Introduction to Online CME Bernard M Sklar, M.D., M.S. Bernard M Sklar, M.D., M.S. February 2003 February 2003

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

What do I need to get Started? A computer A computer Internet connection (faster is better) Internet connection (faster is better) Speakers connected to computer Speakers connected to computer Printer connected to computer Printer connected to computer

What are the types of instruction I may find in Online CME? Simple Text or Text-and-graphics (like reading a textbook or journal) Simple Text or Text-and-graphics (like reading a textbook or journal) Slide-audio or slide-video lectures (like being at a lecture) Slide-audio or slide-video lectures (like being at a lecture) Case-based interactive (like treating a “real” patient); you get to make choices according to the clinical presentation Case-based interactive (like treating a “real” patient); you get to make choices according to the clinical presentation

More instruction Types of Online CME Quiz questions and answers (the program asks you a question, waits for your answer, then gives you explanations and information based on your answer) Quiz questions and answers (the program asks you a question, waits for your answer, then gives you explanations and information based on your answer) Games (like golf, where you gain or lose points for your answers) Games (like golf, where you gain or lose points for your answers) Correspondence courses (a group of doctors study material and correspond with each other by ) Correspondence courses (a group of doctors study material and correspond with each other by )

How much does Online CME cost? Surprisingly inexpensive! Surprisingly inexpensive! There are more than 2000 hours of Online CME available without charge There are more than 2000 hours of Online CME available without charge Another 16,000 hours cost $5 to $15 per hour Another 16,000 hours cost $5 to $15 per hour A small minority of credits costs more than $15 per credit-hour A small minority of credits costs more than $15 per credit-hour

Don’t Worry Don’t be concerned about “visiting” an Online CME web site Don’t be concerned about “visiting” an Online CME web site There is almost never any fee to look at the site or the list of courses There is almost never any fee to look at the site or the list of courses You will, however, usually be asked to give some basic information about yourself and to choose a user name and password before going too far You will, however, usually be asked to give some basic information about yourself and to choose a user name and password before going too far

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

Why you should bother …Online CME is always there, waiting for you, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at home or at the office …Online CME is always there, waiting for you, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at home or at the office You can proceed at your own speed You can proceed at your own speed No travel costs No travel costs Very inexpensive Very inexpensive

Is it hard to do Online CME? No!! No!! If you have basic internet skills, such as pointing and clicking, going forward and back in your browser and two-finger typing, you will do just fine If you have basic internet skills, such as pointing and clicking, going forward and back in your browser and two-finger typing, you will do just fine

How do I find the CME courses that I want to look at? This can be a problem, especially at first, because there are more than 200 web sites offering more than 10,000 activities and more than 19,000 credit hours This can be a problem, especially at first, because there are more than 200 web sites offering more than 10,000 activities and more than 19,000 credit hours There is no ONE place on the Internet which will show you exactly the instruction you want. There is no ONE place on the Internet which will show you exactly the instruction you want. HOWEVER…. HOWEVER….

How do I find the CME courses that 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 CME, Annotated List of Online CME, Annotated List of Online CME Annotated List of Online CME Choose your area of interest or medical specialty Choose your area of interest or medical specialty And choose from the sites or courses that seem to be of interest And choose from the sites or courses that seem to be of interest

Family 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 go from there to the Family Practice Section American Academy of Family Physicians site or to American Academy of Family Physicians site or to American Academy of Family Physicians American Academy of Family Physicians FamilyPractice.com, sponsored by the American Board of Family Practice FamilyPractice.com, sponsored by the American Board of Family Practice FamilyPractice.com

Internist An internist might start at the Internal Medicine section of the Online CME List, and go from there to An internist might start at the Internal Medicine section of the Online CME List, and go from there toInternal Medicine Internal Medicine Clinical Problem Solving Cases, sponsored by ACP/ASIM, or to Clinical Problem Solving Cases, sponsored by ACP/ASIM, or to Clinical Problem Solving Cases Clinical Problem Solving Cases Johns Hopkins Advanced Studies in Medicine Johns Hopkins Advanced Studies in Medicine Johns Hopkins Advanced Studies in Medicine Johns Hopkins Advanced Studies in Medicine

