IM residency soon only 2 years long

[neurofx]

Some old attending was talking with me the other day on an FP rotation. He gave me some story about how very soon internal medicine residencies will only be 2 years long if you are going to be subspecializing and going into a fellowship program. If you were to become a general internist or a hospitalist you would still do 3 years. He couldn't tell me if it would apply to both osteo and allo programs or if there would be any state by state differences. I haven't heard anything like this before, but he seemed confident about this information. Has anyone else heard anything about this? Would be nice if it was only 2 years long if you were going to specialize, that's how it should be.

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[gclax30]

What does he mean by very soon? These fast-tracked IM residencies already exist at many places if you are sure you will be subspecializing. This exists for both osteo and allo medicine programs. I don't believe there are any state laws regulating the length, that's pretty much up to the accreditation people who approve the programs. And yeah, 2 years is a sweet deal. 👍

 

[sistermike]

What does he mean by very soon? These fast-tracked IM residencies already exist at many places if you are sure you will be subspecializing. This exists for both osteo and allo medicine programs. I don't believe there are any state laws regulating the length, that's pretty much up to the accreditation people who approve the programs. And yeah, 2 years is a sweet deal. 👍

Out of curiosity, which programs are considered to be "fast-tracked"? Are they widespread throughout the country, or only at a few locations?

 

[Fermata]

There has been talk about fast tracking CV surgery and stuff like that too.

No one really knows when these programs will become the norm though....

 

[redsoxfan]

how will fast-tracking affect your chances of getting into a competitive fellowship, ie cardiology at a top site?

 

[gclax30]

how will fast-tracking affect your chances of getting into a competitive fellowship, ie cardiology at a top site?

The whole point of fast-tracking is so that you can combine the two programs into one, so you would do the fellowship (i.e. cards, GI) at the same place. You wouldn't do a 2 year IM residency and then transfer out to a different program for your fellowship (I imagine this MIGHT be possible in a RARE circumstance but certainly not the point of a fast track program). So if you want to do a fellow at a "top" program and fast track, you'd have to get into their medicine program first. Personally I think it is the way to go... that's one more year of a decent physician's salary you don't have to sacrifice for an extra year of residency. JMHO.

p.s. GO SOX 👍

 

[neurofx]

So does anyone know any programs like this that already exists? I don't haven't seen any yet. I'd also like to know how those programs deal with accreditation, if they even are accredited.

 

[docbill]

they have been talking about this for a while.

Nothing changed yet.

I don't think it will change anything now.

Its may just that you can apply for card residency after 2 years. Without getting accredation from the College of IM.

NO one panick yet.