Academic medical centers: conflict from within.
The degree to which the priorities and constituencies of schools of medicine and university hospitals coincide and conflict is examined by the authors who suggest that the differences need not result in continuing unresolved disputes. Because federal support for primary care is likely to continue, medical school emphasis on this area will grow. However, by recognizing that the cost of primary care is highest in the university hospital setting, both the medical schools and university hospitals should realize that the university hospital cannot continue to serve as the sole clinical training ground for primary care physicians. Possible initiatives that might satisfy the interests of university hospitals and meet the educational responsibilities of the medical schools include: (1) the development of regional hospital consortiums which coordinate education and patient services by clinical specialty; (2) the development and expansion of area health education centers to include other non-tertiary care providers; and (3) the growth of medical school based health maintenance organizations. The authors suggest that medical schools and university hospital centers should plan programs that match academic needs with both resource availability and service obligations.
D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration