On May 11, the Coalition for Physician Accountability, of which ECFMG®|FAIMER® is a member, released final reports from two work groups that examined critical issues facing medical students, residents, medical educators, and medical regulators during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.
ECFMG|FAIMER membership on the work groups represented the unique needs and perspectives of international medical students/graduates (IMGs). ECFMG|FAIMER plays key roles in the transition of IMGs from undergraduate medical education to U.S. graduate medical education (GME)—certifying the readiness of IMGs to enter U.S. GME; serving as the designated “Dean’s Office” for IMGs using the Electronic Residency Application Service® (ERAS®) to apply to U.S. GME programs; and sponsoring foreign national physicians for the J-1 visa to participate in such programs. ECFMG|FAIMER also is a leading expert on the medical credentials issued to physicians by medical schools and other institutions around the world. These credentials are a core component of establishing the qualifications of physicians.
ECFMG|FAIMER strongly endorses the work groups’ recommendations.
- Medical Students in the Class of 2021: Moving Across Institutions for Post Graduate Training
The current health care crisis presents new challenges for medical students/graduates, trainees, and U.S. GME programs. This work group considered three major issues in preparation for the 2020-2021 residency cycle during the COVID-19 pandemic: away rotations, in-person interviews for residency, and the ERAS timeline. The recommendations, detailed in the following documents, will provide a consistent approach to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, greatly reducing unnecessary confusion, stress, and inequity among students, and promoting a more successful residency selection process for all.
- Maintaining Quality and Safety Standards Amid COVID-19
The pandemic has created a public health emergency that is rapidly altering the provision of health care services across the country. Physicians and other clinicians have responded with offers to provide care outside of their previously licensed jurisdiction and beyond their typical scope of practice. This work group has developed the following guidance and resources for the deployment of physicians, physicians in training (interns, residents, and fellows), and retired or inactive physicians, to ensure the safe delivery of quality clinical care during this unprecedented emergency.
The Coalition work groups exemplify the collaboration required to create the best solutions for all stakeholders impacted by the pandemic. ECFMG|FAIMER looks forward to continuing to join with Coalition members and other partners to find those solutions.
