Later in Life Doctor MD/DO

[Stonybeach]

Current situation:
1. Shortage of Physicians
2. Greater shortage of residencies to train physicians probably due to lack of funding.
3. States being creative and drafting new legislation to address shortages. i.e., 2 to 4 years of supervised internships by licensed and board-certified physicians.
4. These supervised unaccredited internships lead to licensure if other licensing requirements are met. i.e., USMLE steps 1 through 3 passed, ECFMG certified, TOEFL passed, affidavits by supervising physicians etc., etc.

I can accept this because of #4.

I actually have a few reservations. As a healthcare administrator with a "mid-level" provider background, I see some issues that this new legislation has. For example, in Idaho, the legislation allows for board certified (BC) physicians MD or DO to supervise the FMG/IMG ECFMG certified physician-in-training. At first glance, this sounds reasonable, but it doesn't differentiate the specialty nor specifically require experience in certain areas of primary care throughout the internship. I can see a BC in Family Medicine (FM) but let's say an Ophthalmologist supervises this intern for 4 years? The unaccredited residency pathway does not lead to board certification for the Intern but license as Physician-General practitioner so receiving 4 years of internship in a non-primary care area is problematic.
Other issues involve pay for the Intern. A BC FM provider may supervise one or two Interns in private practice and pay them minimum wage or perhaps nothing (Slave Labor) while eliminating the need for a mid-level (the incentive) who requires more pay.
Overall, I am glad there is a pathway for IMGs that were unable to match into an accredited residency but do not see a pathway to integrate them into a hospital setting which requires board certification. I can see Federal facilities such as prisons, Indian Health services and VA Hospitals possibly hiring the GP. I can also see Urgent care clinics and private family practice groups in rural areas hiring these alternative pathway GPs. It's also possible, an ACGME residency program would now accept them after becoming a licensed GP.
I hope people/stakeholders can see the need to interact with State Legislators drafting bills that deviate from "normal" pathways to healthcare provider licensure.
I realize this is a lot to digest but thanks for listening.

https://blog.blueprintprep.com/medical/w...uirements/