US must enact measures to support the role of IMGs in US health-care delivery...( (Washington) In a new paper release...),Health

(Washington) In a new paper, released today, the American College of Physicians (ACP) says that because of the important place that international medical graduates (IMGs) "have and will continue to have" in the internal medicine workforce, the U.S. needs to enact measures that would support their role. The Role of International Medical Graduates in the U.S. Physician Workforce outlines recommendations that ACP feels would support that role.

IMGs are physicians who have received their medical education outside of the U.S and come to complete their residency or fellowship in the United States. Upon completion of training, IMGs are required return to their home countries for a two-year period unless they qualify for a waiver, typically by agreeing to work in a health professions shortage area. According to ACP's paper, "the United States has depended on IMGs to fill gaps in care in underserved areas since the 1970s, and will probably continue to do so for some time."

"The College has long recognized the value of IMGs in the U.S. health care system," said Jeffery P. Harris, MD, FACP, president of ACP. "They are crucial to our continuing to be able to provide adequate care to the populations they serve."

IMGs are an important source of primary care physicians in rural and underserved areas. In a paper released by the University of North Carolina, it was estimated that if all IMGs in primary care practice were removed that "one out of every five 'adequately served' non-metropolitan counties would become underserved and the percentage of rural counties with physician shortages would rise to 44.4%." The College strongly supports opportunities for IMGs to train in the United States and supports streamlining the process for those who would like to remain in the U.S. to practice, as long as there are opportunities here.

Because of their contributions to U.S. heath care system, ACP recognizes the importance of IMGs to the U.S.
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