b'EDUCATION GUIDE|Continuing Education:The Never-Ending JourneyThe history, intent, and some outcomes of added knowledgeBy Carol MyersE ducation is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a ves- Continuing education in health professions is effective in improv-sel, -Socrates ing healthcare, patient outcomes, and population health through:Although continuing education (CE) is mandatory forDemonstrating individual practice and competencehealthcare professionals by regulatory boards for maintaining licen- Engaging learners in new knowledge and skill acquisitionsure, pursuing further knowledge and competencies, CE also servesImproving outcomes and containing costsa multitude of purposes, from ensuring patient safety to self-devel- Integrating education, performance, expertise, and judgmentopment. Beginning with Florence Nightingale, CE has been a corePromoting professional satisfaction and identity to prevent element of health professions with the first nursing recorded educa- burnouttion course dating back to 1894. Providing evidence-based and best practices for quality careEncouraging interprofessional collaboration and coordinationTHE RATIONALE FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION Offering opportunities for specialization and pursuing an area Healthcare is continually changing and evolving at a rapid paceof interestwith new technologies, research, medical advances, and discover-ies. Healthcare professionals serve as a bridge generated by scien- THE GROWTH OF ONLINE CONTINUING EDUCATIONtific research, policies, and practices to implement that knowledge.Over several years, online, remote, or e-learning has grown in pop-According to the Institute for Healthcare, Continuing educationularity and its diversity. The cost of travel and the time to attend is a vehicle for spreading best practices and how to improve patientin-person continuing education poses obstacles for many health-outcomes. For example, fatalities from coronary artery diseasecare professionals. In the age of COVID-19, e-learning is the norm show a 40 percent reduction since 2000 with advances in new drugs,rather than the exception. Newer technologies with e-learning have ISTOCKtechnology, protocols, and prevention. increased the interactivity and engagement of learners.24 EDUCATION GUIDE|2020| www.elitecme.com'