Medical Students Could Start Illinois Residencies Behind Schedule
By: Sophie Nielsen-Kolding WMBD/WYZZ-TV
Updated: February 22, 2013
PEORIA- A delay in a state licensing department means thousands of medical students could be barred from starting their residencies.
Federal budget cuts means it could now take up to 18 months to process physicians licenses. While that affects new doctors and doctors who need to renew, medical students might have their hands tied too.
They've already ranked where they'd like to do their residencies, and if it's in Illinois, the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Peoria said they could be in trouble.
"Now this is a huge issue because you know you finish medical school, you have all your debts, you're supposed to start work July first and you cant work, you can't see a patient until you have your license," said Sara Rusch, a dean at UICOMP.
Rusch said those doctors-in-training will find out where they're matched next month.
She said she hopes the state can pass legislation that would cut down on that processing time, and raise the licensing fee.
