Bridging the Gap Between Research and Practice
The Role of Continuing Medical Education
- William Campbell Felch, MD;
- Donald M. Scanlon, MD
Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text.
Excerpt
The dream of medicine for the new millennium1—that the care of patients will be evidence based, supported by carefully designed randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and validated by focused outcomes studies—will only be fully realized when the major players in the health care arena find improved ways to work together.
See also p 115.
The first player is the research community, that mix of academia, industry, and government that supplies innovations in medical science and technology, including new drugs, diagnostic tools, and therapeutic devices.
The second is the practicing community, mostly physician providers of medical care. This seemingly homogeneous group is in truth a diverse lot, made up of women and men, of soloists and partners, of generalists and specialists, of neophytes and old hands. There are abundant anecdotes suggesting that physicians are unique individuals with widely different characteristics and goals.
The issue confronting us is this: How can
Footnotes
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Dr Felch is the former editor of The Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions; Dr Scanlon is chief of cardiology and director of continuing education at the Community Hospital of Monterey Peninsula, Monterey, Calif.
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Reprints: Donald M. Scanlon, MD, PO Box HH, Monterey, Calif 93942.
