The document discusses a proposal to implement online continuing medical education (CME) programs at Hospital Medical Center. It notes that an online approach could help address constraints like busy schedules that limit healthcare professionals' ability to attend live activities. The Center for Continuing Professional Development is accredited to provide various learning formats and activities for CME credits. The proposal recommends fully implementing an online CME program to improve accessibility, integration, and communication throughout the healthcare system.
1. Hospital Medical Center
Center for Continuing Professional Development
Evette L. Moss, Conference and CME Planner
June 5, 2013
2. Introduction
The Georgia Virtual Technical College (GVTC) is a
consortium of independent technical colleges working in a
collaborative manner to create occupational courses and
programs, using a standardized curriculum delivered over
the Internet and through local centers.
Our Mission
The mission of the Georgia Virtual Technical College
(GVTC) is to provide students with a central point of
reference for programs and support services offered
electronically through its state system of technical colleges.
3. Mission
The culture at Hospital Medical Center is innovation, technology, and
customer satisfaction. The Center for Continuing Professional
Development should support this culture.
According to Pullen (2013)
Over the course of medical education numerous technologies and
methods have been used to deliver continuing medical education
(CME) to health care professionals (HCPs). These methods have
included postal correspondence, two-way radio conferencing, video
conferencing and in the last decade the Internet (p. 1).
4. Accreditation
The Center for Continuing Professional Development is accredited bye
the Accreditation Council on Continuing Medical Education and
provides continuing medical education programs in the following
learning formats as outlined by the American Medical Association,
Accreditation Council for Continuing Education.
5. Accreditation Continued
Learning Activities
Course
Regularly Scheduled Series
Internet Live Course
Internet Activity
Manuscript Review
Test Item Writing
Committee Learning
Performance Improvement
Learning from Teaching
(ACCME, 2013)
Learning Formats
AMA PRA Category 1 Credit ™:
Live activities
Enduring materials
Journal-based CME
Test item writing
Manuscript review (for journals)
Performance improvement CME
Internet point of care
AMA (2013)
6. Purpose
The purpose of this manual is to assist the colleges in
delivering online credit-based programs and courses that
adhere to the Technical College System of Georgia’s (TCSG)
program standards, accrediting agencies’ distance learning
policies and the Georgia Virtual Technical College’s (GVTC)
Best Practices for Online Courses.
7. Quality Assurance Rationale
Quality assurance of distance learning courses is essential
on three (3) levels:
1. Institutional Level. To advance and protect the
reputation of the educational institution in attracting
students, qualified faculty members, and collaboratives
with business and industry.
2. Student Level. To assure the student that his/her
credential is recognized by prospective employers and is
relevant in today’s workforce.
3. Faculty Level. To provide training, resources, and
technical support for the development of new online
courses and the maintenance of on-going online courses.
9. Overview cont.
To show that we value our Healthcare Professionals, Hospital Medical
Center must respond to the demand to implement online, system-
wide CME programs
Currently, there are a number of learning formats and activities
Hospital Medicine Center provides for learners. However, online,
asynchronous program are not offered regularly.
After extensive review and research, the Center for Continuing
Professional Development proposes full implementation of an online
CME program. Although there are a number of learning options as
defined by the AMA and ACCME, online options are frequently
requested by our learners.
11. Constraints
Long hours and busy schedules limit the ability of healthcare
professionals to attend face to face or live activities. Asynchronous
options are ideal (Pullen, 2013).
Decreased attendance for live programs
Patient Care trumps CME program
Commuting to/from other locations to Hospital
12. Accessibility
“Internet based technologies permit the widespread distribution of
digital content to many users simultaneously anytime and anywhere”
(Pullen, 2013, p. 1).
HCPs may access from home
Office practice/site locations
Asynchronous collaboration
13. Integration
Better communication throughout the healthcare system
Opportunity to share best practices
Reduce variation between hospital sites
Improve collaboration between similar specialties
throughout sites
14. References
Accreditation Council on Continuing Medical Education (2013):
http://www.accme.org/
American Medical Association (2013): http://www.ama-
assn.org/ama/pub/education-careers/continuing-medical-
education.page
Pullen, D. (2013). Doctors online: Learning using an internet
based content management system. International Journal of
Education and Development using Information and
Communication Technology, 9(1), 50-63. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/1353086409?accountid=
35812