Cost Effectiveness in Medical Education

Book excerpt: With economic winter facing many healthcare and health education budgets, the high costs of medical education are bringing it under close scrutiny. However, the costs of not providing high quality medical education - not least human costs in morbidity and mortality from medical error - are also high, presenting medical educators, funding managers, policy makers and economists with an unenviable dilemma. To add to their difficulties, remarkably little has been written on cost effectiveness in medical education, including how to calculate costs, how to get maximal value for money and even what constitutes value for money. In this book, the first of its kind, world leading experts comprehensively outline what is known about cost effectiveness in each of their fields. Undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing professional education are all explored, as are e-learning, simulation, cost benefit analysis and numerous other areas. Lecturers and researchers in medical education, clinical tutors and educational supervisors and appraisers, managers responsible for funding medical education and health economists and health policy makers and shapers will find this an invaluable resource. 'An excellent analysis and explanation of an under-explored subject' - from the Foreword by Sir Liam Donaldson.