Managed care education in osteopathic medical schools: development of a fourth-year predoctoral healthcare management clerkship.

This article describes the current managed care curricula in osteopathic medical schools and summarizes the development and implementation of a healthcare management clerkship for fourth-year osteopathic medical students at Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Results of a survey of the 19 osteopathic medical schools indicated that only three schools currently have a stand-alone, managed care elective. No schools have required managed care courses, clerkships, or rotations. The remaining osteopathic medical schools have incorporated managed care-related topics into courses in their schools' curricula. To produce physicians fully competent to succeed in the 21st century's managed healthcare environment, medical schools need to affiliate with managed care organizations, integrate more managed care components into their curricula, and develop required or elective stand-alone managed care courses and clerkships. This article describes content to be integrated in a predoctoral managed care clerkship, including goals and objectives. It also describes the components and learning activities of Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine's Healthcare Management Clerkship.