The Pulse @ AUSOM October 2015

Volume 4; Issue 10 October 2015

The Pulse

Atlantic University School of Medicine

Physician Specialist Training

In This Issue: In a world undergoing constant change, in the era of globalization, the

 MD Training training of medical professionals should be under constant review so that it
can be tailored to meet the needs of this society in transition. This is all the
 Air India to the more true at times of economic uncertainty, such as the current conditions,
Caribbean which have a direct impact on health services. Professionals need new Compe-
tencies for new times. Over the last decade initiatives have emerged in various
 ECFMG Services Anglo-Saxon countries which have defined a framework of basic Competen-
cies that all medical specialists should demonstrate in their professional prac-
 Shortage of tice. In addition to this, we must respond to the creation of the European
MD’s Higher Education Area which has implications for specialized training. In
Spain, training for medical specialists was in need of an overhaul and the re-
 AUSOM Digital cently passed law will allow movement forward and to implement, in medical
Library education, initiatives and innovations required in medical centers, to respond
to the new society and bring us in line with international professional educa-
 Patient Centered tion and practice. The way forward is a Competency-based model for medical
Care education with assessment of these Competencies using simple instruments,
validated and accepted by all the stakeholders. The institutions involved
 Student Focus (hospitals, medical centers and other health care services) should trial differ-
ent approaches within the general framework established by the current legis-
 Campus Life lation and be conscious of the duty they have to society as accredited training
organizations. Accordingly, they should consolidate their teaching and learn-
www.ausom.edu.lc ing structures and the various different educational roles (Director of Studies,
Tutors, and other teaching positions), showing the leadership necessary to
allow proper implementation of their training programs. So, medical profes-
sionals should receive training, based on ethical values, behaviors and atti-
tudes that considers humanistic, scientific and technical factors, developing
an understanding of the scientific method; ability to put it into practice; skills
to manage complexity and uncertainty; a command of scientific, technical and
IT terminology to facilitate independent learning; and a capacity for initiative
and teamwork, as well as skills for dealing with people and for making an ef-
fective, democratic contribution both within health organizations and in the
wider society. ~ PubMed, MEDLINE

Page 2 The Pulse

AIR INDIA DIRECT TO BARBARDOS

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (BIGIS) -- Barbados and India have signed an air services agreement, which will
allow for easier travel between the two countries.

According to minister of tourism and international transport, Richard Sealy, the agreement, which allows for
full fifth freedom rights, would redound to the benefit of both Barbados and India.

He signed the document along with high commissioner of India, Murugesan Subashini, on Tuesday.

The minister explained that fifth freedom rights were essential for far flung destinations, as it would allow air-
lines designated by Barbados to transport passengers to Mumbai and Delhi in India and some points beyond.

Conversely, an airline designated by India can transport passengers to Bridgetown and points beyond. It also
allows for designated airlines from either country to transport passengers from intermediate points. Sealy add-
ed that this should broaden Barbados’ tourist base and attract persons from non-traditional source markets
into the country.

Subashini expressed pleasure that the agreement had been concluded, pointing out that it opened the door for
more persons to travel to Barbados from India and vice versa. She added that India had a large population, and
that the middle class stood at around 400 million persons, which was an excellent target market for tourists.

Subashini also highlighted the fact that India had a number of training programs that Barbados could take ad-
vantage of, particularly now that travel between countries was easier.

In addition to the air services agreement, the two officials signed a memorandum of understanding, which al-
lows for both countries’ designated airlines to operate seven services per week in each direction on the routes
specified in the agreement. ~ Caribbean News Now

Volume 4; Issue 10

ECFMG ONLINE SERVICES

IWA—Interactive Web Applications

IWA is ECFMG’s web-based application service. Through IWA, international medical students/
graduates may submit the Application for ECFMG Certification; apply for USMLE Step 1, Step 2
CK, and Step 2 CS; access USMLE scheduling permits; request extension of a USMLE Step1/2
CK eligibility period; access a Step 2 CS visa letter, if requested at the time of application; and
request to have USMLE results withheld from their medical school.

OASIS—On-line Applicant Status and Information System

OASIS is an on-line service for ECFMG applicants and ECFMG-certified physicians. Through
OASIS, international medical students/graduates may review and update their contact infor-
mation; manage their financial accounts; monitor the status of exam applications and medical
education credentials; access their USMLE results; access ERAS Support Services, including ob-
taining an ERAS Token, uploading eligible supporting documents, and tracking receipt of sup-
porting documents; access the IMG Advisors Network (IAN); and complete the physician por-
tion of an on-line application for J-1 visa sponsorship.

World Directory of Medical Schools (World Directory)

The World Directory is a free, web-based resource, and its mission is to list all of the medical
schools in the world, with accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive information on each school.
International medical students and graduates who wish to apply to ECFMG for ECFMG Certifi-
cation and examination will need to consult the World Directory to determine if their school
meets ECFMG eligibility requirements.

