Kaleido’s Post

We recognize the impact the medical professional strike in South Korea is having on our members’ access to non-emergent care. The Aetna International network team is closely monitoring the situation. Here are some valuable tips for those who may be affected: * Continue to try to access care through your providers and intended facilities, understanding there is no certainty you will or can be seen. * Care will likely need to be paid for upfront and claims submitted for reimbursement, as Guarantee of Payments (GOP) for direct payment may not be accepted. * If you have a previously scheduled appointment, reach out to your provider in advance to discuss rescheduling or alterative options for care. Cancellations of appointments for non-emergent care continue to rise and acceptance of new patients and appointments are limited due to reduced provider availability. And of course, members can contact Aetna International Member Services for support at any time by calling the number on their member ID card. https://lnkd.in/gNwrykwK

Want to understand the practicalities of running clinical trials👇🏻

Excellent initiative.

Great day in #DC this week learning and engaging with colleagues at a multistate symposium on additional pathways to licensure for international medical school graduates (IMGs) and foreign-trained physicians (FTPs). We can focus on improving access to care, increasing patient satisfaction and quality care, and streamlining the process to licensure for doctors whose training and experience are from outside the U.S.— all at the same time. Some assume that IMGs and FTPs are less qualified than those trained in the U.S. system. Jonathan Blitzer called this “North American bias” in his book Everyone Who is Gone is Here. A #Nevada colleague (35 years of practice at places like Stanford) shared that he recently took the licensing exam in Uruguay; he said it was the hardest test he’s taken in his entire medical career. Let’s base policies on facts, not assumptions. Sometimes we focus on the worst possible outcome versus the best possible outcome or neglect to remember that not every immigrant story is the same story. These are mistakes. And as a result, policy and administrative rules can over-complicate processes by requiring excessive testing and certification that are redundant and unnecessary. And we often over focus on process and under focus on people. On the way to the airport post symposium, my cab driver shared the saga of his Cuban American girlfriend: 15 years practice in Cuba; MPH and PhD here; cultural and language fluency; desperate to practice (especially in primary care in Spanish speaking neighborhoods)— not able to get a license. And it’s not just about her: it’s about a patient community that goes unserved. In policy development, it serves us well to get to know and remember the people the policies we craft will ultimately impact. Sincere gratitude to FSMB, ACGME, and Intealth for including us in the conversation, and to new friends, cab drivers, and colleagues from whom I learned so much.

The ED team at Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has much to teach us about being research-active. The main lessons for me were: 1) You don't have to be a vast University hospital to make significant contributions to national research (KGH has been a top recruiter on several studies) 2) You can seek CRN funding coupled with some relatively modest Trust investment to fund research nurse posts and a few PAs of consultant time. 3) Once the ball is rolling, more middle grades, trainees, consultants, nurses, and ACPs will become further involved in research. 4) You can do ground-up research, with the ED leading the shop floor staff in identifying studies and then linking upwards to the Trusts' R&D teams. 5) Research active emergency departments attract and retain staff for longer. There is a lot to be proud of at KGH, and while Mo and Hannah are modest together, they are a team that delivers so much. Fantastic learning and motivation for us at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust.

The VA Office of Academic Affiliations has released an RFP for the VA Pilot Program on Graduate Medical Education and Residency (PPGMER) in line with the MISSION Act of 2018. This opportunity is geared towards ACGME Sponsoring Institutions, offering funding for resident rotations at facilities operated by Indian Health Service (IHS), Indian Tribes, or Tribal organizations. Other health care facilities located in areas designated by VA as underserved, Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) programs, and those operated by the Department of Defense are also eligible as rotation sites. NOTE: Per the MISSION Act Section 403 Final Rule, VA will not use this program to increase resident positions at VA facilities. ✅ Sponsoring Institutions interested in applying can access the RFP and find more details at the following link: https://lnkd.in/gJv2nMNc. Stay tuned as the link to the online application portal will be available on the site in early August. #VA #MedicalEducation #GraduateMedicalEducation #RFP #ACGMESponsoringInstitutions #MissionAct #HealthcareFacilities #ResidencyPrograms

It's time to start talking about moving beyond degree entry-to-practice for paramedicine in Canada. Rather than degree entry being the goal, I see it simply as the foundation for further advancement of the profession. In my talk at the Ontario Association of Paramedic Chiefs 'Ontario Community Paramedicine Knowledge Exchange Expo' yesterday in Toronto, I introduced the 'Career Framework for Paramedics' that is currently being drafted by the Paramedic Association of Canada. The framework embraces increasing education and experience to advance career options in paramedicine in Canada across 5 distinct 'pillars of the profession' - clinical practice, education, research, leadership, and policy & strategy. In addition to creating pathways for the future, we have untapped potential within our existing workforce in each of these pillars. It's time to start using this expertise to improve the system. What could a potential future for community paramedicine clinical practice look like? Stay tuned as the framework is developed over the coming months. Note: other pillars will acknowledge (and even promote) experience and education outside of paramedicine - but the clinical pillar is focused within.

Great to see Denver Health's Phil Fung creating pathways for immigrant physicians in Colorado: "But a pool of qualified physicians in our own backyard is available to fill these gaps: graduates of foreign medical schools. These doctors have the skills, experience and talent to provide excellent medical care and are already dedicated members of Colorado communities" Why is it necessary: * 3.4% of resident physicians in Colorado are international medical graduates (IMGs); the national rate is 21%. * 8.5% of Colorado physicians are (IMGs), ranking 47th. * Only 4.3% and 1.6% of practicing Colorado physicians identify, respectively, as Hispanic/Latino and Black.

This is a challenging topic, indeed. Challenges in the U.S. model have focused on pay structure as well as scopes of practice. My opinion is that as long as there is controversy around the topic (at least in the U.S.) then there are merits on both sides so I encourage this conversation. Until we can see and articulate the opposition point of view we won't be able to cross the divide. Much of this comes down to the identity in the profession of paramedicine. We share many attributes of the trade professions while at the same time sharing attributes of medicine (physicians). Both have a system of mentoring and learning on the job. The real question is, which model serves our clinicians best now? And. Which model is expected to serve our clinicians best in the next 20-30 years so they are prepared for the demands of the job? Another way to look at the question is to ask what is universally lacking in paramedic education and preparation for a successful career. And what is the best way to universally fill that gap? I love this conversation because it is always focused on helping our profession be the best that it can be.

We recognize the impact the medical professional strike in South Korea is having on our members’ access to non-emergent care. And the Aetna International network team is closely monitoring the situation. Here are some valuable tips for those who may be affected: - Continue to try to access care through your providers and intended facilities, understanding there is no certainty you will or can be seen. - Care will likely need to be paid for upfront and claims submitted for reimbursement, as Guarantee of Payments (GOP) for direct payment may not be accepted. - If you have a previously scheduled appointment, reach out to your provider in advance to discuss rescheduling or alterative options for care. - Cancellations of appointments for non-emergent care continue to rise and acceptance of new patients and appointments are limited due to reduced provider availability. And of course, members can contact Aetna International Member Services for support at any time by calling the number on their member ID card.   https://lnkd.in/g5CUt_Eg