Puerto Rico Revalida

[leadsled]

The following is a "Reglamento". I am not sure if that means a new enacted law or a proposed law dated this year 2009.

It states the 3 part Revalida is still intact. In addition to being offered in Spanish it is also offered in English. see below.

"Artículo 3.12 Idioma
Los exámenes de reválida se administrarán por escrito en español e inglés, debiendo escoger el aspirante el idioma en que lo tomará en el momento en que presente su solicitud de examen."

For those who don't know or who are interested, the "Revalida" is a Puerto Rican 3 part medical licensing exam administered by the Puerto Rican government and not designed by the USMLE folks. Of course, the government accepts the USMLE exams as well.

Link:
http://www.salud.gov.pr/Publicaciones/Reglamentos/Documents/Reglamento%20General%20de%20JLDM%20(FINAL)%20(2).p df (http://www.salud.gov.pr/Publicaciones/Reglamentos/Documents/Reglamento%20General%20de%20JLDM%20%28FINAL%29%20% 282%29.pdf)

[leadsled]

What I find very interesting is "La Junta" which I am poorly translating to the "State Medical Board" accredits and accepts non ACGME accredited internships of at least 1 year in hospitals of at least 100 bed size. The internship must contain rotations in EM, IM, FP, OB/GYN and Surgery.
found in Artículo 8.1 Año de Internado

This sounds like a great find if one is unfortunate to locate an ACGME accredited residency. I heard through the rumor mill that these types of internships pay little to nothing but at the end of the year you are a Puerto Rico licensed general practitioner.

The Reglamento has some other caveats to licensure including 90 undergraduate credits with courses in chemistry, Spanish, etc. Need to read/translate the details.

[Aviv Imanuel]

Well, you brought me out of retirement...for very brief moment.

Based on what a lady told me when I called the 787-782-8989, an after several minutes on hold and being trasnferred, in order to take "La Revalida" your school must be approved by the 'Junta" or medical board, which is no other than the same "TEM" mechanism with different name. Currently the list of schools that make you elegible to take "La Revalida" is very small or limited to some school in Dominican Republic , Mexico and Spain, la madre patria. ole! However the list is nowhere to be found, it should be public.

Also according to my conversation with a member of the board, the Spanish exam is designed by the NBME, same people who make the USMLE in Spanish for Panama, so technically you are taking the USMLE but in Spanish. This after the huge scandal a couple of years ago. I should have asked him about the alleged list of approved schools for the Spanish revalida, but I forgot :doh:.

Now, all things considered, in order to be eligible for the one year rotatory internship, you can qualify by passing the USMLE 1,2, etc. These internships pay very little, and I do know of 2 that pays NOTHING for the full year. You better have a good back up plan $$$$$ because Puerto Rico is not cheap to live in, trust me in that one.

Either Revalida in Spanish or USMLE you can qualify for the internship, that basically qualifies you to be a good old school General Practitioner, and you better know Spanish too.

Now, me?...back to retirement!:banana:






The following is a "Reglamento". I am not sure if that means a new enacted law or a proposed law dated this year 2009.

It states the 3 part Revalida is still intact. In addition to being offered in Spanish it is also offered in English. see below.

"Artículo 3.12 Idioma
Los exámenes de reválida se administrarán por escrito en español e inglés, debiendo escoger el aspirante el idioma en que lo tomará en el momento en que presente su solicitud de examen."

For those who don't know or who are interested, the "Revalida" is a Puerto Rican 3 part medical licensing exam administered by the Puerto Rican government and not designed by the USMLE folks. Of course, the government accepts the USMLE exams as well.

Link:
http://www.salud.gov.pr/Publicaciones/Reglamentos/Documents/Reglamento%20General%20de%20JLDM%20(FINAL)%20(2).p df (http://www.salud.gov.pr/Publicaciones/Reglamentos/Documents/Reglamento%20General%20de%20JLDM%20%28FINAL%29%20% 282%29.pdf)

[doctorbere]

I have a close friend practicing in PR. I have been there and interviewed. As long as you have an ECFMG you can apply to internships or criollo as they call it. I applied to HIMAS in Caguas. Their salary for one year is $1. I had planned on framing the dollar in my office if I completed the internship and started genral practice. At the end of the year after the end of the internship if you have completed USMLE step 3 you can get a general license to practice there. It is an experience that offered that something that gets you a step beyond waiting for a position that may never come about with the way the present match works.