The World Directory has been developed through a partnership between the World Federation
for Medical Education (WFME) and ECFMG’s foundation, FAIMER, in collaboration with the
World Health Organization and the University of Copenhagen.

Step 2 CS Calendar and Scheduling

Step 2 CS Calendar and Scheduling is the on-line service for applicants who plan to take Step 2
CS. All international medical students/graduates may use this service to access the calendar of
available test dates at all test centers. International medical students/graduates who are regis-
tered for Step 2 CS may use the service to monitor available testing appointments at all test cen-
ters, and to schedule, confirm, cancel, and reschedule testing appointments.

IAN—IMG Advisors Network

IAN, a free web-based service of the ECFMG Certificate Holders Office (ECHO), connects quali-
fying international medical students/graduates who plan to enter U.S. graduate medical educa-
tion (GME) with advisors who can answer questions about participating in U.S. GME and living
in the United States. IAN advisors are volunteers who are certified by ECFMG and have entered
a U.S. training program.

Volume 4; Issue 10

ECFMG ONLINE SERVICES

EMSWP—ECFMG Medical School Web Portal

EMSWP provides access to ECFMG’s web-based services for international medical schools.
Through EMSWP, schools may verify the status of their students/graduates who apply to
ECFMG for USMLE; verify the medical education credentials of their students/graduates; ac-
cess data on the USMLE performance of their students/graduates; and upload and track sup-
porting documents on behalf of their students/graduates who participate in ERAS. More on
EMSWP >

CVS ON-LINE—Certification Verification Service On-line

CVS ON-LINE provides web-based access to ECFMG’s Certification Verification Service. Inter-
national medical graduates may use CVS ON-LINE to request that confirmation of their ECFMG
certification status be sent to medical licensing authorities in the United States. Authorized con-
tacts of U.S. medical licensing authorities, residency programs, and employers may use CVS ON
-LINE to request confirmation of the ECFMG certification status of international medical gradu-
ates.

EVNet—Exchange Visitor Network

EVNet is an on-line application system for Training Program Liaisons (TPLs) at U.S. teaching
hospitals and research institutions. Authorized TPLs use EVNet to submit information to
ECFMG about positions that have been offered to physicians who are applying to ECFMG for J-1
visa sponsorship and to obtain up-to-date reports on J-1 physicians currently sponsored by
ECFMG.

Employment Application

The on-line employment application provides access to the list of open jobs within ECFMG; its
nonprofit foundation, FAIMER; and its Clinical Skills Evaluation Collaboration (CSEC). Inter-
ested individuals can use this service to apply for open jobs.

EPICSM—Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials Physician Portal

EPIC is an on-line tool for physicians and the entities that register/license, employ, and educate
them. Individual physicians use the EPIC Physician Portal to build a web-based career portfolio
of their primary-source verified medical credentials, and have reports on the authenticity of
those credentials sent electronically to any organization, anywhere in the world.

EPICSM—Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials Report Portal

Medical regulatory authorities, hospitals, academic institutions, and other entities use the EPIC
Report Portal to access verification reports on the medical education, training, and registration/
licensure credentials of individual physicians as requested by those physicians.

Page 5 The Pulse

News You Can Use

Residency Expansion Required to Avoid Projected
Primary Care Physician Shortages

More than 44,000 additional primary care physicians will be needed by 2035 to meet the demands
of a growing, aging and increasingly insured population, assuming maintenance of the current ratio
of primary care physicians to population and current physician retirement rates, researchers find. To
eliminate projected shortages, they call for a 21 percent increase in the current primary care residen-
cy production. Analyzing data from the 2010 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and 2010

US Census, researchers find that at current rates of physician production, there will be a shortage
of more than 33,000 primary care physicians over the next 20 years. Specifically, they project that
demographic changes and insurance expansion will require an additional 44,340 primary care physi-
cians by 2035, with population growth accounting for most of the increase. They report that from
2015 to 2035, at current production rates (8,049 each year), allopathic and osteopathic graduate
medical education will produce 169,029 new primary care physicians. Because of retiring primary
care physicians, however, this production cannot match need, resulting in a shortage of 33,283 pri-
mary care physicians by 2035. The authors assert that this deficit could be eliminated by adding
nearly 2,200 first-year residency positions by 2020, a 27 percent increase. The authors also note that
changing care models toward smaller panel sizes would substantially increase the projected shortage.

Volume 4; Issue 10 Page 6

T H E L I B R A RY @ A U S O M

Digital Library

Textbooks
Research Resources
Basic Medical Science
Clerkship Resources

Clinical Medicine

USMLE Review
Up To Date Information

AUSOM Library Resources

Volume 4; Issue 10 Page 7

The Person and Patient Care

Mr. Stone is a 71-year-old veteran, seen today to possibly begin chemotherapy for stage III non-
small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). He has history of mild hypertension and experienced a stroke 1

year ago. He is obese and developed diabetes 4 years ago.

