Hospitals, Policy

What does the future of medical education look like? These 5 medical schools offer some clues

Medical schools have been preparing for the changes healthcare reform is bringing. Many have framed […]

Medical schools have been preparing for the changes healthcare reform is bringing. Many have framed their education around iPads and other tablets, and are encouraging more of their students to focus on primary care as physician shortages are expected to worsen. From accelerated programs to a technology focus, the description of some of the innovative approaches proposed to obtain some of the $11 million in grants being offered by the American Medical Association over the next five years offers a window to their thinking about healthcare reform.

Combined primary care degree: Brown University’s Warren Alpert Medical School is setting up a dual degree in primary care and population health. “The goal is to educate a new type of physician with a primary care background,” its proposal said.

Accelerated degrees: University of California — Davis School of Medicine is creating a three-year accelerated primary care program in collaboration with Kaiser Permanente called the Accelerated Competency-based Education in Primary Care program.

Technology focus: New York University’s Medical School is offering an accelerated three-year program with a focus on technology-led curriculum to improve care coordination and quality improvement, according to a description of the program. A virtual patient panel using de-identified patient data from NYU Langone Medical Center physician network practices will help create a real-world clinical setting for students.

Outcomes-based care: University of Michigan’s Medical School is creating a program in which students develop leadership and change management skills alongside a study concentration. They will participate in a clinical and educational community called the “M Home,” — which will provide relationships with core faculty and connections to clinical settings that will link improved learning with improved patient outcomes.

Patient safety: Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University has proposed a comprehensive core curriculum in patient safety for all medical students. It will include simulation, problem-based learning, clinical skills training and targeted clinical experiences. It takes an interdisciplinary approach with other health-related courses to develop interprofessional skills and prep students to successfully lead healthcare teams for systems-based healthcare transformation. There will also be an emphasis on rural and underserved populations. Faculty will be trained to provide the new curriculum.

 [Photo Credit: chanpipat]

 

 

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