Massive fraud commited in Puerto Rico's medical licensing system

[enriquev756]

Being the only person from PR currently in attending SGUSOM, reading this truly breaks me apart. I knew somewhat of people that were not really meant to become physicians (some of them horrid students), going to "some schools out there", but never thought it was this bad.

I guess justice is being done then, sad though.

[Genossa maximillian]

Originally Posted by enriquev756

Being the only person from PR currently in attending SGUSOM, reading this truly breaks me apart. I knew somewhat of people that were not really meant to become physicians (some of them horrid students), going to "some schools out there", but never thought it was this bad.

I guess justice is being done then, sad though.

don't tell me...Santo Domingo? At least that used to be the mecca of P.R. students going aboard to study medicine when they were not admitted there when I was there P.M. me if you want to.

[enriquev756]

yeah, and a couple more.
I don't really what to start bashing others schools and stuff...
Some of them are good, I know of a few (passed both "revalida" and steps) but most......lets just say
"si tuviera una emergencia y lo viera en sala, preferiria morirme"

*My excuses to the ones that are good and for some other reasons couldnt get into a decent school (eg:not being good at english standarized tests).

[Genossa maximillian]

al menos los de Gauadalajara tenian mejor fama. I don't want to bash either, but it is true, a sad truth. Cono que pensaba uno, coger la revalida 15 veces.....uuuuuuiiii mw cojo los puntos yo mismo y me curo con un palo de alcolado!!!!

Originally Posted by enriquev756

yeah, and a couple more.
I don't really what to start bashing others schools and stuff...
Some of them are good, I know of a few (passed both "revalida" and steps) but most......lets just say
"si tuviera una emergencia y lo viera en sala, preferiria morirme"

*My excuses to the ones that are good and for some other reasons couldnt get into a decent school (eg:not being good at english standarized tests).

[enriquev756]

ajajajajajajajajaj(spanish laughter) Good one Gen,

the thing is, imagine being 100K or more in debt, and not being able to practice in your own country, thats a recipe for "desperate measures" right there. Some of these schools take you no matter what. They know you'll not pass the boards, "criollo" or USMLE, but accept you anyway. I one way you could think of it, is that the school is giving you a chance for you to "shine", a "second chance at dream" and of course a lot of people will go for it. Then later most of them go back to PR and do "internado criollo"+"Revalida" to get their GP license, since you cannot specialize in PR without the USMLE steps (ALL of them). I know a crap load of those and they did not get paid a cent!!!!! can you believe that! (They are dedicated for sure). So there is stuff going on in PR that does not reach the news, it is sad stuff.

USMLE is spanish........... if that were ever available maybe SGU wouldn't have sounded as good as it did to me.

[Genossa maximillian]

Oh yes, the free one year internado, what a deal. Some things never change I guess after all these years in exile. I heard they do the USMLE in Spanish in Panama, and supposedly that is the version they would like to implement there. Can't imagine how much it will cocst, but if the USMLE is already pricy, just imagine a Spanish version.

Originally Posted by enriquev756

ajajajajajajajajaj(spanish laughter) Good one Gen,

the thing is, imagine being 100K or more in debt, and not being able to practice in your own country, thats a recipe for "desperate measures" right there. Some of these schools take you no matter what. They know you'll not pass the boards, "criollo" or USMLE, but accept you anyway. I one way you could think of it, is that the school is giving you a chance for you to "shine", a "second chance at dream" and of course a lot of people will go for it. Then later most of them go back to PR and do "internado criollo"+"Revalida" to get their GP license, since you cannot specialize in PR without the USMLE steps (ALL of them). I know a feces load of those and they did not get paid a cent!!!!! can you believe that! (They are dedicated for sure). So there is stuff going on in PR that does not reach the news, it is sad stuff.

USMLE is spanish........... if that were ever available maybe SGU wouldn't have sounded as good as it did to me.

[leadsled]

Originally Posted by Genossa maximillian

Oh yes, the free one year internado, what a deal. Some things never change I guess after all these years in exile. I heard they do the USMLE in Spanish in Panama, and supposedly that is the version they would like to implement there. Can't imagine how much it will cocst, but if the USMLE is already pricy, just imagine a Spanish version.

What are you saying? Does Puerto Rico licensing requirements allow an unaccredited residency? Please elaborate.

[Genossa maximillian]

The "internado' is for those who take only "la revalida" and are going to work as general practitioners, yes they still have GP's in P.R.. YOU TAKE LA REVALIDA, PASS IT, THEN DO ONE YEAR OF INTERNSHIP AT A PUBLIC INSTITUTION FOR NO PAY (or little pay, I am not sure) then you get your GP's license. If you want to specialize then you have to take the USMLE's and compete for residencies and do residency like anyone else does. Bear in mind this is a mechanism to create and retain general practitioners in the Island, intended for those who will stay there. In terms of the licensing reciprocity agreement P.R. has with 8 other U.S. states, that you will have to ask each of those states about the recirpocity agreement and why they did it. That is beyond my area of expertise.

Originally Posted by leadsled

What are you saying? Does Puerto Rico licensing requirements allow an unaccredited residency? Please elaborate.

[leadsled]

Originally Posted by Genossa maximillian

The "internado' is for those who take only "la revalida" and are going to work as general practitioners, yes they still have GP's in P.R.. YOU TAKE LA REVALIDA, PASS IT, THEN DO ONE YEAR OF INTERNSHIP AT A PUBLIC INSTITUTION FOR NO PAY (or little pay, I am not sure) then you get your GP's license. If you want to specialize then you have to take the USMLE's and compete for residencies and do residency like anyone else does. Bear in mind this is a mechanism to create and retain general practitioners in the Island, intended for those who will stay there. In terms of the licensing reciprocity agreement P.R. has with 8 other U.S. states, that you will have to ask each of those states about the recirpocity agreement and why they did it. That is beyond my area of expertise.

So if one has all the USMLE's passed but can't get a residency can they do an internado for one year and become a licensed GP?

[enriquev756]

yes, and make some money working regular and moonlighting until you get what you want.