Tip of the week: Don't ignore time gaps

Time gaps of more than 30 days since the provider began medical training must be explained. This makes it very important to ensure that the application asks for information in a month/year format. The practitioner’s CV should also outline activities in a month/year format and be in concert with the information provided on the application. Comparing these two documents and filling in the gaps is a critical part of an MSP’s work.

Why is it important to know about time gaps? Suppose that an applicant has a gap of six months between internship and residency. Normally, there is no gap between internship and residency. The physician could have been in an assistance program for alcohol or drug abuse. There could have been health issues that prevented them from continuing training. The gap could also be as easily explained as family issues that caused a delay in training or the inability to match with a desired residency program. MSPs will not know until they investigate.

The burden to provide all requested information is on the applicant. MSPs are under no obligation to process an application until all requested information has been completed and submitted, including any additional information that may be necessary to prove current competency (e.g., procedure logs) and address concerns that may arise.