profession
Online program improves medical residents' business knowledge
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Jan. 17, 2011
A Web-based program designed to teach about the business of health care helped residents improve their knowledge of business concepts and principles, according to a study in the December 2010 issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
"Residents have told us they lack instruction in practice management and the business of health care and feel underprepared for when they leave the training environment," said Linnea S. Hauge, PhD, lead study author and assistant professor of surgery at the University of Michigan Medical School.
Researchers at the school developed the program with business experts and evaluated its effectiveness on third- to sixth-year residents in general and plastic surgery. Twenty-two residents completed the program, which included multiple-choice tests at the beginning and end. The mean score improved from 59% on the pretest to 78% on the posttest (link).
The Web-based curriculum is beneficial because it provides flexibility for busy residents, Hauge said.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/01/17/prbf0117.htm.