For the clinician seeing Mr. Stone for the first time in the oncology clinic, what additional information
would be most helpful for initiating patient-centered care?

 Focus the initial visit on laboratory and other diagnostic data
 Recognize that Mr. Stone should be referred to hospice because he is unlikely to benefit from

disease-focused therapy
 Proceed with the cancer treatment plan, knowing that if psychosocial concerns arise, a referral

can be made to a social worker
 Include in the initial assessment a question such as, "What do I need to know about you as a

person to give you the best care possible?"

Much has been written in professional and public literature and other media about patient-centered care. One scholar
who has contributed much to the growing evidence base about the importance of knowing the patient's story is Dr Harvey
Chochinov, a psychiatrist and leader in palliative medicine. Dr Chochinov has focused on the concept of dignity and on
identifying ways that clinicians can get to know the patient who is facing serious illness.

In his most recent work, Chochinov and his colleagues tested a patient dignity question (PDQ) to ask patients what clini-
cians should know to provide the best care possible. The results of a study of the PDQ involving 126 participants (66 pa-
tients and 60 family members) and 137 healthcare providers were impressive. Virtually all (97%) of patients and family
members wanted the information from the PDQ included in their medical records, and 93% felt that the information

gleaned from the PDQ was important for clinicians to know.

Let's revisit the case of Mr. Stone. The oncologist asked the PDQ ("What do I need to know about you as a person to give
you the best care possible?"), which resulted in the following information being added to the medical record of today's
visit:

Mr. Stone is a 71-year-old veteran seen today for stage III NSCLC. He is a retired medical assistant who worked
for 30 years in a dialysis center. His wife of 45 years died 6 months ago from NSCLC. Mr. Stone lives with his
son, a disabled veteran, who is recently divorced and has moved in along with his three teenagers. Mr. Stone
has shared that his greatest concern about his diagnosis is who will care for his 92-year-old mother with ad-

vanced dementia, who lives in a nursing home 50 miles away.

Volume 4; Issue 10 Page 8

AUSOM Student & Group Activities

MS4 Student Hasan attended a Psychiatry Conference in New
York City. Doing well throughout his medical education, we
look forward to Hasan’s contributions to the world as one of

the finest clinical psychiatrists in practice.

MS3 Student Sasitharan acclimating
himself in Chicago where he soon
will begin his core clerkships. A

long way from home, but focused on
confident Sasi will be leader as a fu-

ture cardiologist.

MS3 Student Gaetane enjoying the re-
wards of scoring exceptionally well on the

USMLE Step 1. Much is expected of this
talented and skilled future physician.

Laeeq a resident in Internal Medicine
demonstrates the need to utilize all talents

given. Enjoying his time away from his
hectic schedule this AUSOM graduate con-

tinues to begin a guiding force in quality
health care.

MS4 Student Jessica now having completed all
requirements for graduation looks forward to
selecting her next career move. With outstand-
ing USMLE Scores, Jessica is sure to achieve

great success.

MS3 students Zain and Adonia announce their
engagement and intent to be married. Planning
their nuptials following graduation, this couple

continue their training in Illinois. While the
stress of clerkships is strong, this couple reports

stability because of mutual support.

Volume 4; Issue Page 9

Student Activities at AUSOM Saint Lucia

Atlantic
University
School of

Medicine

Atlantic University Admissions
PO Box 456

Island Park, New York 11558
Phone: (516) 368-1700
Fax: 888-639-0512

E-mail: [email protected]
http://www.ausom.edu.lc

The Department of Clinical Medicine - Clerkships ton. Outside the USA, the University has

affiliate hospitals located in the United
Often asked about the clinical program, the Department of Clinical Kingdom, South Africa, Sweden and
Medicine was interviewed recently and asked how the system works. Austria. Students are assigned to hospi-

With clinical rotations being an integral part of the success tals based on available space and aca-
of any medical student, the department has stated that key to any demic review. Of note, the hospital in
state’s recognition of a clerkship is as follows. First is that the hos- Austria requires that students are fluent

pital be an accredited teaching facility, and second that the school of in German. Sweden requires fluency in
medicine maintains a direct contractual agreement with that hospital. Swedish.

As such, Atlantic University ensures that each hospital is identified Graduates of the University have report-
as a teaching facility for both students and residents, and all hospi- ed that directors interviewing them for
tals are directly contracted to provide clerkship training.
residency take note of the outstanding

The most pressing question posed to us was what requirements are training AUSOM students receive at af-
there, and where can students complete their training? The answer: filiate hospitals.

each hospital has its own unique requirements. Some require mini- Each student is unique; the Department
mum passing scores on the USMLE Step 1 examination, while oth- of Clinical Medicine devises for each stu-
ers do not require the step exam at all. With regard to location, AU- dent a program focused on his or her
SOM enjoys direct affiliations with hospitals in Illinois, Virginia, own strengths while offering opportuni-
Maryland, Colorado, New York, Connecticut, Florida and Washing- ties to remediate weakness. ~ AUSOM