Dual challenges of Medical Education groups

Best Practices, LLCApr 6 2013

The regulatory and financial environment has made it challenging for Medical Education groups to accomplish their principal goal of educating healthcare practitioners on the safe and effective use of new therapies. These dual challenges - one affecting program content and delivery and the other affecting resources - have made it even more vital for Medical Education groups to utilize high-impact presenters and venues and to efficiently use their resources.

Just as important is that Medical Education leaders create a way to demonstrate the value of education and training programs to corporate leadership.

To help inform Medical Education leaders on these critical challenges, research and consulting firm Best Practices, LLC conducted a new research study that pinpoints how organizations are developing and delivering education programs and which presenters and venues have the highest impact for physicians. In addition, the study reviews how organizations are allocating their education budgets and developing performance measures for their group's effectiveness.

The study, "Professional Medical Education Excellence: Benchmarking Critical Program Trends Transforming the Medical Device and Biopharmaceutical Marketplace," provides segments for both pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

Benchmarks and insights are presented on these topics:

• Funding channels utilized by Medical Education groups
• Effectiveness of different Medical Education program types and delivery channels
• Use of multidisciplinary Medical Education programs
• Trends in grants to professional societies/associations for accredited and non-accredited education programs
• Rating of company professionals most valued by physicians for education
• Future trends in Medical Education programs and technology

The study also informs education leaders on trends in the use of technology for education, and the presence of education in emerging markets.

The research project includes observations and insights from 32 leaders with 31 medical device and pharmaceutical companies. Participants included 14 medical education leaders from 14 medical device firms and 18 leaders from 17 biopharmaceutical companies.