Johnson bill to expand training opportunities for local medical school students gains House passage
A bill sponsored by Rep. Norm Johnson which is aimed directly at increasing opportunities for medical students to participate in clinical rotations gained unanimous approval today in the state House of Representatives.
As a part of their education, Johnson says medical students must work for certain periods in rotation with hospitals and/or with doctors to gain firsthand knowledge of the practice of medicine. These working periods are known as “clinical rotations.”
House Bill 1183 would prohibit entities that receive state funds from entering into agreements with hospitals or physicians that would prevent medical students from participating in clinical rotations.
“We are having a loss of doctors through retirements. This bill would speed up the rotations for medical students to complete their third and fourth years so they can become doctors and begin serving many of the underserved areas of the state of Washington,” said Johnson, R-Yakima.
Johnson noted the legislation would be particularly helpful for medical students from the Pacific Northwest Health Sciences University in Yakima who are being sent to hospitals throughout the region for training.
“I’m especially grateful to Representative Eileen Cody, the chair of the House Health Care and Wellness Committee. Without her help, it would have been difficult to pass this important legislation,” concluded Johnson.
The measure passed the House, 94-0. It now goes to the Senate for further consideration.
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