Impact of a family practice residency on a community hospital: a case study of costs and benefits.

A modified framework of cost-benefit analysis, including explication of direct, indirect, and intangible costs and benefits, is used to assess the financial impact of a university-affiliated family practice residency program upon a community hospital. During resident year 1978-79 it was found that a community hospital affiliated with the University of Utah Family Practice Residency Program may have experienced a net financial benefit of as much as $243,543 or a net financial cost of as much as $12,537. At the same time, the hospital is likely to have experienced substantial intangible benefits and moderate intangible costs. This approach may have utility in similar settings where community hospitals support family practice resident education.