Continuing Education for Medical Doctors
With new ideas in medicine being discovered every day, it is absolutely necessary for medical doctors to continue their education throughout their careers. There are many tools doctors use to stay abreast of the current research and developments, such as online programs, seminars, webinars and medical journals. Continuing education for doctors is so imperative that several states require a certain number of hours or credits of such education annually.
Continuing Education Units
A physician's specialty will indicate the requirement for continuing education credits. While general physicians will always have room for growth, more specialized professions require a more in-depth study of current advancements. Surgical specialties often require hands-on training, especially when new surgical procedures are discovered. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) governs the requirements for each area of business in the United States, including continuing education units for physicians. A Continuing Education Unit (CEU) consists of 10 hours of participation in an accredited Continuing Medical Education program.
International Association for Continuing Education & Training
The ANSI then gives the administration of the CEU to the International Association for Continuing Education & Training (IACET). The job of IACET is to communicate with organizations to establish and educate professional, capable sponsors to provide educational opportunities. The main purpose of the CEU is to supply a permanent record of completed additional education.
Overview of Options
A vast array of organizations provides numerous options, ranging from written medical journals to multi-week online courses. While there are many alternatives available, two of the most commonly used programs are the American Medical Association and Discovery Health. Both offer convenient online courses and detailed video presentations. Because of the size and diversity of the companies, they offer a more diverse array of courses, all aimed at improving a physician's knowledge of his specialty and utilizing the knowledge he already possesses more efficiently.
American Medical Association
The American Medical Association (AMA) offers a variety of resources that cultivate higher knowledge for any specialty. Effectively completing the Continuing Medical Education courses earns credits toward the AMA Physician's Recognition Award, the most widely accepted credential identifying medical achievement. Along the personal accolades associated with receiving this certificate, it is also granted by the AMA is accepted by licensing boards in 36 states in lieu of Continuing Medical Education requirements for license renewal.
Discovery Health Continuing Medical Education
Discovery Health Continuing Medical Education (CME) offers a diverse selection of programs to learn about new advances in medicine and earn free CME credit. They go beyond journal articles and lecture productions and offer online programs consisting of videos and study materials, as well as podcasts and free games for credits. The curricula offered range from the health connection between pets and people to improving a low sexual desire in women to metastatic colon cancer care.
Time Frame
Since continuing education is important both for a physician's career and for the patients she sees, the curriculum must fit into a physician's busy lifestyle. The time frame varies with the path of education chosen; some are as brief as a few hours, while others last a few months. More specialized practices can require more lengthy, hands-on material that takes longer to complete. Regardless of the time it takes to complete, continuing her education is one of the most rewarding professional accomplishments a physician can achieve.
Tags: Continuing Medical, Continuing Medical Education, Medical Education, Continuing Education, American Medical
