The pace of technological change impacts every profession, and none more so than the practice of medical radiology. One option to keeping up-to-date with the technology and with the latest best practices is to use radiology CME courses. If this is an option under consideration, then read further to find out what kinds of things should be part of the evaluation process.
What to Expect
Providing education in a discipline like radiology is a team effort. Like any profession there will be stand-out experts, but the entire process should involve several different sources and support, including:
- An overall operation dedicated to managing the process to provide the best possible service
- State-of-the-art technology to deliver courses to participants
- Access to and support from respected providers in the disciplines, such as teaching hospitals and technology providers
- A process supported by professionals in the different sub-specialities that constantly evaluates results to be sure courses remain up-to-date and relevant
Additional characteristics to look for in radiology CME courses include:
- Subject matter that is current, informative, and presented in an interesting way
- Mechanisms in place to present, assess, monitor, and archive course results
- Specific objectives of the courses as they relate to the discipline
- Certification from the appropriate governing bodies
What Else to Look For
CME courses will, most likely, be delivered via the internet. As such, it is worthwhile to spend some time on the provider’s web site to get a feel for how hard or easy it is to navigate and what kind of technical support might be available. If possible, a chance to see how the courses are presented is very helpful, but at least test the accessibility. Look for other helpful items, like a frequently asked questions (FAQs) page.
Look for outreach and involvement in the radiology community. If you find supported and sponsored forums for specialists to exchange information and ideas, that’s great. Active participation in trade shows is another positive indicator, as is involvement outside the USA in Europe or elsewhere.
Keeping current in any endeavor is critical. Medical care regularly finds itself at the intersection of technology, medical understanding, and human interaction. This is an exciting place to work if mechanisms are in place to keep practitioners current on the best way to deliver their services, and a key component to accomplishing this is utilizing current radiology CME courses.