Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said at a Friday afternoon press conference that Colorado-based Centura Health is sending 25 nurses to New Jersey on Sunday to work at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center, Saint Peter’s University Hospital and Trinitas Regional Medical Center.

The directive was issued by New Jersey native Peter Banko, president and chief executive officer of Centura, and a former executive at Saint Clare’s Health Services in Denville.

That same day, Gov. Phil Murphy and Attorney General Gurbir Grewal also announced physicians who are licensed in another country but living in the United States can now apply for a temporary emergency license to practice medicine in New Jersey—the first program of its kind in the country, according to Murphy.

The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs will begin accepting applications for the program immediately.

“New Jersey is the first state in the nation to fully embrace the tremendous wealth of international knowledge and experience to help us on our own front lines,” said Murphy. “This will create a pathway for foreign-licensed physicians to put their skills to use in our state when and where they are needed most. Every member of our diverse New Jersey family has a role to play in our fight against COVID-19.”

Persichilli said that New Jersey’s frontline health care workers have been valiantly caring for residents with COVID-19 for weeks.

The program is open to individuals living and authorized to work in the U.S. who are currently licensed, in good standing, to practice medicine in another country. Among other criteria, eligible candidates must:

• Have engaged in the clinical practice of medicine for at least five years;
• Have not been out of practice for more than five years;
• Have no disciplinary or criminal histories that preclude them from the program; and
• Provide copies of relevant documents to support their application, including their medical license, and information about their education and professional experience.

Physicians licensed under this program will be required to limit their practice of medicine in New Jersey to providing in-person medical care at facilities licensed by the New Jersey Department of Health or at another location designated as an emergency health care center by the commissioner of health.

The temporary emergency licenses granted under the program will not extend beyond the current public health emergency.

Paul Rodríguez, acting director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, said that through its professional licensing boards, the DCA is doing everything in its power to expand New Jersey’s health care workforce and make sure residents have access to care when they need it most

“Today we are furthering that mission by expanding the pool of experienced physicians who can assist on the frontlines on an emergency basis,” said Rodríguez.

Foreign-licensed doctors can apply for temporary emergency licensure online on the Division’s website.