Program relationships of community hospitals and medical schools in CME.

In this paper, the authors report on a nationwide study that examined continuing medical education (CME) "programmatic linkages" between medical schools and community hospitals. Data were gathered to answer two major questions. To what extent are U.S. medical schools currently involved with community hospitals in providing cosponsored, accredited CME programs on an ongoing basis for hospital staffs? How do such programs differ one from the other? Data obtained indicated that a majority (70 percent) of the medical schools have CME programmatic linkages with community hospitals and that these relationships were viewed as very positive and beneficial.