Looking to the Future: Health Professions Education in Texas.

Overview & Synopsis

This report analyzes how the Texas higher education system will meet the needs of future health care professionals. The report examines: (1) medical education needs (physician supply, physician distribution, medical schools' responses to physician distribution, and distribution of medical schools and regional academic health centers); (2) national and state nursing education needs; and (3) allied health professions needs (the view from the community, rising degree requirements, and student transferability of credit). The Council for AID to Education presents its conclusions to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The report notes the importance of recognizing the strong connection between health professions education issues and changes in the health care financing and delivery system. It also finds that while the supply of Texas physicians is sufficient overall, the supply is inadequate in certain areas; it suggests that the severity of the prospective nursing shortage must be assayed, and strategies must be designed to respond to it; and it suggests that more descriptive information about allied health professions education is needed if coherent policies are to be developed. Appended is a primer that describes the allied health professions and their education for an audience outside the field. (SM)