04-29-2009, 02:35 PM
The ECFMG® Reporter
An E-Newsletter for International Medical Graduates Pursuing Graduate
Medical Education in the United States
Issue 139 - April 29, 2009
**********************************************
IN THIS ISSUE:
- INFORMATION ABOUT USMLE AND INFLUENZA
**********************************************
INFORMATION ABOUT USMLE AND INFLUENZA
In 2007, as part of an overall emergency planning process, the USMLE
Composite Committee adopted a series of steps to be followed in the
event of a pandemic influenza outbreak. The protocol was adopted because
the Committee determined that the USMLE testing process - which brings
medical students and graduate physicians from around the country and
around the world together at computer-based testing centers and regional
Clinical Skills sites - may increase the possibility of exposure to
infectious disease. As part of the protocol, the Composite Committee
recommended that, in the event that such an outbreak reaches a
significant threat level, some or all of the USMLE testing program be
suspended.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) have issued international alerts for H1N1
Influenza. The outbreak's sustainability and virulence have not yet been
established. Although the WHO and the CDC had not raised threat levels
to the pandemic stage at the time of this posting, the situation is
rapidly evolving and could change at any time. The Composite Committee
and USMLE parent organizations are monitoring the situation closely and
are prepared to take appropriate measures as warranted to protect the
health and safety of examinees and the public.
In the interim and until information warranting further decisions
becomes available, USMLE candidates planning to test in the near future
who have concerns about their ability to test safely may reschedule
USMLE computer-based testing appointments or Clinical Skills
appointments. In most instances, examinees should be able to use the
standard procedures to make changes, without additional fees, by
following procedures described in the USMLE Bulletin of Information,
available on the USMLE website at http://www.usmle.org.
If a concerned examinee has an eligibility period that ends on or before
July 31, 2009 and would like to receive an eligibility period extension,
he or she can do so, without additional fees, by contacting ECFMG by
phone at (215) 386-5900 or by e-mail at info@ecfmg.org.
If the current threat level continues, then the eligibility end date for
the arrangements described above will be extended beyond July 31. If the
current threat level increases to WHO Stage 5 or 6, the Composite
Committee and USMLE parents will consider the need to suspend the USMLE
program until testing can be safely resumed.
Please be sure to monitor the USMLE website and the ECFMG website at
http://www.ecfmg.org for updates to this announcement. Of course, if you
personally are experiencing flu-like symptoms, or believe that you may
have been recently exposed to an influenza patient, you should
reschedule your examination.
An E-Newsletter for International Medical Graduates Pursuing Graduate
Medical Education in the United States
Issue 139 - April 29, 2009
**********************************************
IN THIS ISSUE:
- INFORMATION ABOUT USMLE AND INFLUENZA
**********************************************
INFORMATION ABOUT USMLE AND INFLUENZA
In 2007, as part of an overall emergency planning process, the USMLE
Composite Committee adopted a series of steps to be followed in the
event of a pandemic influenza outbreak. The protocol was adopted because
the Committee determined that the USMLE testing process - which brings
medical students and graduate physicians from around the country and
around the world together at computer-based testing centers and regional
Clinical Skills sites - may increase the possibility of exposure to
infectious disease. As part of the protocol, the Composite Committee
recommended that, in the event that such an outbreak reaches a
significant threat level, some or all of the USMLE testing program be
suspended.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) have issued international alerts for H1N1
Influenza. The outbreak's sustainability and virulence have not yet been
established. Although the WHO and the CDC had not raised threat levels
to the pandemic stage at the time of this posting, the situation is
rapidly evolving and could change at any time. The Composite Committee
and USMLE parent organizations are monitoring the situation closely and
are prepared to take appropriate measures as warranted to protect the
health and safety of examinees and the public.
In the interim and until information warranting further decisions
becomes available, USMLE candidates planning to test in the near future
who have concerns about their ability to test safely may reschedule
USMLE computer-based testing appointments or Clinical Skills
appointments. In most instances, examinees should be able to use the
standard procedures to make changes, without additional fees, by
following procedures described in the USMLE Bulletin of Information,
available on the USMLE website at http://www.usmle.org.
If a concerned examinee has an eligibility period that ends on or before
July 31, 2009 and would like to receive an eligibility period extension,
he or she can do so, without additional fees, by contacting ECFMG by
phone at (215) 386-5900 or by e-mail at info@ecfmg.org.
If the current threat level continues, then the eligibility end date for
the arrangements described above will be extended beyond July 31. If the
current threat level increases to WHO Stage 5 or 6, the Composite
Committee and USMLE parents will consider the need to suspend the USMLE
program until testing can be safely resumed.
Please be sure to monitor the USMLE website and the ECFMG website at
http://www.ecfmg.org for updates to this announcement. Of course, if you
personally are experiencing flu-like symptoms, or believe that you may
have been recently exposed to an influenza patient, you should
reschedule your examination.