How to Avoid Medical Conferences by Taking CME Online

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With three out of four physicians working 40-70 hours a week, time is one of the most valuable resources in the healthcare profession. Between seeing patients and establishing plans of care—while somehow making it through an endless stream of documentation required by regulatory entities—there is little space left for family and the things that bring joy outside of the office.

Add to this the 20-50 hours of continuing medical education (CME) that nearly all states or institutions require annually, and simply maintaining a license can feel like an unmanageable burden. That’s why many physicians choose to attend medical conferences where they acquire a lot of credits in one shot. However, these events represent a significant time commitment. They can last up to a week at a time, and most physicians have to attend several every year to meet their obligations.

Fortunately, high-quality CME credits for many common requirements can be fulfilled quickly and easily online. Online options like Safe Opiate Prescribing—Comprehensive Guide give physicians the flexibility to pick and choose only the most valuable conference experiences that truly benefit their careers. Here’s how taking CME online can help physicians make the most of their time and resources.

Which CME Credits Make Sense for Online Learning

Nearly every physician is required by their state, institution, or both to take CME. The healthcare industry is constantly evolving, and there’s never been a greater need to keep health professionals in all roles up to date on a range of new trends, best practices, and scientific advancements.

Physicians are the tip of the spear when it comes to implementing new concepts and treatments. Being informed and prepared often requires both the knowledge and professional connections that conferences provide. That being said, online learning has revolutionized the healthcare industry, and many CME requirements simply don’t demand in-person training or lengthy conference stays to master and implement.

Physicians who are looking for opportunities to minimize their conference attendance or free up time at their next event can easily take care of some core requirements with online coursework. Here are some of the key areas where CME online learning is a highly effective tool as well as a timesaver for busy physicians.

• Cultural competency. This includes vital areas like engaging with the LGBTQIA+ community, navigating the challenges facing trans youth, and avoiding implicit bias in the workplace.
• Best practices. Safe opiate prescribing and interprofessional collaboration in specialized situations like eating disorders can be accessed efficiently online.
• Required reporting. Many frontline healthcare workers are mandatory reporters for child abuse and human trafficking, and these mandatory trainings can be taken online.

By completing specific portions of their CME online, busy doctors, surgeons, and specialists can balance online learning with in-person conferences.

The Benefits of CME Online

Of course, having access to CME online that leverages the latest science and research is about more than just acquiring critical knowledge and skills. These resources provide physicians with a range of benefits that can support a more manageable lifestyle and efficient career development.

Flexibility

• Physicians are accustomed to working long and often atypical hours, and constant interruptions are a daily struggle to manage. Online courses like the ones offered by Premiere are self-paced and can be accessed at any time and from anywhere.
• This flexibility means that physicians can progress at their own speed, leave and come back as needed, and review materials when it’s convenient. For the working professional trying to fit some CME in amongst a myriad of other obligations, online credits deliver unparalleled flexibility.
• Also, taking care of common requirements online can support more rewarding personal choices as well. For instance, some doctors may put a premium on networking at conferences or turn the trip into a miniature family vacation. By completing some of your CME online, you’ll have more time to make the most of the in-person opportunities conferences provide.

Access to Specialized Education

• When attending a conference, you’re at the mercy of those who organized the event and created the agenda when it comes to the topics you’ll be learning about. While these subjects are often interesting, there’s no guarantee the content will be universally applicable to your specialty or satisfy the requirements you're bound by.
• In contrast, picking and choosing CME online allows physicians to select focused coursework that gives them exactly what they need.

It’s Cost Effective

• Medical conferences can be expensive, costing upwards of thousands of dollars to attend. While some healthcare institutions may pay for the trip, many physicians must pay out of pocket for all or part of the event. After hotels, meals, and entertainment, these can represent a significant financial burden that might end up being relatively uninformative or uninspiring.

Taking CME online—especially for topics that are largely informational or timely—helps you make the most of your budget.

Finding Quality CME Online

• Online learning may be a new experience for physicians, especially if they have traditionally relied on in-person events like conferences to meet professional obligations. Fortunately, online CME supports a wide range of learning styles—something conferences typically don’t. That means you’ll be able to find content that makes it easier for you to learn quickly in addition to complementing your busy schedule.

You’ll also want to make sure the education you're about to pay for has been validated in terms of quality and adherence to industry standards on continuing education. The top providers deliver a wide range of CME category 1 credits that are accepted by state boards across the country.

Skip the Conference, Get Your CME Online

Carving out several weeks a year at annual medical conferences to fulfill your professional requirements is becoming a thing of the past now that there are excellent CME online options for physicians. Not only does online CME give busy healthcare professionals the vital content they need to develop their careers and better serve their patients, but it’s also providing them with the opportunity to craft more rewarding and flexible lives.

Premiere is committed to giving physicians the best CME online learning available with a wide range of required courses and electives developed by industry experts. Our research-based, easy-to-access content empowers physicians to take control of their career obligations and make the most of their professional investments.