Facing shortages, Idaho prepares to train doctors from new med school

With Idaho's first medical school set to open in less than two years, some doctors are wondering if the state has enough resources to train new graduates.

“I worry about adding more students,” said Dr. Thomas Patterson, who runs his own practice and teaches medical school graduates in Boise. “I know I can't add anything else on my plate, but yet I have an obligation to give back the education I received.”

The proposed Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine, commonly called ICOM, plans to open in Meridian in 2018 with a class of 150 students. The private school, which is still seeking national accreditation, will serve Idaho and four other states in the region.

Doctors aren't ready to practice medicine on their own after medical school. They must first be accepted into a residency program, which coordinates with hospitals and clinics to supervise and train the new graduates for three to seven years, depending on the specialty.

Read more: http://www.idahopress.com/news/local/facing-shortages-idaho-prepares-to-train-doctors-from-new-med/article_2aa67963-fb84-51a1-b6fe-f1abd5622c3c.html