Applied business training: the latest continuing education for physicians.
Due to rapid changes in the health care industry, physicians are being asked to do much more than just take care of patients. They need an arsenal of additional skills if they want to survive in a shifting health care environment characterized by cost consciousness, competition, and fear of decreasing service quality. Consequently, doctors are searching for opportunities to learn more about the business side of managed care. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's School of Business Administration, along with Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Tennessee, the Chattanooga Unit of the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, and Erlanger Medical Center, has developed management education courses for area physicians. This article outlines the implementation of the continuing education programs and provides suggestions for others considering such a program, as well as ideas for future business school and physician education linkages.
Blankenbaker
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RG
College of Medicine-Chattanooga Unit, University of Tennessee, USA.
Fletcher
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LP
Helms
M M
MM
D003132:Commerce / Q000193:education*; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D007857:Leadership; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013714:Tennessee; D014495:Universities