Task analysis in health manpower development and utilization.

Abstract

Job analysis and tast analysis are systems methods which examine the functions of individuals and allocate these functions into job descriptions which can make for a better utilization of health manpower by a restructuring of the jobs of health professionals and a restructuring of curricula as a reflection of the jobs to be performed. These analytic methods have had limited application to the health field. This methodology was applied to the education of a nonphysician family health team for an inner-city prepaid comprehensive health center and staff development at a health maintenance organization, and has served as the basis for the curriculum of an associate degree physician's assistant program and a baccalaureate degree health associate program. Among the advantages for the application of this method are the interrelationship of resulting jobs rather than isolation and career mobility in both the work situation and curricula. Constraints include the lack of entry level jobs, the prestige of the Bachelor's Degree, the need for proficiency tests for advanced standing, tuition costs, and the traditional attitudes of health agencies on release time and educational institutions on basic requirements.