Protecting time for teaching in the ambulatory care setting

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Academic Medicine
• Healthcare Systems

Background:

• The increasing demand for clinical productivity in academic medical centers is reducing protected time and compensation for clinical teachers.
• This pressure for efficiency may lead to insufficient teaching time, potentially causing preceptors to cease teaching and creating an illusion of minimal time requirements for comprehensive education.
• The diminishing quality of clinical education poses a significant risk to the future of American healthcare and the training of young physicians.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss the complexities and time demands of clinical teaching, particularly in outpatient settings.
• To address the potential negative impacts of prioritizing efficiency over educational quality in academic medical centers.
• To propose recommendations for maintaining high-quality clinical education, especially in ambulatory care environments.

Main Methods:

• The authors discuss the multifaceted nature of clinical teaching and its inherent time requirements.
• Analysis of the challenges specific to teaching in outpatient settings.
• Review of the impact of efficiency drives on educational resources and preceptor engagement.

Main Results:

• The pursuit of efficiency in clinical settings poses a threat to the educational mission of academic medical centers.
• Scarcity of protected time and compensation for clinical teachers is a growing concern.
• There is a risk of insufficient teaching time and a potential decline in the number of clinical preceptors.

Conclusions:

• Academic medical centers must recognize their dual role as educational institutions and training grounds, providing broad-based education alongside clinical skills training.
• The complex process of clinical teaching requires adequate time allocation for all phases, including planning, instruction, and reflection.
• Specific recommendations are needed to ensure the delivery of high-quality medical education in ambulatory care settings to safeguard the future of healthcare.