The reliance on Filipino health care workers in America dates back over a century, and its dependence on these skilled workers with their sturdy reputation will continue for the near foreseeable future.
Both the number of registered nurses immigrating to America and the number of virtual nurses employed by American companies are on the rise- to the benefit of the American healthcare system and the workers themselves.
This article will explore why Filipino health workers make up the greatest percentage of foreign-born registered nurses in America and how your practice could capitalize on hiring a virtual Filipino medical assistant.
The history of Filipino nurses in America
At the end of the Spanish war, the US bought the Philippine islands as part of the Treaty of Paris in 1898. During this time, according to the US government, there weren’t adequate medical facilities such as hospitals and clinics in the country, which prompted investment into building better medical infrastructure and also schools.
In 1901 the demand for English teachers grew to such an extent that over a thousand teachers were brought over from the states to teach in schools across the archipelago. In 1908, under the US Act 1870, the first university was opened in Manilla.
The American influence on the education system remained strong and closely resembles the American model today, with English being the primary medium of instruction. That is why you will find that Phillippine English is much closer to American English than any of the other Asian countries.
Westernized nursing schools and medical systems were introduced in the country at the beginning of the 20th century, and soon after, top nurses from the country were sent to the states to further their education and training. They returned to the Philippines and replaced the American nurses and faculty members at training institutes.
After World War II, the US introduced a visa program that allowed Filipino nurses to help fill the deficit of nurses in the states. Since that time, it is estimated that over 150,000 nurses have immigrated to the states.
Today, Filipinos make up 4% of the total registered nurses in the USA.
Strong work ethics of Fillipo registered nurses during times of crisis
The US medical health system has repeatedly called on Filipino registered nurses during times of crisis. Apart from the nurse shortage after the Second World War, they were called on again after the HIV pandemic in the 1980s.
Many medical care providers, due to the lack of knowledge regarding the HIV virus at the time, refused to treat patients. The US relied on help from the Philippines once more, and the Phillipino population in America nearly doubled from 1980 to 1990.
The latest example stems from the Covid 19 pandemic. Shocking statistics reveal a disproportionate number of COVID-19 infections and deaths amongst Filipino nurses versus their local counterparts in America.
Studies also reveal that greater concentrations of Filipino workers can be found in more challenging environments such as inner-city hospitals, where local nurses are reluctant to work and experience higher burn-out rates.
Throughout history, the strong work ethic of Filipino workers has proven to be of extreme value to the American health care system and will continue to do so in the foreseeable future.
The future of Filipino registered nurses in America
The Philippines takes the top spot for foreign-born registered nurses in America. 33% of all foreign registered nurses are from the Philippines, followed by India with 6%, Jamaica with 5%, and Canada with 4%. Filipinos make up 4% of the total number of registered nurses in the country, but this number is set to grow.
America is currently experiencing a massive skilled labor shortage attributed to numerous factors. In a previous article, we discussed the implications of the labor shortage on the medical industry from now until the turn of the decade. Filipino workers will storm to the fronts once more to assist America during these challenging times.
It is not only the US that seeks skilled medical professionals from the Philippines. Over 18,000 Filipinos are employed by the UK National Health Service, and their demand is growing in countries such as Japan and the Gulf States too. Spain fast-tracked Filipino visas during the Covid-19 pandemic to alleviate pressure on its strained healthcare system.
Apart from the growing number of physical Filipino uniformed bodies across America, their virtual presence are also in high demand and exploding. Since 1999, the country has been producing a surplus of nurses to cater to the growing demand in international markets. Nursing schools increased from 175 in the 1990s to over 450 recently, producing more than 38,000 nurses annually, According to the Medical Information Research Information Center Global (MRICG).
Healthcare Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) has been growing at a significant rate in the Philippines. Registered nurses leave the field to become virtual agents for payers, clinics, and practices worldwide. Their work ethic in the real world is mirrored in the virtual world, and it continues to stimulate the demand for their services.
The most prominent medical insurance companies in the US have set up BPO operations in the Philippines. For instance, in 2021, Aetna announced they will be expanding their BPO facility in Manila by employing 1000 additional nurses in the years to come. Not only are the payers benefiting from registered nurse talent, but the demand in the private sector is also growing.
Research from the American Medical Association (AMA) revealed that in an 11.4-hour workday, primary care doctors spend 4.5 hours on EHR tasks at the practice, and another 1.4 hours outside practice hours. Medical providers who want to free up more time now source virtual registered nurses, well-trained in medical systems, EMR, and EHR systems to relieve the workload. But the demand for telenursing, in general, is also on the increase nationwide.
