This book compiles state-of-the art and science of health professions education into an international resource showcasing expertise in many and varied topics. It aligns profession-specific contributions with inter-professional offerings, and prompts readers to think deeply about their educational practices. The book explores the contemporary context of health professions education, its philosophical and theoretical underpinnings, whole of curriculum considerations, and its support of learning in clinical settings. In specific topics, it offers approaches to assessment, evidence-based educational methods, governance, quality improvement, scholarship and leadership in health professions education, and some forecasting of trends and practices. This book is an invaluable resource for students, educators, academics and anyone interested in health professions education.

The Institute of Medicine study Crossing the Quality Chasm (2001) recommended that an interdisciplinary summit be held to further reform of health professions education in order to enhance quality and patient safety. Health Professions Education: A Bridge to Quality is the follow up to that summit, held in June 2002, where 150 participants across disciplines and occupations developed ideas about how to integrate a core set of competencies into health professions education. These core competencies include patient-centered care, interdisciplinary teams, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and informatics. This book recommends a mix of approaches to health education improvement, including those related to oversight processes, the training environment, research, public reporting, and leadership. Educators, administrators, and health professionals can use this book to help achieve an approach to education that better prepares clinicians to meet both the needs of patients and the requirements of a changing health care system.

Make the most of your contribution to health care delivery! Allied Health: Practice Issues and Trends in the New Millennium is a comprehensive look at present and future concerns in the allied health care field. Leading experts in allied health practice and education address practice and policy issues that have developed as technology and a changing health care environment have created new and expanded roles for allied heath professionals. With the allied health field projected to add an estimated four million new jobs by 2005 in the United States alone, this book is an essential resource for maximizing the knowledge and skills necessary to deliver safe, efficient, effective, and equitable care. Allied Health: Practice Issues and Trends in the New Millennium presents an overview of the concerns facing the largest and most diverse pool of health workers in the United States as they provide disease detection, prevention, dietary, health promotion, rehabilitation and health management services at all levels of health care delivery. This unique book addresses critical issues that affect allied health practice, including managed health care, computer technology, drug information, and demographic trends in society, with an emphasis on implications for education. The book also includes appendices listing allied health organizations, accrediting agencies, and descriptions of federally recognized allied health professions. Allied Health: Practice Issues and Trends in the New Millennium presents information on: public policy research needs new directions for accreditation interprofessional collaborative alliances employment opportunities practice directions and much more! Allied health professionals play a critical role in health care delivery, comprising a significant portion of the health care work force with tremendous potential for addressing issues of health care cost, quality, and access within the health care system. Allied Health: Practice Issues and Trends in the New Millennium is an essential resource for the future of health care in the United States and a must read for allied health care educators and students, and health care policymakers.