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		Volume 29 (1) Volume 29, Issue 1, Winter 2009 J Contin Educ Health Prof 2009; 29(1):39-43 ORIGINAL RESEARCH Internet point of care learning at a community hospital Keith Sinusas A b s t r a c t Introduction: Internet point of care (PoC) learning is a relatively new method for obtaining continuing medical education credits. Few data are available to describe physician utilization of this CME activity. Methods: We describe the Internet point of care system we developed at a medium-sized community hospital and report on its first year of utilization. We reviewed all completed Internet PoC report forms for 1 year to determine what percentage of our medical staff participated. Using a Likert-type scale, physicians were asked to rate the effectiveness of this method as a means for obtaining CME credit and for improving patient care. Results: From a medical staff of 355, 7 physicians (2%) completed an Internet PoC form in the first year of use. The number of completed forms ranged from 1 to 18 for each individual who used the system. On a 5-point Likert scale, physicians rated this method as follows: good answer found to question = 4.4, knowledge base was improved = 4.0, patient benefited from the information = 4.0, and good way to learn new information = 4.2. Discussion: A small number of physicians utilized this method for obtaining CME credit, but some individuals really embraced it. Those who used it liked it as a way to obtain CME and many felt strongly that it improved patient care. Other hospitals are encouraged to develop an Internet PoC reporting system for their medical staff. Lessons for Practice Internet point of care (PoC) learning is not yet widely used for CME credit. Developing a system of reporting and recording Internet PoC learning is relatively simple and inexpensive. PoC may be of interest to only a small number of physicians, but it is worthwhile to set up, given its simplicity and low cost. Cooperation with local medical library staff is important to help decide appropriate Internet resources. Cooperation with a local Webmaster is needed to set up links to Internet resources and to post recording forms for easy access by clinicians. Publicity to physicians is important at the time that Internet PoC learning is set up, with step-by-step instruction on how to access and complete the report forms. Reminders to the medical staff help keep the momentum going on use of Internet PoC learning.
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