Medical student instructional costs in a primary care clerkship

• Published in: Journal of medical education Vol. 54; no. 7; p. 551
• Main Authors: Pawlson, L G, Schroeder, S A, Donaldson, M S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-07-1979
• Subjects: Ambulatory Care; Costs and Cost Analysis; District of Columbia; Education, Medical, Undergraduate; Family Practice - education; Humans; Teaching; District of Columbia
• ISSN: 0022-2577
• DOI: 10.1097/00001888-197907000-00005

Using a variety of techniques, such as logs kept daily by the faculty, direct observation, and on-site interviews, the authors determined the instructional costs of a required third-year primary care clerkship based in an ambulatory care setting. Included in the analysis were labor costs of both faculty members and nonfaculty personnel, space and materials, and general university overhead. Total instructional costs were $54.20/student/day. If other third-year clinical clerkships generate equivalent costs, the direct instructional costs of clerkships for third-year medical students would be in excess of $11,500/student/year. The study results imply that ambulatory-based teaching of medical students generates considerable costs and thus requires support from student tuition, federal or state government, or other sources.