Introduction to Online CMEIntroduction to Online CME

• Bernard M Sklar, M.D., M.S.Bernard M Sklar, M.D., M.S.

• bersklar@netcantina.combersklar@netcantina.com

• February 2004February 2004

What is Online CME?What is Online CME?

• Online CME is a way to earn CME credits, Online CME is a way to earn CME credits, over the Internet, using your computer, over the Internet, using your computer, from home or officefrom home or office

What do I need to get Started?What do I need to get Started?

• A computerA computer

• Internet connection (faster is better)Internet connection (faster is better)

• Speakers connected to computerSpeakers connected to computer

• Printer connected to computerPrinter connected to computer

• A high speed connection is very useful for A high speed connection is very useful for sites with audio or video instructionsites with audio or video instruction

What are the types of instruction I What are the types of instruction I may find in Online CME?may find in Online CME?

• Simple Text or Text-and-graphics (like Simple Text or Text-and-graphics (like reading a textbook or journal)reading a textbook or journal)

• Slide-audio or slide-video lectures (like Slide-audio or slide-video lectures (like being at a lecture)being at a lecture)

• Case-based interactive (like treating a Case-based interactive (like treating a “real” patient); you get to make choices “real” patient); you get to make choices according to the clinical presentationaccording to the clinical presentation

More instruction Types of Online More instruction Types of Online CMECME

• Quiz questions and answers (the program asks Quiz questions and answers (the program asks you a question, waits for your answer, then you a question, waits for your answer, then gives you explanations and information based on gives you explanations and information based on your answer)your answer)

• Games (like golf, where you gain or lose points Games (like golf, where you gain or lose points for your answers)for your answers)

• Correspondence courses (a group of doctors Correspondence courses (a group of doctors study material and correspond with each other study material and correspond with each other by email)by email)

How much does Online CME cost?How much does Online CME cost?

• Surprisingly inexpensive!Surprisingly inexpensive!

• There are more than 3300 hours of Online There are more than 3300 hours of Online CME available without chargeCME available without charge

• Another 18,000 hours cost $5 to $15 per Another 18,000 hours cost $5 to $15 per hourhour

• A small minority of credits costs more than A small minority of credits costs more than $15 per credit-hour$15 per credit-hour

Don’t WorryDon’t Worry

• Don’t be concerned about “visiting” an Don’t be concerned about “visiting” an Online CME web siteOnline CME web site

• There is almost never any fee to look at There is almost never any fee to look at the site or the list of coursesthe site or the list of courses

• You will, however, usually be asked to You will, however, usually be asked to give some basic information about give some basic information about yourself and to choose a user name and yourself and to choose a user name and password before going too farpassword before going too far

Why should I bother?Why should I bother?

• ““I get all the CME I need at live meetings”I get all the CME I need at live meetings”

• ““Why should I bother doing it at the Why should I bother doing it at the computer?”computer?”

• BECAUSE…BECAUSE…

Why you should botherWhy you should bother

• ……Online CME is always there, waiting for Online CME is always there, waiting for you, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at you, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at home or at the officehome or at the office

• You can proceed at your own speedYou can proceed at your own speed

• No travel costsNo travel costs

• Very inexpensiveVery inexpensive

Is it hard to do Online CME?Is it hard to do Online CME?

• No!!No!!

• If you have basic internet skills, such as If you have basic internet skills, such as pointing and clicking, going forward and pointing and clicking, going forward and back in your browser and two-finger back in your browser and two-finger typing, you will do just fine.typing, you will do just fine.

How do I find the CME courses that How do I find the CME courses that I want to look at?I want to look at?

• This can be a problem, especially at first, This can be a problem, especially at first, because there are more than 270 web because there are more than 270 web sites offering more than 11,000 activities sites offering more than 11,000 activities and more than 21,000 credit hoursand more than 21,000 credit hours

• There is no ONE place on the Internet There is no ONE place on the Internet which will show you exactly the instruction which will show you exactly the instruction you want.you want.

• HOWEVER….HOWEVER….

How do I find the CME courses that How do I find the CME courses that I want to look at?I want to look at?

• ...a good way to start is at the ...a good way to start is at the

• Annotated List of Online CMEAnnotated List of Online CME, , www.cmelist.com/list.htmwww.cmelist.com/list.htm

• Choose your area of interest or medical Choose your area of interest or medical specialtyspecialty

• And choose from the sites or courses that And choose from the sites or courses that seem to be of interestseem to be of interest

Family PracticeFamily Practice

• A family doctor might start at the A family doctor might start at the

Family Practice Section Family Practice Section of the CME List, and of the CME List, and go from there to thego from there to the

• American Academy of Family Physicians American Academy of Family Physicians site or tosite or to

• FamilyPracticeFamilyPractice.com.com, sponsored by the , sponsored by the American Board of Family PracticeAmerican Board of Family Practice

