Continuing medical education. Impact on emergency room burn care
B. S. Linn
The impact of continuing education in emergency room burn care was
evaluated in a 20-hospital controlled study. The process of care provided
by 298 physicians for 2,492 treated and released patients and 172 admitted
patients was significantly improved in experimental hospitals where
training had been compared with control hospitals. Outcomes of care, such
as mortality, morbidity, compliance with medical regimens, and satisfaction
with care, were significantly correlated with process. Two outcomes were
influenced significantly between experimental and control patients. In the
treated and released group, experimental patients complied more frequently
with medical regimens. In the admitted group, experimental patients ahd
fewer early complications from their burns. The study demonstrates that
practice of physicians can be altered favorably by continuing education;
however, there is still room for much improvement in emergency medical
services.
