Continuing medical education in America.

Some of what may be perceived as today's failures in continuing medical education may have been caused by lack of sound educational principles in the medical education process. Others may be due to changing times and expanding knowledge. New methods need to be established which include education based on physician audit and self-assessment. Learning outcomes should be evaluated in order to assess physicians' abilities to render better patient care. The formal graduate educational program is seen as the base for the new method of delivery of continuing medical education. The residency has the ability to evaluate advances in medicine and distill them for the practicing clinician. It may also assist him with office systems which will enable him to monitor his practice and needs. Linkages with residency programs will benefit the practitioner and resident alike. In the future, other community facilities may be needed to handle problem-centered continuing medical education.