Apart from the growing number of physical Filipino uniformed bodies across America, their virtual presence are also in high demand and exploding. Since 1999, the country has been producing a surplus of nurses to cater to the growing demand in international markets. Nursing schools increased from 175 in the 1990s to over 450 recently, producing more than 38,000 nurses annually, According to the Medical Information Research Information Center Global (MRICG).
Healthcare Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) has been growing at a significant rate in the Philippines. Registered nurses leave the field to become virtual agents for payers, clinics, and practices worldwide. Their work ethic in the real world is mirrored in the virtual world, and it continues to stimulate the demand for their services.
The most prominent medical insurance companies in the US have set up BPO operations in the Philippines. For instance, in 2021, Aetna announced they will be expanding their BPO facility in Manila by employing 1000 additional nurses in the years to come. Not only are the payers benefiting from registered nurse talent, but the demand in the private sector is also growing.
Research from the American Medical Association (AMA) revealed that in an 11.4-hour workday, primary care doctors spend 4.5 hours on EHR tasks at the practice, and another 1.4 hours outside practice hours. Medical providers who want to free up more time now source virtual registered nurses, well-trained in medical systems, EMR, and EHR systems to relieve the workload. But the demand for telenursing, in general, is also on the increase nationwide.
Healthcare providers nationwide are reaching out across the Pacific for virtual assistance from registered Filipino nurses. In a previous article, we discussed getting the best ROI on your off-shore virtual assistant hire. In this article, we will continue to evaluate how and why Filipino virtual medical assistants assist in practice growth.
- Filling the labor shortage gap
The skilled labor shortage in America, especially in the medical industry, is set to last for a while. For example, due to the shortage and the other benefits associated with outsourcing, the medical billing outsourcing market size is currently valued at $11.1 billion and is expected to grow at a compounded growth rate of 12% from 2022 to 2030.
Practices are experiencing difficulties in finding and retaining skilled and experienced medical staff. Onboarding new staff members demand time and resources, but due to the excess of jobs available out there, locally employed staff are more susceptible to leave the practice for greener pastures. This brings us to the next point.
2. Lowering overheads
Apart from certain instances where Filipino workers are exploited, in general, virtual skilled labor sourced from the Philippines leads to mutual benefits for both the employer and the employee. Registered nurses in the Philippines who work for BPOs receive higher salaries and more benefits than their counterparts in the field. That is why there is a steady supply of registered nurses flocking to BPOs.
Across the Pacific, local registered nurses are more expensive to employ. For a medical practice in America, it makes sense to go for the cheaper alternative. But paying less doesn’t mean that they get less.
3. Strong work ethic
Registered nurses from the Philipines are renowned worldwide for their tenacious work ethic. It is one of the main reasons why the demand for them still remains as strong as ever. We already discussed in this article how the US government relies on registered nurses from the Philippines in times of crisis. Healthcare providers nationwide are now realizing and capitalizing on their strong work ethic too.
They have a reputation for being humble and hardworking, rolling up their sleeves, and getting the job done with a smile on their faces.
4. Cultural similarities
English is one of the two official languages of the Philippines, and over 95% of the country speaks English as either their first or second language. English still remains a primary teaching medium in schools in the Phillippines. Due to America’s influence on the country since the late 1800s, cultural similarities between the two countries are astounding.
The US remains the biggest market for Philippine tourism and is nearly double the amount of the closest group, which are Japanese tourists. It is not only the beautiful scenery that attracts Americans to the island state. The friendly people and cultural similarities play a significant role as well. And then there is also the largest US memorial outside of America- Manila American Cemetery and Memorial.
Due to their humble, friendly nature and cultural similarities, Phillipino nurses are known to blend in seamlessly in new environments and cooperate effectively with the locally employed staff.
5. Outstanding communication
Due to the substantial American influence over more than a century in the country and the fact that the schools’ models mirror that of the USA, Filippino nurses have a very high level of English and closely resemble the American accent.
With the combination of clear communication and their inherited humility and friendliness, Filipino nurses are a valuable asset to any medical organization to enhance the overall patient experience.
Neolytix is a Management Service Organization that has been working closely with healthcare providers for over a decade, providing an a la carte service to practices nationwide.
Neolytix offers an assisted hiring service, finding the perfect match for practices that know exactly what they need but also provides managed hiring services to those practices that are uncertain about exactly what they are looking for. We’ll determine your practice’s specific needs by using industry best practices.
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We would love to share more about our responsible off-shore hiring practices and how they can benefit your practice.
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