We always feel that rush to get the continuing education in and the hours submitted right before the deadline.
We have all been there and some of us even continue to do that later in our career. Wouldn’t we all agree that there is disconnect in the process of continuing medical education (CME)? We are getting the hours, but are we really learning in the process? The other question is how do we fix it and get out of the continuing education rut? Doing the exact same thing over and over again and expecting different results is the true definition of insanity. Even though most of us in Emergency Medical Services and Critical Care are a cut from the same cloth, we all want to gain something from continuing medical education.
Breaking the cycle
Breaking the cycle is not always easy. This education system has been in place for years, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The National Association of EMS Educators is actually working to revamp EMS education and continuing education. With new requirements and new supplemented learning systems we will learn more and in ways that are more convenient to working clinicians. Why should we be concerned with this? These decisions dictate how you learn, where you learn and your progression within your system. Implementation of simulation training, more in depth pathophysiology and the science behind why we do things is the future.
Carving a continuing education path
There is no question that making CME easier to access and complete has been a game changer. But, how do we take things a step further? Using virtual reality simulation is one option that Distance CME has made available for use since late 2016. Now not just companies like Distance CME are the answer to carving the path. You could be the solution at your service. So, how do we carve this path to the future? Set the example at your service. Do a journal article club, up the ante on simulation training, and ultimately make your own path. Owning your career is the best thing you could do for you and for your service. One of the best things to do is to get involved with educating others and keeping yourself abreast of current trends and treatments. The answer is not going to find us today, tomorrow, or maybe next week, however, if we keep pushing we will get there together. Thanks for taking the time to read this post. Please head over to www.distancecme.com to check out our latest course offerings. Be safe out there and always remember to think like a clinician.