trained physicians who are driving taxi cabs or working in rapid-attachment jobs because they are unable to obtain physician licenses in the U.S. The Migration Policy Institute (MPI) estimates that there are 165,000 unemployed or underemployed immigrants with international healthcare degrees whose knowledge and experience could be put to use supporting our strained healthcare system.