As a health care professional, I can tell you truthfully that many, if not most hospitals in the US employ a large number of travelers. I have spent most of my career in Ma. and I have worked with many nurses,nursing assistants and techs. Many, if not most of the nursing assistants are from abroad, many from Haiti, Africa, India etc; They are usually not able to communicate well due to lack of English speaking skills, and understanding what is being communicated to them. Patient's complain all the time about rough handling, and the inability to get their needs met. Also the workers speak their own languages in front of the patients' who readily admit that they don't like it. How does this tie in to the spreading of communicable diseases? Well, because hospitals are in dire need of extra bodies to do the work of patient care they will call an agency,and usually take whoever is available regardless of abilities, this leaves the charge nurse vulnerable in many ways since his/her license is at risk. This foreign worker may come from a country where communicable diseases are rampant. They are a health risk in the work place.They come into close contact with patient's and staff alike. Last, but not least these workers are poorly trained, and often have differing cultural values which cause countless other problems for hospital staff.Including unwanted diseases.

Why is this "industry" growing? Because the businesses that control health care want to save money on "benefits" such as health care for employees - don't need to cover "temps". You may have noticed that there are no "temp" administrators. A single-payer system might not solve the problem but it sure would put a dent in it - and reduce the toll in human misery.