April 14 Update
This guidance document is intended to add to, but not supersede, an academic medical center's independent judgment of the immediate needs of its patients and preparation of its students. The medical school dean has the authority and responsibility to make such decisions regarding medical students; circumstances will vary at each of our medical schools.
In this current environment, AAMC guidance for medical schools regarding medical students' participation in direct patient contact activities continues to be based on public health considerations, PPE needs and COVID-19 testing availability. The April 14 guidance includes two sections:
- SECTION I. This section provides guidance for medical schools in locales in which there is significant, active current or anticipated COVID-19 community spread, and/or limited availability of PPE and/or limited availability of COVID-19 testing. We acknowledge that this currently includes virtually every AAMC-member medical school. This guidance is unchanged from previous guidance of March 30, 2020 except for the addition of new details pertaining to students' health care insurance coverage, PPE and COVID-19 testing, added at the end of Section I. in bold font.
- SECTION II. In planning ahead, we anticipate that timing will vary considerably across medical schools regarding when there will not be significant, active or anticipated COVID-19 community spread, AND both PPE and COVID-19 testing become readily available locally. For planning purposes, Section II provides new considerations for medical schools pertaining to the participation of medical students in direct patient contact activities as part of their required clerkships or other required clinical experiences in the MD-degree program core curriculum.
The situation is very fluid, and we will continue to update our guidance on an as-needed basis.
We remain strongly committed to working with medical schools to minimize negative impacts on students and to supporting schools in making necessary curricular adjustments. We must all continue to work together to rise to the challenge of this unprecedented pandemic. Thank you in advance for continuing to share your solutions, support your students, and care for your community.
Access April 14 Guidance Document------------------------------
Stephanie Weiner
Manager of Digital Strategy
Association of American Medical Colleges
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-18-2020 11:14
From: Katherine McOwen
Subject: Guidance on Med Students' Clinical Participation
March 30 Update
Unless there is a critical health care workforce (HCW) need locally, we strongly suggest that medical students not be involved in any direct patient care activities for the next two weeks, through April 13, 2020. The primary goals of this guidance are bending the curve for the public health of North America, conserving limited PPE supply to keep HCW and patients safe, and maintaining public and HCW safety given current testing availability.
Access the March 30 Interim Guidance Document
This document updates and replaces guidance issued by the AAMC on March 17 and March 23 regarding
the participation of medical students in direct patient contact activities.
March 23 Update
The AAMC published interim guidance on the voluntary participation of medical students in direct patient care activities on Monday, March 23. The interim guidance is intended to support schools and teaching hospitals in developing plans for how medical students can best support health systems, including through direct patient-contact activities, if or when a critical health care workforce shortage arises. The AAMC continues to strongly support that unless there is a critical health care workforce need locally, medical students should not be involved in any direct patient care activities, as detailed in the guidance document issued March 17, 2020. Guidance replaced by March 30th update.
March 17 Update
On March 17, the AAMC and LCME issued guidance, effective immediately, calling for medical schools to pause all student clinical rotations until at least March 31. This pause will allow the medical education community, including learners, to develop appropriate educational strategies and alternative clinical experiences to best assure safe, meaningful clinical learning for students. It will also help with current concerns about the availability of personal protective equipment. Guidance replaced by March 30th update.Have questions? Access the FAQs re: Guidance on Medical Students' Clinical Participation
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Katherine McOwen
Association of American Medical Colleges
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