Episode 14: Navigating the Complexities of Hiring Foreign Healthcare Practitioners - Rex F. Famitangco

<p>On this episode of eLABorate Topics, Tywauna Wilson and Stephanie Whitehead discuss navigating the complexities of hiring foreign healthcare practitioners in the US. They have an expert guest, Rex Famitangco, who provides pro tips for overcoming challenges and filling workforce shortages. Rex shares his personal journey from working in medical laboratories in the Philippines to his current leadership roles, emphasizing the importance of commitment and quality care in fulfilling his mission to serve the community. They discuss various topics, including the difficulty of finding housing for foreign workers, navigating the US immigration system, addressing technical competencies, and strategies for recruiting healthcare practitioners in rural areas.</p><p><strong>Key Topics:</strong></p><ul> <li>Advice for foreign practitioners who want to work in the US</li> <li>The complex US immigration system and related expenses</li> <li>Enhancing technical competencies and evaluating basic technical skills during recruitment</li> <li>Different ways potential candidates can be recruited, including social media and traditional print ads</li> <li>The importance of reviewing recruitment agreements and seeking legal advice if necessary</li> <li>Challenges faced by international laboratorians when trying to find a home when they first arrive in the US</li> <li>Protecting workers from racial discrimination and encouraging them to speak up if there are issues</li> </ul><p><em><br>Recruiting Agency Considerations: "Applicants must do his or her homework prior to committing to a specific recruitment agency. Scams are all over and everywhere."- Rex F. </em></p><p><em><br></em><strong><em>Featured </em></strong><strong>Guest Bio</strong><br><strong><em>Rex F. Famitangco</em></strong><em> is a practicing Medical Laboratory Scientist &amp; the Laboratory Administrative Director at Morrill County Community Hospital in Bridgeport, NE. Ever since childhood, his love for science and medical mysteries led him to pursue a degree in me