Twelve tips for developing training programs for international medical graduates

Abstract

Background: International Medical Graduates (IMGs) are a diverse group of doctors who provide essential health services in many western countries, and hospitals are increasingly relying upon IMGs to fill vacancies in all staff grades. Clinical skills and experience vary greatly between doctors, and orientation and clinical skills training is a way of addressing any identified deficiencies.

Work done: This paper relates the experiences of establishing a training program and support services for IMGs working in the public hospital system in Tasmania, Australia, and offers advice for other agencies contemplating establishing similar programs.

Conclusions: A ‘hub and spoke’ model is a useful model to adopt: a central coordinating office designs and implements programs informed by best available evidence, and clinical educators on site at healthcare facilities implement programs and provide direct assistance and orientation. Broad-based programs attending to orientation, doctor's families’ needs, communication skills and clinical skills training are required. Support from health administrators is essential.

Practice points

• Understand the practices and certification requirements of your jurisdiction.

• Involve IMGs with the planning and implementation of programs.

• Consider the needs of spouses and families.

• Orientation to health systems is of paramount importance.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Geoff Couser

DR GEOFF COUSER is an emergency physician at the Royal Hobart Hospital in Tasmania, Australia, and a Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Tasmania. His teaching interests lie in integrating medical sciences with clinical practice. He was formerly the director for the Overseas Trained Doctors Project at the Postgraduate Medical Institute of Tasmania.