title: Curriculum changes to meet challenges: preparing MFT students for managed care settings.
abstract: Fledgling therapists who graduate from family therapy training programs will have to navigate the world of managed care. In this article, faculty of University of San Diego share changes in its accredited training program that prepare students for practice in an increasingly multidisciplinary world where health maintenance organizations and other versions of managed care predominate. The paper touches on contextual issues, provides a detailed outline of coursework presenting basic knowledge and skills involved in clinical practice in a managed care environment, and comments on clinical placements and the challenge of helping the next generation of clinicians "fit" into the future of health care delivery while maintaining their unique identity as family therapists.
authors.affiliation: Marriage and Family Therapy Program, University of San Diego, CA 92110, USA.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McIntosh-Koontz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baron
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bischoff
mesh_terms: D002140:California; D003479:Curriculum; D004995:Ethics, Professional; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000193:education*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008329:Managed Care Programs; D008388:Marital Therapy / Q000193:education*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000639:trends; D017146:Models, Organizational