The author reviews the historical use of effort measure in cost allocation studies, examines criticism of the effort technique, and reports on several recent attempts by academic health centers to achieve a more valid measure of faculty activities. (Editor)

This paper presents a historical review of applications of effort-reporting in medical education, comments on key methodological issues and describes a revised methodology of a 2-step estimating process that is flexible enough to accommodate a multidisciplinary medical education. (Editor/PG)

Program cost allocation as a routine accounting procedure at all medical schools would provide valuable information for planning. (Editor)

United Hospital in North Dakota, a primary teaching hospital associated with the University of North Dakota, has developed a program to provide on-site continuing medical education to outlying community hospitals and family medicine staff. The development, implementation and cost of the program are discussed. (JMD)

Findings are reported from a survey of all U.S. medical school continuing education departments. The following attributes appeared to have a relationship to most programs: target group specialty; locale of presentation, cost per instructional day, method for identifying educational needs, and sponsor's rationale for program effectiveness. (LBH)

The Independent Study Program (ISP) at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry is described and its objectives specified. Data are reported for measures of achievement, personality characteristics, and academic-professional experience. Costs and faculty evaluation of the program are also given. (Author/LBH)

Analysis of the University of Michigan's eight-year-old medical service plan looks at its revenue and expenses, impact on medical school programs of education, research, and patient care, and the environment influencing chairman and faculty recruitment and retention. A survey identified factors important in the plan's success. (Author/MSE)

A program that uses the clinical librarian as a member of the patient care team has been developed by an obstetrics and gynecology department of a university medical center to keep faculty and hospital house staff knowledgeable about current developments and research. Program objectives, methodology, costs, evaluation, and information utilization…

Medical student instructional costs were determined for a required third-year primary care clerkship based in an ambulatory care setting. Included in the analysis were labor costs of faculty and other personnel, space, materials, and university overhead. Implications of the high costs generated by such clerkships are discussed. (Author/JMD)

The University of Michigan Medical School has established a mechanism for cosponsoring educational activities in the University of Michigan Hospital that provides medical faculty and staff with access to continuing medical education credit in the context of medical practice. (Author/JMD)

The key element in a clerkship in family practice at Community Hospital, Santa Rosa, California, is the student's General Medical Clinic. Under the supervision of a family physician teacher, senior medical students work as a team with family nurse practitioners caring for patients. (Author/JMD)

The University of New Mexico Health Science Center offers an elective, weekly clinical experience for preclinical medical students, senior nursing students, and senior pharmacy students at a prison facility in need of medical services. Student reaction has been strongly positive and inmates have rated the student service highly. (Author/JMD)