FOREIGN MEDICAL GRADUATES (FMGS) - DETERMINING THEIR ROLE IN THE UNITED-STATES HEALTH-CARE SYSTEM

The purpose of this paper is to review the existing literature on Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) in the United States in order to assess the needs and uses of FMGs in the United States and consider the various monitoring strategies that have been suggested to control the influx while meeting institutional demands which have implications for population needs. The review indicates that there are historical and situational factors which account for the fact that FMGs are represented at the lowest levels of the physician hierarchy, and perhaps have been unjustly blamed for problems that are a result of the inefficient management by the US health system in general. The authors conclude that there is a need for an objective assessment of the role of FMGs in the US health care system based on actual personnel shortage, population needs and competency of the FMGs. © 1979.