Advances in Medical Education and Practice (Jan 2021)

Viewpoints on Healthcare Delivery Science Education Among Practicing Physicians in a Rural State

  • Weeks K,
  • Swanson M,
  • Manorot A,
  • Conley G,
  • Nellis J,
  • Charlton M,
  • Reed A

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 12
pp. 29 – 39

Abstract

Read online

Kristin Weeks,1,2 Morgan Swanson,1,2 Amanda Manorot,3 Gabriel Conley,4,5 Joseph Nellis,6 Mary Charlton,2 Alan Reed7 1Medical Scientist Training Program, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; 2Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; 4Medical Training Program, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; 5Department of Business, Tippie College of Business, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; 6Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; 7Department of Surgery, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USACorrespondence: Alan ReedDepartment of Surgery, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, SE 427 GH, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USATel +1 319-356-0537Email [email protected]: Healthcare Delivery Science Education (HDSE) covers important aspects of the business of medicine, including, operations management, managerial accounting, entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, negotiations, e-health and policy/advocacy. We need to investigate and understand practicing physicians’ viewpoints on HDSE in order to inform interventions capable of preventing the double loss phenomena and improving medical and continuing medical education opportunities in HDSE. This qualitative study aims to provide a rich, contextualized understanding of the HDSE experiences and interests of physicians practicing in a rural state through the intensive study of particular cases.Materials and Methods: We interviewed 18 practicing physicians from a rural, Midwestern state over the telephone about their viewpoints on past experiences obtaining HDSE, interest in HDSE, barriers to pursuing HDSE, and interest in an example HDSE certificate program.Results: Salient themes in our study were that physicians were interested in HDSE and believed HDSE could lead to improved patient care and practice efficiency. However, many of the respondents had not received longitudinal, diversified, didactic or practical HDSE. Time limited many physicians from pursuing HDSE opportunities. Many physicians in the study were interested in the example HDSE certificate program.Discussion and Conclusions: Physicians in our qualitative study were interested in obtaining HDSE and had not received diversified, didactic HDSE in the past. Our research suggests innovative HDSE programs will likely be utilized and pursued if they are developed.Keywords: healthcare delivery science, rural, management, continuing medical education, healthcare leadership

Keywords