What We're Reading: Immigrant EMT Program; Physician Admin Tasks; AHCA Blame Game

Maine Program Solves EMT Shortage by Training Immigrants

Maine has developed a creative solution to help care for its aging population despite a shortage of emergency medical technicians (EMTs): a program that trains immigrants who had medical experience in their home countries to apply their skills inside the state’s ambulances. An article in The New York Times profiled Jolly Ntirumenyerwa, whose credentials as an emergency physician did not transfer when she emigrated from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The training program, which teaches English through the lens of EMT education, provides a necessary influx of technicians while giving immigrants meaningful work.

ACP Position Paper Calls for Reducing Administrative Burden on Physicians

The American College of Physicians (ACP) has issued a position paper that proposes a framework to lighten clinicians’ load of administrative tasks like documentation and billing. It calls for stakeholders to evaluate the impact of new and existing administrative tasks on physicians and scrap any requirements that “have a negative effect on quality and patient care, unnecessarily question physician and other clinician judgment, or increase costs.” The paper also recommends that payers, clinician societies, regulatory entities, and electronic health record vendors cooperate to streamline requirements.

Trump Supporters Pin Blame for AHCA’s Failure on GOP Establishment, Media

After the Republicans’ proposed American Health Care Act (AHCA) was pulled before a House vote, STAT News reporters traveled across the country to interview supporters of President Donald Trump on their opinions of the bill’s failure. Generally, they did not blame Trump for the unsuccessful bill, and voiced confidence that he will fulfill his campaign promise of repealing the Affordable Care Act. Some accused the Republican leadership for rushing to draft an unpopular bill, while others pointed fingers at the media for depicting the bill inaccurately.