ABSTRACT
ISSUE: This qualitative study gathered the opinions of healthcare employers to better understand the importance, benefits, obstacles, and evolving issues related to allied health (AH) clinical education from the employers' perspective, with the goal to identify opportunities to strengthen and improve clinical-educational partnerships. METHOD: Member deans of the Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions (ASAHP) provided names and contact information of employers that routinely educate their students. Interviews were scheduled with employers who responded to Clinical Education Task Force (CETF) invitation. Twenty-one interviews were conducted by CETF members in early 2016 and analyzed utilizing qualitative software. OUTCOMES: Themes included benefits of working with students and hiring trainees, and obstacles of time and effort required to host students. A trend was noted in gaps between educational preparation and clinical performance. Recent changes highlighted increased technology and regulation, while anticipated changes included more focus on learning on site, longer clinical experiences, and payment for clinical education. CONCLUSION: Collaboration between educators and employers is essential to ensure that curriculum and outcomes match the needs of the field and effectively prepare students as entry-level clinicians.
