AMA encourages telemedicine training for medical students, residents

Recognizing that formalized training in telemedicine is not widely offered to physicians-in-training, the American Medical Association (AMA) today adopted policy during its Annual Meeting aimed at ensuring medical students and residents learn how to use telemedicine in clinical practice. The new policy specifically encourages the accrediting bodies for both undergraduate and graduate medical education to include core competencies for telemedicine in their programs. The new policy also reaffirms existing AMA policy, which supports reducing barriers to incorporating the appropriate use of telemedicine into the education of physicians.

"The vast majority of medical students are not being taught how to use technologies such as telemedicine or electronic health records during medical school and residency. As innovation in care delivery and technology continue to transform healthcare, we must ensure that our current and future physicians have the tools and resources they need to provide the best possible care for their patients," said AMA Immediate Past President Robert M. Wah, M.D. "In particular, exposure to and evidence-based instruction in telemedicine's capabilities and limitations at all levels of physician education will be essential to harnessing its potential."