[Aviv Imanuel]

If it is in Caguas, and you have 12k in savings , and you are single, you can make it through the yer. The cost of living is not that bad in Caguas, for a single person.


I have a close friend practicing in PR. I have been there and interviewed. As long as you have an ECFMG you can apply to internships or criollo as they call it. I applied to HIMAS in Caguas. Their salary for one year is $1. I had planned on framing the dollar in my office if I completed the internship and started genral practice. At the end of the year after the end of the internship if you have completed USMLE step 3 you can get a general license to practice there. It is an experience that offered that something that gets you a step beyond waiting for a position that may never come about with the way the present match works.

[leadsled]

I have a close friend practicing in PR. I have been there and interviewed. As long as you have an ECFMG you can apply to internships or criollo as they call it. I applied to HIMAS in Caguas. Their salary for one year is $1. I had planned on framing the dollar in my office if I completed the internship and started genral practice. At the end of the year after the end of the internship if you have completed USMLE step 3 you can get a general license to practice there. It is an experience that offered that something that gets you a step beyond waiting for a position that may never come about with the way the present match works.

So are you going to attend HIMA de Caguas?

Also, if one is a 5th pathway certificate holder can they do the criollo? 5th pathway is not ECFMG certified but has USMLE step 1, 2 and 2 cs

[meddoc.]

How do I apply to HIMA residency or position? I am ECFMG certified. Awaiting your kind response. Thank you in advance.

[leadsled]

How do I apply to HIMA residency or position? I am ECFMG certified. Awaiting your kind response. Thank you in advance.

I got this from a google search but have no idea how to apply. My guess is you need to talk to a physician there or Human Resources. HIMA stands for

Hospital Interamericano de Medicina Avanzada
Ave.Luis M Marin
Caguas, Puerto Rico 00726

Phone: (1-787) 653-3434


For a list of Hospitals in PR. Make sure they are authorized by the government to do internships valid toward licensure.

Hospitals, Puerto Rico / Yellowpages-Caribbean.com (http://www.yellowpages-caribbean.com/result.cfm/Puerto+Rico/category/Hospitals/)

Keep us posted on your progress. It will be interesting to see if this route is viable. Best of Luck!

[Aviv Imanuel]

Lead, the route is viable, the problem is economics, they don't pay you for the year of "internado criollo." And, if my memory is not mistaken, if you are a holder of 5th pathway certificate you can do the "internado criollo", again, expect to work 80 hours a week for free for a year.



I got this from a google search but have no idea how to apply. My guess is you need to talk to a physician there or Human Resources. HIMA stands for

Hospital Interamericano de Medicina Avanzada
Ave.Luis M Marin
Caguas, Puerto Rico 00726

Phone: (1-787) 653-3434


For a list of Hospitals in PR. Make sure they are authorized by the government to do internships valid toward licensure.

Hospitals, Puerto Rico / Yellowpages-Caribbean.com (http://www.yellowpages-caribbean.com/result.cfm/Puerto+Rico/category/Hospitals/)

Keep us posted on your progress. It will be interesting to see if this route is viable. Best of Luck!

[leadsled]

Lead, the route is viable, the problem is economics, they don't pay you for the year of "internado criollo." And, if my memory is not mistaken, if you are a holder of 5th pathway certificate you can do the "internado criollo", again, expect to work 80 hours a week for free for a year.

I agree, not very "economically" appealing! However, even general practitioners in Puerto Rico can make a good living so getting a license to practice may be worth the sacrifice for some.

I think the issue may be getting a malpractice insurance policy after licensure. Insurance companies are the true regulating authorities in the USA!