Callas P W, Ricci M A, Caputo M P
University of Vermont College of Medicine and Fletcher Allen Health Care, Burlington 05405, USA.
Telemed J E Health. 2000 Winter;6(4):393-9. doi: 10.1089/15305620050503861.
We sought to describe use patterns and user evaluation of remotely-attended continuing medical education (CME) programs in Vermont and upstate New York. Remote attendees were required to return an evaluation form to receive CME credit. The form included name and date of the program; name, location, and specialty of the respondent; and questions regarding program quality, value, effectiveness, and attendee plans if the program had not been available via telemedicine. From April, 1996, through December, 1998, health care providers from 14 remote sites used the network 927 times to attend 394 CME programs at Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, Vermont. After the start-up period, an average of over three programs per week was attended, with an average of 2.4 remote attendees per program. Seventy-seven percent of remote attendees stated that they would not have attended the program if it had not been available over telemedicine, while the remaining 23% said that they avoided traveling due to videoconferencing. When asked the effectiveness of telemedicine technology for attending, 73% said it was as effective as having the presenter in the room, 23% said it was less effective, and 4% said it was more effective. Major technical problems, such as having the call disconnect during the presentation, decreased over time. There were continuing minor logistical problems common to large group videoconferencing. The telemedicine system has increased availability of CME programs for rural providers in Vermont and upstate New York. Most attendees have found the programs to be worthwhile, and technological advancements have improved the quality of the system.
我们试图描述佛蒙特州和纽约州北部远程参与的继续医学教育（CME）项目的使用模式及用户评价。远程参与者需返回一份评估表以获得CME学分。该表格包括项目名称和日期；受访者的姓名、地点及专业；以及关于项目质量、价值、有效性的问题，还有如果该项目无法通过远程医疗获得，参与者的计划。从1996年4月到1998年12月，来自14个偏远地点的医疗保健提供者使用该网络927次，参加了佛蒙特州伯灵顿市弗莱彻·艾伦医疗保健中心的394个CME项目。在启动期之后，平均每周参加超过三个项目，每个项目平均有2.4名远程参与者。77%的远程参与者表示，如果没有远程医疗服务，他们不会参加该项目，而其余23%的人表示他们因视频会议而避免了出行。当被问及远程医疗技术用于参与项目的有效性时，73%的人表示其与有演讲者在场一样有效，23%的人表示效果较差，4%的人表示效果更好。诸如在演讲过程中通话中断等主要技术问题随着时间推移有所减少。大型团体视频会议中常见的一些小型后勤问题依然存在。远程医疗系统提高了佛蒙特州和纽约州北部农村地区医疗服务提供者获得CME项目的机会。大多数参与者认为这些项目是值得的，并且技术进步提高了系统质量。