InternistInternist

• An internist might start at the An internist might start at the Internal Medicine Internal Medicine section of the Online section of the Online CME List, and go from there to CME List, and go from there to

• Clinical Problem Solving CasesClinical Problem Solving Cases, sponsored , sponsored by ACP/ASIM, or to by ACP/ASIM, or to

• Johns Hopkins Advanced Studies in MedicineJohns Hopkins Advanced Studies in Medicine

CardiologistCardiologist

• A cardiologist could start at the A cardiologist could start at the Cardiology section of the Online CME List Cardiology section of the Online CME List and go toand go to

• CardioVillageCardioVillage (University of Virginia) or (University of Virginia) or

• Baylor University’s Baylor University’s extensive list of extensive list of cardiology offeringscardiology offerings

• A cardiologist could start at the A cardiologist could start at the Cardiology section of the Online CME List Cardiology section of the Online CME List and go toand go to

• CardioVillage (University of Virginia)CardioVillage (University of Virginia)

• Baylor University’s Baylor University’s extensive list of extensive list of cardiology offeringscardiology offerings

Other SpecialtiesOther Specialties

• You will find courses in 25 specialty areas, You will find courses in 25 specialty areas, from Allergy to Urology, linked from the from Allergy to Urology, linked from the main page of themain page of the

• Annotated List of Online CMEAnnotated List of Online CME

Finding Online CME - MedscapeFinding Online CME - Medscape

• Visit Visit MedscapeMedscape, and register, and register• Registration is unobtrusive and easyRegistration is unobtrusive and easy• Each time you re-visit Medscape, you will automatically Each time you re-visit Medscape, you will automatically

go to your specialty areago to your specialty area• Medscape has about 250 CME courses at any one time; Medscape has about 250 CME courses at any one time;

most offer 1.5 free credit hours; most are text or slide-most offer 1.5 free credit hours; most are text or slide-audio lecturesaudio lectures

• You can search Medscape by keyword for CME subjects You can search Medscape by keyword for CME subjects of interest to youof interest to you

• With your permission, Medscape will send you periodic With your permission, Medscape will send you periodic emails about CME courses that may interest youemails about CME courses that may interest you

Finding Online CME – DocGuideFinding Online CME – DocGuide

• Visit Visit Doctor’s GuideDoctor’s Guide and register and register• As with Medscape, you can set up a home page for your As with Medscape, you can set up a home page for your

specialty and receive emails about courses of interestspecialty and receive emails about courses of interest• You can search for courses by medical topicYou can search for courses by medical topic• About 1100 courses are currently describedAbout 1100 courses are currently described• The CME courses you find are not produced by The CME courses you find are not produced by

DocGuide. However DocGuide gives you enough DocGuide. However DocGuide gives you enough information to help you decide whether to visit the information to help you decide whether to visit the course. When you visit the new site, you may have to course. When you visit the new site, you may have to register again and pay for CME creditregister again and pay for CME credit

Finding Online CME – CE MedicusFinding Online CME – CE Medicus

• CE MedicusCE Medicus offers access and free CME credit to offers access and free CME credit to about 9000 online CME activities created by five about 9000 online CME activities created by five CME providersCME providers

• You can search by medical keyword for courses You can search by medical keyword for courses of interestof interest

• You need to register only onceYou need to register only once• CE Medicus will also keep track of all your CME CE Medicus will also keep track of all your CME

requirements and all your CME activities if you requirements and all your CME activities if you wishwish

Finding Online CME – Find That CEFinding Online CME – Find That CE

• Find That CE allows you to search by medical subject for both live and online CME.

Finding Online CME – Other Sites Finding Online CME – Other Sites with Search Engineswith Search Engines

• cmecourses (Healthstream)cmecourses (Healthstream)

• CME webCME web

• Moffitt Cancer NetworkMoffitt Cancer Network

• NEJM Weekly CME ProgramNEJM Weekly CME Program

• Postgraduate MedicinePostgraduate Medicine

• psychLINKpsychLINK

• Pulmonary and Critical Care UpdatePulmonary and Critical Care Update

• RSNA LinkRSNA Link

• Thyroid Disease ManagerThyroid Disease Manager

• University of AlabamaUniversity of Alabama

• World Medical LeadersWorld Medical Leaders

What do I do now?What do I do now?

• Visit Visit The List of Online CMEThe List of Online CME or or

• MedscapeMedscape or or

• Doctor’s Guide Doctor’s Guide oror

• CE Medicus CE Medicus or or

• Your specialty society website orYour specialty society website or

• Any online CME site you may heard of, Any online CME site you may heard of, and have a look.and have a look.

Questions/Comments?Questions/Comments?

• Contact Bernard Sklar, MD, MS atContact Bernard Sklar, MD, MS at

• bersklar@netcantina.combersklar@netcantina.com

• Or visitOr visit

• www.cmelist.comwww.cmelist.com