The costs and benefits of clinical education

Although health care facilities must invest staff time, cope with superviso ry stress, provide materials, allocate space, and pay student stipends, the y receive many benefits by participating in clinical education programs for students of the allied health professions. The primary benefit is the oppo rtunity to recruit graduates. This allows for increased revenue from studen t contributions that offsets the expense of staff time spent on teaching. A nother benefit is the maintenance and upgrading of staff skills. Methods to calculate these costs and benefits are available but not standardized.