Continuing medical education: who needs it?

Continuing medical education is rapidly growing. During the four-year period between 1974-75 and 1978-79, the number of continuing medical education courses in otolaryngology increased 136%. It has become a mandatory requirement for membership in 19 state medical societies and is also a mandatory requirement for relicensure in 12 states. Although voluntary continuing medical education has proved to be satisfactory in maintaining a physician's competency in the past, the present trend is toward mandatory continuing medical education in order to ensure better health care for the public. Methods of obtaining continuing medical education are discussed and suggestions made as to how these could be improved.