Cardiologist A cardiologist could start at the Cardiology section of the Online CME List and go to A cardiologist could start at the Cardiology section of the Online CME List and go toCardiology section of the Online CME List Cardiology section of the Online CME List CardioVillage (University of Virginia) or CardioVillage (University of Virginia) or CardioVillage Baylor University’s extensive list of cardiology offerings Baylor University’s extensive list of cardiology offerings Baylor University’s Baylor University’s

Other Specialties You will find courses in 25 specialty areas, from Allergy to Urology, linked from the main page of the You will find courses in 25 specialty areas, from Allergy to Urology, linked from the main page of the Annotated List of Online CME Annotated List of Online CME Annotated List of Online CME Annotated List of Online CME

Finding Online CME - Medscape Visit Medscape, and register Visit Medscape, and registerMedscape Registration is unobtrusive and easy Registration is unobtrusive and easy Each time you re-visit Medscape, you will automatically go to your specialty area Each time you re-visit Medscape, you will automatically go to your specialty area Medscape has about 150 CME courses at any one time; most offer 1.5 free credit hours; most are text or slide- audio lectures Medscape has about 150 CME courses at any one time; most offer 1.5 free credit hours; most are text or slide- audio lectures You can search Medscape by keyword for CME subjects of interest to you You can search Medscape by keyword for CME subjects of interest to you With your permission, Medscape will send you periodic s about CME courses that may interest you With your permission, Medscape will send you periodic s about CME courses that may interest you

Finding Online CME – DocGuide Visit Doctor’s Guide and register Visit Doctor’s Guide and registerDoctor’s GuideDoctor’s Guide As with Medscape, you can set up a home page for your specialty and receive s about courses of interest As with Medscape, you can set up a home page for your specialty and receive s about courses of interest You can search for courses by medical topic You can search for courses by medical topic About 1000 courses are currently described About 1000 courses are currently described The CME courses you find are not produced by DocGuide. However DocGuide gives you enough information to help you decide whether to visit the course. When you visit the new site, you may have to register again and pay for CME credit The CME courses you find are not produced by DocGuide. However DocGuide gives you enough information to help you decide whether to visit the course. When you visit the new site, you may have to register again and pay for CME credit

Finding Online CME – CE Medicus CE Medicus offers access and free CME credit to about 450 online CME activities created by six CME providers CE Medicus offers access and free CME credit to about 450 online CME activities created by six CME providers CE Medicus CE Medicus You can search by medical keyword for courses of interest You can search by medical keyword for courses of interest You need to register only once You need to register only once CE Medicus will also keep track of all your CME requirements and all your CME activities if you wish CE Medicus will also keep track of all your CME requirements and all your CME activities if you wish

Finding Online CME – Other Sites with Search Engines cmecourses (Healthstream) cmecourses (Healthstream) cmecourses (Healthstream) cmecourses (Healthstream) CME web CME web CME web CME web Moffitt Cancer Network Moffitt Cancer Network Moffitt Cancer Network Moffitt Cancer Network NEJM Weekly CME Program NEJM Weekly CME Program NEJM Weekly CME Program NEJM Weekly CME Program Postgraduate Medicine Postgraduate Medicine Postgraduate Medicine Postgraduate Medicine psychLINK psychLINK psychLINK Pulmonary and Critical Care Update Pulmonary and Critical Care Update Pulmonary and Critical Care Update Pulmonary and Critical Care Update RSNA Link RSNA Link RSNA Link RSNA Link Thyroid Disease Manager Thyroid Disease Manager Thyroid Disease Manager Thyroid Disease Manager University of Alabama University of Alabama University of Alabama University of Alabama World Medical Leaders World Medical Leaders World Medical Leaders World Medical Leaders

What do I do now? Visit The List of Online CME or Visit The List of Online CME orThe List of Online CMEThe List of Online CME Medscape or Medscape or Medscape Doctor’s Guide or Doctor’s Guide or Doctor’s Guide Doctor’s Guide CE Medicus or CE Medicus or CE Medicus CE Medicus Your specialty society website or Your specialty society website or Any online CME site you may heard of, and have a look. Any online CME site you may heard of, and have a look.

Questions/Comments? Contact Bernard Sklar, MD, MS at Contact Bernard Sklar, MD, MS at Or visit Or visit