An important potential contribution to the efficient use of the health workforce, is the possibility of "skill mix" changes. "Skill mix" is a relatively broad term which can refer to the mix of staff in the workforce or the demarcation of roles and activities among different categories of staff. Most of the policy attention on…

For a study of the basic competencies required by medical assistants, an instrument was developed listing 92 competencies and 9 cognitive domain statements. Respondents were asked their opinion on the level of importance and level of proficiency needed for job entry for each competency. Instruments were mailed to 100 physicians, 102 clinics, and…

Common complaints about physicians are that they don't care enough about patients, don't know enough to practice the best medicine, and don't do enough to maintain the public's trust. The best way for graduate medical education (GME) to address these complaints is to improve the educational content of residency programs. (MSE)

World War II brought a significant rise in the number of medical specialists because they were in great demand for treating battle casualties for returning veterans, and many recently discharged medical officers took advantage of the G.I. Bill to train in specialty and subspecialty medicine. A participant chronicles this process. (Author/MSE)

The reasons a skill mix among health workers is important to health care systems were examined. The analysis was based on a review of studies conducted primarily in the United States. "Skill mix" was defined as the mix of posts, grades, or occupations in an organization and the combinations of activities or skills needed for each job…