Research in Medical Education

Abstract

The surge in managed health care organizations has profound consequences for the future of academic medical centers and for physicians' clinical education. Traditionally, physicians trained in academic medical centers had been ensured access to large numbers of patients with a wide variety of illnesses, some of whom could be observed for extended periods. Newly evolving managed care arrangements threaten to decrease the number and alter the mix of patients referred to academic medical centers, thus necessitating new training models. What impact are the new organizational forms for delivering health care having on academic health centers, faculty, and educational programs for medical students and resident physicians? InThe Journal's 1996 medical education issue, we would like to see articles reporting research on and analysis of changes in the ways physicians are being trained at all stages of the education process. Related topics in urgent need of attention include how academic