Everyone benefits from lifelong learning, but doctors, in particular, need to earn continuing medical education credits. Doctors take actions and make decisions that have an impact on their patients’ health — and sometimes even their survival. As a result, it is critical that their medical education be kept up to date. Continuous education and professional development can help doctors stay up to date on the latest procedures, treatments, and therapies, allowing them to provide high-quality care to their patients.
Continuing medical education can help a doctor improve his or her knowledge base, professional credibility, and performance, whether he or she is a resident or a practicing doctor with years of experience (CME). Depending on their needs and availability, doctors can complete their CME credits in a variety of formats. Live activities, online learning, print learning, or journal reviews of current breaking medical news and events are all possible formats for CME modules. Workbooks and training manuals are examples of print learning; journals can be printed or accessed online.
Doctors may be required to complete hands-on activities as part of their continuing medical education credits in some cases, especially if mastery of a new technique is part of the learning unit. Online courses and exams may be sufficient to meet CME requirements in some cases. Computer-based training and online medical education, when available, can provide a more convenient and flexible way for busy medical professionals to obtain required credits and training.
A variety of hands-on training exercises may be included in on-site, live activities for continuing medical education credits. For example, worldwide events such as acts of war and terrorism, as well as devastating natural disasters, have prompted medical professionals to receive mass casualty and disaster life support training. Demonstration of mastery in surgical preparation and procedures, new delivery of care techniques for specific conditions, and strategic life-saving maneuvers are all examples of live training for CME credits.
For doctors who are currently practicing and have very busy schedules, CME credits earned through computer-based training or online medical education modules are very convenient. There are modules available for a wide range of topics and categories, covering every aspect of a doctor’s practice. Some CME modules have different requirements depending on local, regional, or national regulations. Alternative medicine, bioterrorism, critical care, infectious diseases, medical ethics, and neurology are among the topics covered in other modules.
Doctors should check whether their chosen medical education program has been approved and accredited their country’s governing medical association, such as the American Medical Association (AMA) in the United States or the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education in Europe (EACCME). Alternatively, the International Academy for Continuing Medical Education may accredit programs that provide continuing medical education credits (IACME). Doctors can rest assured that the time and effort they put in will be recognized as CME credits if they confirm that their program is legitimately accredited.