Online education programs for medical professionals at a fraction of the cost of travel-based programs

With business travel budgets expected to remain tight through 2010, online clinical best practice programs may offer the healthcare industry its best educational value, according to Sara McMannus, Program Manager of GE Healthcare’s Global Clinical Best Practice Education. “Vendor-neutral, online programs provide education on-demand at a fraction of the cost of travel-based programs,” she said.

Medical professionals and clinical experts traditionally rely on industry conferences and hands-on training programs to advance their skills. Unfortunately, corporate measures restricting travel threaten their ability to pursue educational objectives.

“Online education programs enable healthcare personnel to pursue personal skills development while avoiding conflicts with corporate restrictions and other cost-saving initiatives,” said McMannus, who manages GE Healthcare’s online programs, including those for Sepsis Management, Electronic Fetal Monitoring and Preventing Hospital Acquired Complications.

McMannus explained most people don’t realize that web-based programs provide a high-quality learning experience. “Online programs engage clinicians in real-life situations, such as by using virtual reality with interactive patient rooms,” she stated. “Some programs, like GE Healthcare’s, also award continuing education unit [CEU] credits upon program completion. Most importantly, web-based learning provides hospitals with an opportunity to improve service delivery at the point of care that might have otherwise been lost.”