BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Gov. Charlie Baker has announced measures to get hundreds more medical professional working inside Massachusetts hospitals, as the state prepares for an increase in coronavirus patients.
"So far we've made it simple for our medical professionals to work in different hospitals and in different specialities," Baker said at a press conference Friday morning. "We've made it more possible to bring more manpower over state lines in to Massachusetts, and to bring back doctors and nurses in good standing who may have retired."
Gov. Baker said his administration will also be cutting red tape in an effort to get more new medical professionals on the frontlines.
"Today.... the Board of Registration of Medicine is giving medical school graduates who match a specific criteria an emergency 90 day limited license to practice medicine to help in the fight against COVID-19," Baker said. "This will be granted for an intern, resident, or fellow at a Massachusetts healthcare facility or training program that has been approved by the Board."
In order to qualify for this license, Baker said medical residents can fill out an application, which will then be submitted by the program or facility.
"If approved, the resident will get a license to be able to start supporting our healthcare institutions," Baker said.
The announcement comes a day after Boston's four medical schools said they would agree to graduating students a month early, on April 17. That includes nearly 700 students at Boston University, Tufts University, Harvard University and the University of Massachusetts.
(Photo: Getty Images)
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