THE CHALLENGE OF MEDICAL SCHOOLS FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS -THE COST OF EQUIPMENT IS A MAJOR ISSUE FOR BOTH SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS
The challenge of being a medical student is also a challenge for medical schools. Medical students need to have a strong education and the right training and skills to become a professional and dedicated physician. It is the responsibility to medical school to provide students with all of those skills and training. To complete that task it takes faculty and it takes classrooms, labs, and equipment. This is not an easy job in times of tight budgets and less money being earmarked for education. The cost of medical school equipment continues to rise for both students and medical schools.
According to the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) it’s not as simple as putting a few more chairs in each classroom to keep up with the growing demand for physicians. The AAMC would like to increase the number of graduating MD’s thirty percent by 2015 to keep pace with the growing demand for physicians and the increasing growth of older Americans. To accomplish that task will take much planning and a lot of work. It will take funding to meet the cost of medical school equipment and supplies.
The AAMC does not want to place the burden of additional costs on students. The Association does not want students to have to buy their own medical school equipment for lab work and clinical sites. They have several recommendations for the future growth of medical schools and the quality of educating medical doctors.
The first objective is to find more classroom space and equipment for first and second year medical students. The second objective is to find more clinical sites for third and fourth year medical students. These two objectives will keep the student burden low and the quality of education high. The plan is to keep the present levels of student support services, despite the high cost in other areas.
The cost of becoming a M.D. is not paid for by tuition alone. It takes grants, alumni funding, government funding, corporation funding, and tax dollars to provide quality education to medical students and to all students. The key is to find ways to keep the student burden of cost to a minimum. This will give medical schools the conditions needed to train the doctors needed for tomorrow’s population. To cope with the cost of medical school equipment, colleges and universities will have to find new funding sources.
Medical students will find the cost of medical school equipment for medical school very reasonable. Most supplies, lab equipment, scrubs, lab coats, are at a minimum level. The costs for most of these materials are low and often times can be rented or purchased at bulk rates. Every medical school will be different so it is always best to investigate the practices and policies of your medical school.
|