IMANA Clinical Observership Program

Purpose:
To provide observation opportunities to international medical students in a structured format under the supervision of American trained physician preceptors to observe and understand the basic healthcare system in the United States.

The IMANA Clinical Observership Program (IMANA-COP) follows American Medical Association- International Medical Graduates (AMA-IMG) section observership guidelines. One rotation of the observation consists of four weeks. The observership applicants are required to sign up for a minimum of two rotations or 8 weeks of rotations. An observership applicant may not apply for more than 12 weeks of total rotations. We will do our best to provide the specialty of observer’s choice for each rotation; however, we are unable to guarantee the specialty for all rotations due to limited number of preceptors available in a given specialty. At the end of the rotations, IMANA will award a ‘Certificate of Completion’ to all successful observerships based on the evaluations of the respective preceptors.

The observers would be able to learn through one or more of the following ways:

• Attending hospital rounds with the preceptor

• Attending office/outpatient clinic

• Attending patient care conferences

• Participating in educational lectures

• Observing procedures

• Reviewing literature and performing literature search

Learning Objectives of the Observership Program:

• To introduce medical students to the style of practice of American Medicine

• Observation of the delivery of health care in a private practice, hospital or a clinic setting

• Observation of physician interactions with patients (history, examination, diagnosis, treatment, coding, writing prescriptions, and entering information on the patient’s written or electronic chart, etc.)

• Observation of professional communication and interaction between the physician and all members of the health care delivery team and hospital administration

• Exposure to American colloquialisms (slang, euphemisms, etc.)

The IMANA-COP is designed to cover the six competencies recommended by Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Residents in residency training are evaluated based on these competences.

1. Patient Care

2. Medical Knowledge

3. Practice Based Learning and Improvement

4. Systems Based Practice

5. Professionalism

6. Interpersonal Skills and Communication

Students must adhere to the following guidelines without any exception:

1. Must be genuinely interested in the program and show professionalism in their conduct and assigned tasks

2. Will not conduct physical examinations, treatments, or diagnoses of any patient

3. Accept no compensation

4. Follow the rules and regulations of the hospital, clinic or private practice at all time

5. Adhere to HIPAA (health insurance portability and accountability act) regulations

6. Participate in any prerequisite training (i.e. HIPAA) at the hospital, clinic or private practice

7. Participate in activities only under the supervision of the preceptor (clinical tutorials, ward rounds, clinics visits, procedures, operations, etc.) and participate in a research project or independent study

8. Only observe the use of electronic health records, if available, and be familiar with patient data entry and access

9. Only observe the general structure and organization of U.S. healthcare system as well as private sector and government payers

10. May review clinical articles, posters, and publications as per the discretion of your preceptor

Requirements for the students

1. 3^rd & 4^th year students and graduates

2. Submit School transcripts

3. Students who passed USMLE step 1 will be given priority but not a requirement 

4. Provide your own transportation, meals and lodging 

5. Keep track of your observership hours and confirm 

6. Check your schedule and responsibilities with your physician preceptor regularly 

7. Two recommendation letters from your professors from the school that the applicant is attending or graduated from 

8. Obtain a US visa valid until the end of your observership stay in USA.

9. A return Air ticket to your country of origin

10. Must obtain visitors health insurance

11. Make your boarding and lodging arrangements

12. Arrange your transportation to the place of observership

13. Submit two passport size photos

14. Successful completion of TOEFL

15. Successful completion of HIPAA training and examination

16. Successful completion of infection control training and examination

17. Students will need to sign a liability waiver form to indemnify IMANA and preceptor physicians of any or all liabilities

18. To adhere and abide by local laws and regulations

The processing fee of $100 dollars is non refundable. If selected candidates will be scheduled to rotate with 1 or more physicians for a minimum of 4 weeks. The candidates are required to agree, sign and upload application form, waiver form and other required documents online as part of the application process. At the end of the rotation a certificate of completion will be awarded to successful candidates.

The lodging, boarding and transportation and any other expenses will be the responsibility of the student. All students must abide by the all local laws and regulations for the entire stay in US on and off the clinical environment.

Dress Code:
Students will be required to adhere to the dress code that is acceptable in American hospitals or clinic when at a clinic, physician's office or a hospital.

Resources:

HIPPA Training:
http://www.myhipaatraining.com/FAQ.html

Infection Control Training and Exam:
http://www.icprofessor.com/icny.php

Visitors Health Insurance:

http://www.visitorscoverage.com/student-health-insurance/

Or Contact Your Travel Agent

Malpractice Insurance:
http://www.academicins.com/

You may apply online by clicking on the "Apply Today" link on the right side of this page.
You must provide all the details listed in the online application.