Online CME: Is the Glass Half-Full or Half-Empty?

More and more physicians are completing CME courses online, according to a survey by Boston Consulting Group. Data from ACCME also show that physician registration for Internet-based CME (enduring materials) also increased. Yet, the percent of physician participants in online CME as a total of all physician participants is very small and physician use of online CME has not kept pace with their use of the Internet in general.

What are the benefits of online CME and what are the barriers to greater partcipation by physicians? What are ACCME guidelines for online CME?

Topics include:

Chart: Physician participants in directly-sponsored plus jointly-sponsored programs, 1998 through 2001 (Trended Data)
Chart: % CME delivered online, 1998 through 2001 (Trended Data)
Chart: % Income from Pharma Support (by CME provider: All CME providers, School of Medicine, Medical Education Company)
Case Study: Cardio Country Club

Case Study
This article presents data from ACCME annual reports for the years 1998 through 2001 and includes a case study of an online CME program that has been described as "wildly successful, competitive, and interactive" by it's pharmaceutical supporter.