Governors Send Out S.O.S. for More Doctors —Immigrant Doctors Can Heed the Call

Jeffrey A. SingerAs hospital emergency rooms and intensive care units swell with patients infected with the COVID-19 virus, political leaders coordinating responses in “hot spots” are asking doctors and other medical professionals in parts of the country less impacted by the pandemic to come to the rescue. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo issued such a plea the other day. Governors are issuing executive orders that relaxoccupational licensing restrictions on the free movement of health care practitioners. Some are also expanding thescope of practice of various licensed health care professionals, permitting them to provide the health care services they are trained to do. Meanwhile, a large pool of doctors trained at excellent institutions outside the borders of the U.S., referred to as International Medical Graduates (IMGs), goes untapped. A cumbersome approvalprocess begun in the 1950s places daunting obstacles in the way of IMGs who want to practice in the U.S. and keeping tight reins on the alreadyshort supply of doctors.The process is overseen by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates. The ECFMG is a private non ‐​profit organizationestablished in 1956 to “evaluate the readiness” of IMGs to enter graduate medical education programs (residencies and fellowships) in this country. (Graduates of Canadian medical schools are not considered IMGs.) The American Medical Association and the American Hospital Association...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - Category: American Health Authors: Source Type: blogs