Papers from an Arizona State University conference on "Professional Continuing Education"--including the fields of business and industry, labor, education, allied health, and government--are presented. A variety of perspectives on the needs of professionals and opportunities for continuing education are provided by such contributors as a dean of…

Critical decisions that need to be made by faculties of health administration education programs when developing and assessing the health services management portion of the curriculum are identified. Decisions should draw from the information available concerning professional target roles of graduates, graduate behavior expected, resources for…

One area of communication education that is ripe for growth is that of health communication, where human communication knowledge is adapted to the demands of health care practice. The development of interdisciplinary communication programs such as curricula in health communication can begin to bridge the gap in knowledge between different…

Proceedings are presented from the American Nursing Association (ANA) conference for members and professional employees of state boards of nursing and the ANA advisory council. In addition to opening remarks and discussion comments, the following papers are presented: "The DHEW Secretary's Report on Licensure: A Summary," by Ronald J.…

An expert in medical education discusses the need for change in aspects of that field, including curriculum content, training sites, faculty roles, and collaborative research and teaching, and notes trends and issues in general health occupations education that may have implications for pharmaceutical education as well. (MSE)

This report describes the work of a task force of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the American Organization of Nurse Executives that was organized to delineate the competencies needed to provide for effective and efficient use of all workforce personnel and for more efficient use of the variety of programs that prepare nursing…

Discusses the key characteristics of clinical simulation, some developmental foundations, two current research studies, and some implications for the future of health science education. Investigations of the effects of computer-based simulation indicate that acquisition of decision-making skills is greater than with noncomputerized simulations.…

Recommendations for a program in rehabilitative optometry include discussion of its need, development of the plan, and competency objectives and their relationship to practice. Also discussed is a plan for program implementation, including organizational and administrative considerations, required resources, residencies, and curriculum goals. (MSE)

Areas in which pharmacy educators and practitioners can collaborate to hasten pharmacy curriculum development are outlined, including: state and regional centers for operationalizing the pharmaceutical care concept; training, formal resource programs for pharmacists; research advisory boards; public education; links with medical community;…

This paper argues that major curriculum revisions are needed in all dental schools, particularly to train dentists as oral physicians who can treat oral health in the context of overall physical health, as in other medical specialties. An Institute of Medicine report, "Dental Education at the Crossroads," is criticized as supporting a…

A national center for health professions education research is proposed to facilitate well-funded, peer-reviewed, and academically credible research in health professions education. The center's goal would be to allow for the testing of models to provide education grounded in sound methodology and content. (Author/MSE)

Economic and social trends that will affect the health care system are examined, including federal health care reform efforts, federal budget trimming through managed care and cost-cutting, declines in state spending, adoption of single-payer systems, growing competition in the private sector (mergers, alliances, acquisitions), dominance of health…

Implications of competency-based education for dental assistants and hygienists are examined. Such an approach would provide assistance in defining evolving roles in delivery of dental care; help in defining national competencies and analyzing appropriateness of current care; and a mechanism for developing curriculum that responds to community…

Medical faculty must ensure that students understand the appropriate balance between financial and professional considerations. Faculty should place financial considerations in proper perspective and should teach the basic components of professionalism, how current cost-containment efforts may threaten medicine's professional status, appropriate…

Discussion of the future of clinical dentistry looks at a variety of influences, including historical development factors; demographic trends; the role of the Human Genome Project in the development of scientific knowledge; a paradigm shift in approaches to oral infection and systemic disease; advancing technology; and reforms resulting from these…