Medical Education Planning and Development (U.S.)
The U.S. has a looming physician shortage due to the aging of the physician work force, increased demands for health care services due to the new health reform legislation (in which an additional 30 million uninsured people now have routine access to health care providers), and a variety of other reasons.
The doctor crunch is already dire. Business Week states that last year there were nearly 17,000 fewer primary-care doctors than needed in inner-city and rural areas and by 2025 there will be a shortage of as many as 159,300 doctors. Some areas already report a critical shortage of health care providers.
The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) has called for a 30% increase in U.S. medical school enrollment by 2015, which will garner an additional 5,000 new M.D.s annually. The AAMC believes that this expansion should occur through a combination of enrollment increases in existing schools and the establishment of new U.S. medical schools.
FICA stands ready to help medical schools and teaching hospitals improve their operations, efficiencies, and output. Our professional services include the establishing of new medical facilities in the U.S. and abroad and guiding existing medical schools through expansion projects. We provide hands-on assistance through the entire process, from classroom instruction to clinical care to the production of outstanding physicians for the health care industry.
Medical School Education (International)
According to many medical education experts, the U.S. cannot provide for the health care needs of its citizens through its own medical education systems alone. This forces the U.S. to rely on qualified international medical school graduates (who often practice family medicine and internal medicine in rural and underserved areas).
In the U.S., FICA connects U.S. teaching institutions and vetted foreign medical schools to facilitate a flow of qualified medical graduates into the U.S. workforce. This includes placement of students into U.S. clerkships. Outside the U.S., FICA works with educators to establish and develop new medical schools for their regions.
FICA has particular insights and experiences involving international medical schools. Interested institutions are invited to contact us for more information on this important topic.
Nursing Education and Nurse Placement
The United States is in the middle of a nursing shortage that is anticipated to intensify as baby boomers age (increasing their need for health care services) and demands increase for general health care services due to the newly enacted health care reform law. Adding to the problem is the fact that nursing colleges and universities across the country are unable to meet enrollment demands due to seat limitations and faculty shortages.
FICA works with health care institutions to establish innovative mechanisms for attracting and training additional nurses and nurse educators such as through ABSN programs and adult-focused programs that combine online courses with weekend clinical training.
Another way is through our agency agreement with the International University of Nursing (IUON), a state-of-the-art nursing school located in beautiful St. Kitts. FICA, arranges the placement of U.S. or foreign students who complete four semesters at IUON into select BSN programs within the U.S. for completion of their studies. Alternatively, U.S. students may enter studies through an approved study abroad program that allows for U.S. students to study at IUON for the first four semesters prior to re-entering the BSN program at their “home” school.
University officials or other interested parties may contact FICA for program details on student placement or the study abroad program.
FICA can also arrange placement of qualified international nurse graduates into positions with U.S. employers. FICA will arrange for screening of candidates to ensure that high standards and licensing requirements are met.
Our goal is to alleviate the nursing shortage locally and nationally, to help assure continuous delivery of critical health care services.
