UW Medicine - Policies for US and Canadian Visiting Students

For US and Canadian Medical Students

The University of Washington School of Medicine will be using VSAS, the Visiting Student Application Service, to receive visiting student application for the 2009-2010 academic year. Applications may be submitted through VSAS starting on April 1, 2009. To apply to our school, please complete and send us a VSAS application for your preferred electives and dates. For more information on VSAS, please visit www.aamc.org/vsas or contact VSAS at vsas@aamc.org or (202) 478-9878. Only students from LCME accredited schools can apply through VSAS. Canadian students, D.O. students, and 2008/2009 applicants may apply using our standard application form. Please request an application form from the Visiting Student Program Coordinator at visitstu@u.washington.edu.

Eligibility:

- Currently enrolled in the M.D. or D.O. degree program at a school accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education or Education Department of the American Osteopathic Association

- Applicants must be in good standing

- Applicants must have a current BLS

- Medical student in their fourth or third year of M.D. or D.O. program

- Applicant must have completed all required core clerkships (The following basic clerkships must be completed prior to the start date of your requested elective: Medicine 12 weeks, Family Medicine 6 weeks, Obstetrics/Gynecology 6 weeks, Pediatrics 6 weeks, Surgery 6 weeks and Psychiatry 6 weeks.)

- Students must receive a passing score on the USMLE Step 1 examination or the National Board Osteopathic Medical Examiners certifying exam.

- Liability and Malpractice Insurance: A minimum coverage of $1 million per occurrence in malpractice/liability insurance coverage from the student’s home school or from other non-University of Washington sources is required for all visiting students. Student’s home school is required to certify amount of liability / malpractice insurance and that it is in effect during requested rotation. Applicants who do not have this level of malpractice insurance coverage must obtain additional coverage prior to submitting his/her application or the application will not be accepted.

- Copy of student’s personal health Insurance card with dates of coverage is included.

- Student has completed a training program in universal precautions ensuring the appropriate handling of blood, tissues, and body fluids during the time of his/her M.D. or D.O. training.

- Immunization form (pdf): students must submit the UW SOM immunization form posted on the VSAS website. If you are having difficulty submitting the form on VSAS, please print out this pdf and mail it to us. All required dates must be entered or application will not be considered.

Frequently Asked Questions

Adding / Dropping: All changes and cancellations must be done at least 6 weeks prior to the start of the requested clerkship date. This can be made in writing to the Visiting Student Program Coordinator either through mail correspondence or email at: visitstu@u.washington.edu. Fees are non-refundable.

Elective Block Schedule: Your dates of a requested elective must correspond with our UW Clinical Elective Block Schedule 2008/2009. Clinical Elective Block Schedule 2009/2010. No exceptions are made to this calendar. The new academic year begins in July. Inquiries regarding a clerkship’s availability should be directed to the department’s clerkship coordinator. Contact information is found under course listings.

Application deadlines: The school’s academic year begins in July. Applications are accepted beginning in April. All applications for Summer quarter 2009 must be received by May 22nd, 2009. Applications will be processed in the order they are received.

Application Requirements: All application forms must be received by the Office of Academic Affairs at least six weeks before the start of the requested elective in order to be considered.

VSAS applicants must complete the following items in addition to their VSAS application:

1. Verified Credentials National Criminal Background Check - Please complete the online application at: www.myvci.com/washington Select the box that says 'Medical Students'. The fee is $69 and is payable by credit card on the site. The Verified Credentials background report must include all elements the UW requires and be current within the last two years. This report includes a Washington State Patrol criminal background check which is required by state law. Please print out the 3-page Washington State Patrol Disclosure Statement, sign it and send it in with the background report. The background report will be available within 3-5 business days. Print out report and send or fax it to the Visiting Student Coordinator. STUDENT MUST SEND COPY OF BACKGROUND CHECK (the Visiting Student Program office does not receive a copy of the report unless it is sent by the student).

2. VA HIPAA Information Security Awareness and Privacy Training - All visiting students must complete VA HIPAA training regardless of requested site. Instructions for VA HIPAA:
a. Use the following url https://www.ees-learning.net
b. Click on New User and set up your own user name and password
c. Choose VA Other
d. Choose physician/resident/intern
e. Location VHA
f. Complete both the Information Security Awareness and Privacy Policy curriculum track. At the end you should be able to print out your own certificates of completion. Send a copy of the certificates with your application. Keep a copy of this in a safe place as you will need in the future to verify your completion status.

3. Personal Health Insurance: Mail in a copy of your health insurance card which includes dates of coverage.

4. UW SOM Essential Requirements for Medical Education Form pdf: Print out form, sign and mail in.

5. UW Privacy, Confidentiality, and Information Security Agreement Form pdf: Print out form, sign and mail in.

6. Evaluation Form: Enclose an evaluation form from your school. The department will fill it out and return it to your school. Credit for the elective is granted by your home institution, not by the University of Washington.

7. UW HIPAA Training - UW HIPAA training is required even if HIPAA training has already been completed at your home institution. The Visiting Student Coordinator will register you for UW HIPAA training after your application is complete. Allow two weeks to receive user id and log in information. Once the training is completed, print out completion report and send or fax it. The application will then be approved and forwarded to the department(s) where the clinical elective has been requested. An approved application does not guarantee an elective. The department will then contact you within 6 weeks of the start date of the elective to confirm availability of requested rotation.

8. Once you have been offerred an elective, please submit a check for the $100 processing fee to the address below. Checks can be made out to the University of Washington.

Checklist of items to mail in:
Washington State Patrol Disclosure Statement
Verified Credentials National Background Check
VA HIPAA Training Certificates (both Cyber and Privacy Policy)
Personal Health Insurance Card
UW SOM Essential Requirements of Medical Education Form
UW Privacy, Confidentiality, and Information Security Agreement Form
Evaluation Form from Home School
UW SOM Immunization Form (see VSAS or print above pdf)

Mail above documents to:
Visiting Student Program
UW School of Medicine
HSC-A300, Box 356340
1959 NE Pacific Pl.
Seattle WA 98195

Contact Info: Inquiries regarding the application process may be directed to the Visiting Student Coordinator at visitstu@u.washington.edu. Specific questions regarding clerkships, such as confirmation of availability and schedule, should be directed to the department’s clerkship coordinator. Contact information may be found under the department’s course listing (see below).

Course Listings by Department:

Obstetrics & Gynecology

Ophthalmology

Orthopaedics