Purpose:

The purpose of the University of Louisville Continuing Health Sciences Education Program is to collaborate with the CHSE "community," which includes U of L faculty, clinical departments, Jewish Hospital & St. Mary's Healthcare Inc., Area Health Education Centers in Kentucky, and other state and national entities, to identify educational needs and to design, deliver, evaluate and document educational activities and initiatives in order to improve healthcare delivery.

Content Areas:

Topics will be selected in terms of identified needs, interests and changes in technology. Activities will be multidisciplinary in nature and delivered in a manner appropriate to the topic. Only continuing education activities that assist physicians and other healthcare professionals in performing their professional responsibilities effectively and efficiently will be offered by CHSE.

Target Audience:

The audience may include physicians, nurses, healthcare professionals in other disciplines and the general public (when deemed appropriate). These Continuing Health Sciences Education activities will be offered to regional, state, national and international audiences.

Activities:

Activities will include, but will not be limited to, symposia, lectures, hands-on workshops, regularly scheduled series (grand rounds), telemedicine, and use of web-based activities. Activities and services will be based upon the expressed needs of healthcare professionals and the observed needs as determined by clinical or basic science research.

Expected Results:

Change in professional performance, competence and/or patient outcomes will be used for quality improvement. Evaluation of changes will be conducted through a number of strategies including random sampling of responses gathered from activity evaluations, post activity follow-up, overall program evaluation and course director evaluations.

Services:

• Certify learning activities for physicians and nurses that meet Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) Essentials & Standards and the Kentucky Board of Nursing requirements.
• Track credit for physicians who attend CHSE certified activities.
• Download physician credits to the Jefferson County Medical Society, which serves as a central repository for Category 1 credit in Jefferson County.
  
• Apply for additional continuing education credits for a CHSE activity, including but not limited to AAFP, ACPE, ACCENT, AGOG, and ASRT.
• Provide consultation on educational processes and accreditation issues.
• Collaborate with isolated communities in Kentucky through tele-health, online courses and Area Health Education Centers (AHEC).