I agree that preceptorships could be the answer,
but here’s the problem. Most states do not allow
preceptorship for licensure. They were removed
when there were enough residencies for every
graduate. And even though it was still “on the
books” in Michigan, I had to go before the State
of Michigan Board of Podiatric Medicine to get a
preceptorship approved.
After fighting to get a preceptorship approved
and having my preceptee complete a 2-year
preceptorship, she was able to get a full
license to practice, but unable to participate
with many of the Blue Cross policies because
they require you to be board eligible with ABPS.
To be board eligible, you have to have completed
a residency. Since 75% of our patients have some
form of Blue Cross either as their primary
insurance or supplemental it has put this young,
energetic and talented physician in a tough spot.
In addition, getting her hospital privileges was
a fight and at one of the hospitals she was not
granted privileges.
I have begun the process of starting a
residency, however the absolute soonest that
would be available is July of 2014. And even
that may be optimistic.
So, what happens with all these graduates who
have NO POSSIBLE WAY to practice with their
$250,000,000+ in school loans due? If the ABPS
would be willing somehow to make an exception
for graduates who have completed an approved
preceptorship that would go a long way.
Preceptees could then be designated as board
eligible and able to get hospital privileges, as
well as on provider panels for insurance
companies. They could then start acquiring cases
and ultimately become board certified. This was
the case years ago when there weren’t enough
residencies.
I have all the documentation that I presented
before the State of Michigan Board of Podiatric
Medicine which allowed my preceptorship to be
approved. I am willing to share this
documentation with anyone who would be
interested in attempting to get a preceptorship
approved in their state. Just e-mail me.
Sure it’s better if every graduate completes a 3-
year residency, but this situation is doing more
to damage the credibility of podiatry than
having these graduates who didn’t get
residencies out there with preceptorship
training.
Trevor Neal, DPM, Sturgis, MI,
balisong2000@hotmail.com
