Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions



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CURRENT ISSUE BACK ISSUES SUBSCRIBE ADVERTISE ABOUT JCEHP FOR AUTHORS JCEHP AWARD SEARCH (Members only) FULL-TEXT		Volume 23 (4) Volume 23, Issue 4, Fall 2003 J Contin Educ Health Prof 2003; 23(4):198-209 CONTEMPORARY ISSUES The uncertain future of continuing medical education: commercialism and shifts in funding The uncertain future of continuing medical education: commercialism and shifts in funding Harrison RV A b s t r a c t To preserve a professionally responsible system for continuing medical education (CME), medicine must recognize and address two powerful economic forces: commercial interests and societal resource limitations. Commercial support to accredited CME providers is now more than 50% of total CME income. The cumulative influence is increasingly biasing CME development, presentation, and participation toward topics that benefit commercial interests. Options to address this cumulative bias are proposed. Limitations on societal resources for health care have reduced funding from medical schools and hospitals for the infrastructure of CME. Financial pressures are likely to increase, potentially leading to controls on drug costs and significant reductions in commercial support of CME. Financial pressures on physicians' incomes may limit the extent to which registration fees could offset these reductions. Physicians and their professional organizations should recognize these threats to the objectivity, funding, and infrastructure of the CME system and they should work to ensure a viable CME system in the future. Lessons for Practice CME providers, faculty, and participants should understand differences between professionalism and commercialism in relation to CME activities. assess the extent to which commercial funding is distorting the curriculum of CME activities they offer, teach, and attend. encourage national organizations responsible for CME to ensure that increases in commercial funding and in education on topics related to commercial interests do not distract CME providers, faculty, and participants from other knowledge important to patients. encourage physicians and their professional organizations to include the funding of CME as a formal item in discussions of health care financing reform. monitor changes in the financing of CME and work to ensure a viable system of CME in the future. MeSH Terms: Commerce; Conflict of Interest; Education, Medical, Continuing; Financial Support; Quality of Health Care; Training Support
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