Emergency Medicine Resident Rotations Abroad: Current Status and Next Steps

Erika Schroeder,Stephen Morris

doi:10.5811/westjem.2015.11.28159

Abstract

IntroductionInternational rotations for residents are increasingly popular, but there is a dearth of evidence to demonstrate that these rotations are safe and that residents have appropriate training and support to conduct them.MethodsA survey was sent to all U.S. emergency medicine (EM) residencies with publicly available e-mail addresses. The survey documents and examines the training and support that emergency medicine residents are offered for international rotations and the frequency of adverse safety events.Results72.5% of program director responded that their residents are participating in rotations abroad. However, only 15.4% of programs reported offering training specific to working abroad. The results point to an increased need for specific training and insurance coverage.ConclusionOversight of international rotations should be improved to guarantee safety and education benefit.

Highlights

International rotations for residents are increasingly popular, but there is a dearth of evidence to demonstrate that these rotations are safe and that residents have appropriate training and support to conduct them
Several studies have shown that a significant percentage of emergency medicine (EM) residents participate in these rotations and that, at this point, there is no standardization of training for trainees who work abroad.[4,5]
Four-year residencies represent 24.6% of all EM residencies while we had 37.5% of our responses from four-year residencies. Our study revealed both positive and negative characteristics of the current policies regarding international rotations in EM

Summary

Introduction

International rotations for residents are increasingly popular, but there is a dearth of evidence to demonstrate that these rotations are safe and that residents have appropriate training and support to conduct them. Residents are becoming increasingly popular, but little is known about institutional support for this trend, educational supervision, safety activities, and insurance coverage related to these rotations. There has been an exponential surge in interest and involvement in international rotations among medical students and residents in the U.S.1,2. Despite increased opportunities and funding, there is unmet demand from individuals who would like to work abroad. By 2004, 22% of U.S medical students had participated in an international rotation.[3] there are many competing demands on a trainee’s time during residency, many U.S programs allow participation in international rotations. Several studies have shown that a significant percentage of EM residents participate in these rotations and that, at this point, there is no standardization of training for trainees who work abroad.[4,5]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion