Guidelines for a curriculum in healthcare quality and resource management.

Issues of quality pervade American society. Demands for accountability for the quality of and the resources utilized in delivering healthcare services are coming from consumer advocacy groups, regulatory agencies, third-party payers, and corporate purchasers of healthcare. To date, institutions of higher education do not consistently offer either adequate or coordinated programs to prepare healthcare professionals to assume the regulator role. Promoting quality is both a mandate and a legacy, and each professional will need to be involved to ensure continuing quality care for consumers. Active collaboration between academic, service, and professional organizations, as well as a strong commitment to the development and timely implementation of a suitable curriculum, are imperative.