Competencies for population-based clinical managers. A survey of managed care medical directors.
BACKGROUND
The evolution of American health care into integrated systems of delivery and finance requires a specialized set of population-based skills for physicians. The field of preventive medicine represents one source of this expertise. Specific competencies for the emerging area of managerial medicine have not been well delineated.


METHODS
Using concept documents from the Residency Review Committee for Preventive Medicine and the American Board of Preventive Medicine, a list of proposed competencies for managerial medicine was identified. Surveys were mailed to medical directors of all members of the American Association of Health Plans and to a random sample of diplomates of the American Board of Preventive Medicine. Respondents were asked to rate the importance of these competencies for a population-oriented clinician manager.


RESULTS
Areas rated highly by medical directors included health services research (including outcome research), quality assurance and improvement, health risk assessment and reduction, programmatic skills, and clinical preventive skills. Responses from preventive medicine specialists were similar, but placed lower emphasis on these skills.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite its limited response rate, this survey may be useful in the implementation of specialty training in managerial medicine. Residency training programs may choose to emphasize specific content area that reflect the priorities expressed by physicians actively involved in management.
Halbert
R J
RJ
Preventive Medicine Residency, University of California Los Angeles, 90095-1772, USA.
Bokor
A
A
Castrence-Nazareno
R
R
Parkinson
M D
MD
Lewis
C E
CE
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002568:Certification / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004501:Education, Medical; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000592:standards*; D004813:Epidemiology / Q000193:education; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006298:Health Services Administration; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008511:Medicine / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008486:Physician Executives / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011315:Preventive Medicine / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards*; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D013038:Specialization; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce