INTERNET-BASED EDUCATIONAL APPROACHES CAN FACILITATE PARTICIPATION IN CME PROGRAMS

For practicing physicians, the primary means for keeping abreast of change has been continuing medical education (CME), which is also linked to medical licensure in many states. In recent years, CME has faced a number of challenges, including the apparent failure of some conven-tional educational offerings to change physician practices and a decreased willingness on the part of many physicians to devote the time and money necessary to travel to participate in traditional CME events. Concerns have also been raised about the degree to which some CME providers depend on industry funding because more than one-half of the dollars spent on CME come from commercial entities (1). As Internet use by physicians has increased dramatically, it has been suggested that some of the challenges providers and consumers of CME face could be ameliorated b