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Volume 27 (2)
Volume 27, Issue 2, Spring 2007
J Contin Educ Health Prof 2007; 27(2):81
FOUNDATIONS OF CONTINUING EDUCATION
Continuing professional development of physicians in Uruguay: Lessons from a countrywide experience
Margolis A
Alvarino F
Niski R
Fosman E
Torres J
Rios G
Petruccelli D
A b s t r a c t
This article describes the advancement of continuing professional development (CPD) for physicians in Uruguay and explains the motivations for a CPD system, the role of the faculty of medicine and the other stakeholders, the strategic goals, and current results, including strengths and weaknesses. The work described here had three strategic objectives: (1) initiate a CPD accreditation program, (2) train physician leaders in CPD, and (3) promote the creation of a national system for CPD. By the end of 2006, the accreditation program had 34 accredited institutions. Over a 10-year period, 150 physician leaders from different regions of the country and with different specialties had been trained in the framework and methodological issues of CPD. Legislation is expected to be introduced into parliament during 2007 for coordinating CPD efforts at a national level.
Lessons for Practice
- The construction of a national system for CPD requires a long-term commitment of the main stakeholders. This process of cultural change will continue even as deans, secretaries of health, and presidents of medical organizations change.
- This is a long-term process that needs clear goals in order to avoid becoming a bureaucratic system with merely a new distribution of power but no impact on processes and results.
- Interdisciplinary and international collaboration are essential in order to develop this new area of knowledge.
Key Words: medical education, accreditation, Continuing Medical Education, Continuing Professional Development, Uruguay, South America
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