Competition and cost in graduate medical education. Should we train unsalaried residents and fellows?
M. P. Leeds, S. N. Cohen and G. Purcell Jr
In 1985, a total of 6,080 applicants to the National Resident Matching
Program (Match) were unable to match with residency positions. The majority
of unmatched applicants were graduates of foreign medical schools. In
addition, many US and foreign medical graduate applicants did not find
positions in their preferred choice of specialties. As a result, teaching
hospitals are increasingly receiving offers from would-be residents who are
willing to work without financial support to gain the experience and
credentials required for medical licensure. Teaching hospitals that
consider accepting unsalaried house staff must begin to develop policies
and guidelines that ensure fair and equitable treatment of all residents
and fellows and that standards of quality are not compromised.