Retired doctors, students, called to frontlines of COVID-19 pandemic

Some states hit hardest by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) are recruiting retired healthcare workers and student doctors and nurses to help handle the surge in severely ill patients.  

Medical practitioners on the frontlines of the COVID-19 response are working overtime with a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE). Those who test positive are ordered into mandatory quarantine.

States including New York and California have issued executive orders temporarily allowing retired doctors and nurses to return to work, broadening nurses’ scope of practice, and bringing on medical school and nursing students who are close to graduating into the workforce.

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) issued new guidance last week for states to follow when determining who can graduate early and be immediately deployed in hospitals and residencies. The American Association of Colleges of Nurses issued similar guidance.

Medical licensure requirements vary by state. However, some have been temporarily adjusted in response to COVID-19, according to a survey published by the AAMC. Retired healthcare workers in most states must have held a license in good standing and actively practiced within the past one to five years. Requirements still vary by state.

We at Integrative Practitioner recognize that many of our contributors and community members are being called to help respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are here to support you and your colleagues. Please reach out to [email protected] to share your story.

Editor’s note: Click here for more information and ongoing COVID-19 updates for integrative healthcare professionals.