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NEWS FROM THE POLITICAL ACTION
COMMITTEE
April 2010
In the House of
Representatives, March 25, 2010 (111th Congress, 2d session, House
Resolution 1222 (IH))
GNYHA (Greater New York Hospital Association)
update: FHCDA becomes law
ACGME (Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical
Education) Update
AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges)
Update: More U.S. Medical School Seniors to Train as Family Medicine
Residents
1.
In the House of Representatives, March 25, 2010
(111th Congress, 2d session, House Resolution 1222 (IH)).
Mr. Ehlers (for himself and Mr. Grijalva) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on
Education and Labor
RESOLUTION: Supporting the goals and ideals of National Library
Week.
Whereas the Nation's school, academic, public, and special
libraries make a difference in the lives of millions of people in
the United States, today, more than ever;
Whereas librarians are trained professionals, helping people of all
ages and backgrounds find and interpret the information they need to
live, learn, and work in a challenging economy;
Whereas libraries are part of the American Dream, places for
opportunity, education, self-help, and lifelong learning;
Whereas according to a December 2008 National Center for Education
Statistics (NCES) report, public library use increased to
1,400,000,000 visits nationwide during fiscal year 2006, among all
types of library users,
continuing a long term trend of increased library usage;
Whereas libraries play a vital role in supporting the quality of
life in their communities;
Whereas libraries help people of all ages discover a world of
knowledge, both in person and online, as well as provide personal
service and assistance in finding needed information;
Whereas libraries are a key player in the national discourse on
intellectual freedom and equity of access;
Whereas libraries are narrowing the ``digital divide'', by providing
no-fee public computer and Internet access to accommodate the
growing need for access to digital and online information, including
e-government, continuing education, and employment opportunities;
Whereas in 71 percent of communities, libraries have the only no-fee
public computers; and
Whereas libraries, librarians, library workers, and supporters
across the United States will celebrate National Library Week, April
11-17, 2010: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of
Representatives —
(1) supports the goals and ideals of National Library Week;
(2) encourages all residents to visit a library to take advantage of
the wonderful library resources available, and to thank their
librarians and library workers for making information accessible to
all who walk through the library's doors; and
(3) supports librarians' efforts to ensure that all Americans can
continue to access 21st century library services in school, public,
academic, and special libraries.
2. GNYHA (Greater New York
Hospital Association) update: FHCDA becomes law
In a historic moment last week, New York Governor David Paterson
signed the Family Health Care Decisions Act (FHCDA) into law.
The FHCDA allows family members to make health care decisions,
including those related to withholding or withdrawal of
life-sustaining treatment, on behalf of patients who lose their
ability to make such decisions and have not prepared advance
directives outlining their wishes. Health care providers and others
have advocated for passage of the FHCDA for more than 17 years.
The law takes effect in June, though providers may implement it
before then if the policies and procedural safeguards it requires
are in place. The law is quite complex and needs careful
consideration with regard to how it relates to existing laws, such
as those addressing DNR and Health Care Proxy. Members should also
consider how FHCDA interacts with existing advance directive and
end-of-life treatment decision-making policies that facilities have
in place.
To assist its members, GNYHA is working with other organizations
around the State to create a plan for implementation and training on
the law’s requirements.
3. ACGME (Accreditation
Council for Graduate Medical Education) Update
Request from New York Medical College (NYMC)
The potential closure of St. Vincent’s Hospital in New York City
has resulted in the need for the Sponsoring Institution, New York
Medical College, to voluntarily withdraw all of its accredited
programs, effective June 30, 2010. Richard McCarrick, MD, the
Designated Institutional Official (DIO), St. Vincent’s Hospital
Administration, and the NYMC/St. Vincent’s program directors (PDs),
have determined that the programs will not be able to provide all
residents/fellows with an adequate educational experience beyond
June 30. They have requested that the ACGME facilitate transfer of
NYMC/St. Vincent’s residents/fellows to institutions/programs that
can provide adequate educational experience in the following
specialties and subspecialties:
- Anesthesiology (+ Fellowship in Pain Medicine);
- Diagnostic Radiology;
- General Surgery;
-Internal Medicine (+ Fellowships in Cardiovascular Disease,
Critical Care Medicine,
- Gastroenterology, Geriatric Medicine, Hematology/Oncology,
Infectious Disease,
- Interventional Cardiology, Pulmonary Disease/Critical Care
Medicine);
- Nuclear Medicine;
- Obstetrics-Gynecology;
- Ophthalmology;
- Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation;
- Psychiatry (+Fellowships in Geriatric Psychiatry, Child &
Adolescent Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry, Sleep Medicine);
- Orthopedic Surgery;
4.
AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) Update: More U.S.
Medical School Seniors to Train as Family Medicine Residents
Washington, D.C., March 18, 2010 — The number of U.S. medical
school seniors who will enter residency training in family medicine
rose 9 percent over 2009, according to the
National Resident
Matching Program (NRMP).
In 2009, the number of U.S. medical school seniors placed in family
medicine residencies dropped by 7 percent. Two other primary care
specialties that saw increases in positions filled by U.S. medical
school seniors were internal medicine and pediatrics. Internal
medicine saw a 3 percent rise over last year in the number of U.S.
seniors matched to slots in this specialty. There was a 2 percent
increase in the number of U.S. seniors placed in pediatric
residencies.
U.S. medical school seniors also made gains in overall participation
and match rates in 2010. This year, the group made up more than half
of the applicants, increasing by 432, and 93.3 percent matched to
first-year residencies, a slight increase from 2009. Since 2006, the
number of U.S. senior applicants has grown by more than 1,000.
Participants
According to the NRMP, this was the largest Match in history:
30,543 applicants participated—655 more than last year and 3,800
more than in 2006.
How the Match Works
Conducted annually by the NRMP, the Match uses a computerized
mathematical algorithm, designed to produce a best result by
aligning the preferences of applicants with the preferences of
residency programs in order to fill the thousands of training
positions available at U.S. teaching hospitals.
Positions
More than 95 percent (21,749) of the first-year positions were
filled during this Match.
Match Rate
Slightly more than 93 percent (93.3) of U.S. medical school
seniors matched to a first-year residency position this year; 82
percent of those students matched to one of their top three choices.
Among all other types of participants, 79.1 percent matched to one
of their top three choices, a slight decrease from 80.8 percent in
2009.
Specialty Trends
Match results can be an indicator of career interests among U.S.
medical school seniors. Among the notable trends this year:
Neurological surgery, orthopaedic surgery, dermatology, and
otolaryngology were the most competitive fields for applicants.
At least 90 percent of those positions were filled with U.S. medical
school seniors.
All but five positions were filled of the 1,187 available in
obstetrics-gynecology, and 915 positions were filled by U.S.
seniors, increasing for the sixth year in a row.
The number of U.S. medical school seniors in emergency medicine
increased for the fifth consecutive year. They filled 1,182 of the
1,556 first-year emergency medicine positions.
The National Resident Matching
Program (NRMP) is a private, not-for-profit organization established
in 1952, at the request of medical students, to provide an orderly
and fair mechanism to match the preferences of applicants to U.S.
residency positions with the preferences of residency program
directors for those applicants. The NRMP is sponsored by the
American Board of Medical Specialties, the American Medical
Association, the Association of American Medical Colleges, the
American Hospital Association, and the Council of Medical Specialty
Societies.
Respectfully
submitted on April 6, 2010 by Rimma
Perelman, Chair, Political Action Committee
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