A cost/benefit study of clinical education in selected allied health programs

The purpose of this study is to analyze the costs and benefits to health care facilities of participating in the clinical education of allied health students. The subjects of this study are six allied health education programs offered at Miami-Dade Community College in affiliation with 37 health care facilities. Data for the study were gathered by survey instruments distributed to supervisors and staff members of the clinical affiliates. Respondents were asked to estimate the amount of time devoted to educational activities and the cost of any supplies used for educational purposes. The average of these reported figures constitutes the debit or cost aspect of the affiliation. The credit or benefit aspect includes the contribution of students to performance of the daily workload. The results of the surveys were compiled, and the averages of the responses were presented in table form. In all six allied health programs, the debit sum was greater than the credit sum. The final figures reported are the costs per student per day for each of the programs.