GME P&P Observerships

	GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION POLICIES & PROCEDURES Graduate Medical Education Policy And Procedure Concerning Observerships, Externships, And Volunteer Positions For International Medical Graduates	Policy Number: 8
		Date Issued: 07/1999
		Prior Revision Date:
		Date Revised: 11/2002

PURPOSE:

To define the policy for observerships, externships, and volunteer positions requested by international medical graduates (IMG)

SCOPE:

Applies to all international medical graduates

PROVISIONS

Only students from medical schools accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) may participate in the Institution’s approved sponsored residency programs. The Institution cannot include students from foreign medical institutions.

International medical graduates (IMG’s) are not permitted to participate in externships, observerships, or volunteer positions.

IMG’s cannot obtain malpractice coverage. Therefore, IMG’s are unable to touch patients.
In the event of a lawsuit, the IMG has the potential to be named. Therefore, they are unable to be in the room even as an observer or volunteer.
Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) states that an IMG on a visa cannot do any work that is of economic value. An externship/observership provides educational experience to an IMG that in turn can be used as a reference for obtaining a residency, which provides economic value. Therefore, by sponsoring externships/observerships, the hospital would be in violation of INS rules governing IMG’s and visa status.

LESLIE H. SECREST, MD
Medical Director, Graduate Medical Education

BRUCE BOUGENO
Vice President, Medical Staff Affairs