Employers' Viewpoint on Clinical Education

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Education
• Allied Health Professions
• Clinical Training

Background:

• Healthcare employers' perspectives on allied health (AH) clinical education are vital for program improvement.
• Understanding employer needs can enhance clinical-educational partnerships.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore employer views on the importance, benefits, and challenges of AH clinical education.
• To identify opportunities for strengthening clinical-educational partnerships.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving interviews with 21 healthcare employers.
• Data collected by members of the Clinical Education Task Force (CETF).
• Analysis conducted using qualitative software.

Main Results:

• Employers recognize benefits of engaging students and hiring trainees.
• Obstacles include the time and effort required to host students.
• Identified gaps between academic preparation and clinical performance.
• Trends include increased technology/regulation and anticipated changes in learning models and payment for clinical education.

Conclusions:

• Effective collaboration between educators and employers is essential.
• Curriculum and outcomes must align with field needs.
• This alignment ensures students are prepared as entry-level clinicians.