Response to 'The full costs of patient educators'

摘要

Kieran Walsh provides a thoughtful critique of our paper, 'The educational and financial impact of using patient educators to teach introductory physical exam skills'. Specifically, he questions the sources of cost included in our calculations comparing patient educators with physicians as instructors in teaching introductoiy physical exam skills. As he notes, "the costs of training, space, exam supplies, and faculty time were not included" and our claim of "amortization... is uncertain". As he rightly points out, both of these points beg further explanation. The answer lies, at least in part, in the business model underlying our clinical skills programming, facilities and services.