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THE
FELLOWSHIP
The fellowship
is a preceptor-directed program that focuses on nurturing independence
and learning through measurement and evaluation of progress toward defined
educational objectives. It provides practical learning experience in a
healthcare organization beyond graduate-level academic instruction and
residency experience, and usually lasts one to two years. Some fellowships
are general in nature, while others specialize in multi-hospital systems,
academic medical centers, corporate administration, health insurance,
or group practice management. Though the sponsoring organization may later
offer the fellow permanent employment, in general, the organization has
no commitment to do so, and the postgraduate fellow has no commitment
to accept an offer if one is made.
The following
illustrate common characteristics of effective fellowships:
- They are well-planned, with enough flexibility to allow the fellow
to develop his or her own learning opportunities consistent with the
needs of the fellow and the organization.
- They include a high degree of preceptorial involvement by one or more
individuals.
- They offer a preponderance of opportunities for the fellow to take
part in active, hands-on, substantive projects that foster development
of verbal, interpersonal, and analytical skills. The emphasis of the
fellowship should be on active involvement. In addition, exposure to
management decision-making processes and board of trustee activities,
while often passive, is also important and integral to the content of
the fellowship.
- The emphasis of the fellowship is on leadership. The fellow should
be offered opportunities both to observe effective leadership in others
and to develop his or her own leadership skills.
- They allow the fellow to learn to work independently, as the individual’s
management skills grow and develop.
- They provide that the fellow is treated as a professional and colleague,
not as a student or intern.
- They provide the fellow with the opportunity to integrate healthcare
management theory and application.
- They offer maximum and effective use of the fellow’s time.
- They include measurable growth and development of the fellow with
evaluation sessions based on predetermined criteria throughout the fellowship.
Performance criteria should be determined early in the fellowship program.
- They include timely, candid, and outcome-oriented evaluations by the
preceptor and other seasoned leaders in the organization.
Organizations
committed to creating or maintaining fellowships are encouraged to use
the following objectives, guidelines, and responsibilities to develop
programs tailored to meet corporate goals as well as the goals of the
fellow.
Importance
of Objectives
The structure and content of an effective fellowship grow out
of the goals of the fellow and the organization. In planning fellowship
activities, the fellow, in conjunction with the preceptor, is encouraged
to first identify long-range career goals. These can then be used to develop
short-term career objectives and structure fellowship projects and content.
These career objectives are most likely to be achieved when they are consistent
with the objectives, values, and culture of the sponsoring organization.
The preceptor is responsible for ensuring that such consistency is present.
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