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The Tufts partnership for managed care education
R R Phillips1, M Y Lee, H A Berman
1Tufts, Managed Care Institute (TMCI), Boston, MA 02111, USA.
Summary
The Tufts Managed Care Institute was established to train healthcare professionals for effective practice in managed care settings. It integrates managed care principles into medical education and offers faculty development, fostering collaboration between academia and health plans.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Medical Education
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Recognized need for collaboration between Tufts University School of Medicine and Tufts Health Plan.
- Identified critical characteristics of ideally prepared managed care practitioners through expert interviews.
- Established an advisory committee to oversee a six-month feasibility study.
Purpose of the Study:
- Describe the formation and academic activities of the Tufts Managed Care Institute.
- Focus on academic initiatives for medical students, residents, and faculty.
- Foster collaboration between academic institutions and health plans.
Main Methods:
- Integrated managed care principles into existing medical school courses, problem-based learning, and clerkships.
- Developed managed care curricula for primary care residents through grant funding.
- Conducted faculty development via workshops, seminars, and interdisciplinary dialogue.
Main Results:
- Positive initial responses from both local and external stakeholders.
- Fostered increased contact and collaboration between academic faculty and managed care professionals.
- Established a dedicated institute structure with full-time staff for focused managed care education.
Conclusions:
- The institute successfully integrated managed care education and fostered interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Sustaining the institute requires ongoing resource allocation and long-term impact evaluation.
- The partnership aims to equip practitioners for success in a transforming healthcare landscape.