Did you know two out of five American doctors will be old enough to retire in the next 10 years? There may be a bigger need for doctors in the next decade. As a doctor, you will need to pursue further education to keep your license. We’ll go over why physicians need to pursue continuous learning opportunities.
Want to learn more? Keep reading.
Stay up to Date on Healthcare Advancements
Take educational courses so you can understand how to tackle emerging issues. You might face the challenge of caring for patients suffering from COVID-19.
In medical school or residency, you might not have studied how to handle an infectious outbreak.
Courses will help doctors adapt to changing needs of their patients. For example, mental health professionals take a suicide prevention training course.
The suicide prevention training program wasn’t taught as much in the past. The issue of mental health and suicide has become more acknowledged.
To stay current on relevant issues, you’ll need to look into continuing education. This way, you can provide top care to your patients.
Embrace New Opportunities
When you stay current in the medical field, you will also come across new opportunities. As a physician, you will have a competitive edge compared to other physicians. You might end up working in a new area.
Challenge Yourself
Educational opportunities give you the opportunity to grow and challenge yourself. If you would like to do medical mission work, take some courses on procedures or illnesses in a particular area.
Some physicians will also take postgraduate training courses. You will have an opportunity to spend more time on specific passions or interests.
Gain more professional knowledge and competence after your formal residency.
Prepare for Difficult Situations
Another benefit of continuing education is you’ll get exposed to complex medical scenarios. You’ll get to learn more about these situations in a simulated learning environment.
Some participants take a simulated learning course in surgical and procedural skills. Participants will gain clinical knowledge and confidence they wouldn’t otherwise access.
Stay Current With Regulations
Physicians know that healthcare policies are constantly changing. Know the rules that govern patient privacy, compliance protocols, and documentation. Otherwise, you could get into trouble.
Some courses provide clear and concise information on legal obligations. You will gain practical details on what you need to focus on as you do your work.
Maintain License Requirements
You’ll pursue continuous education because you have obligations regarding continuing medical education (CME).
Make sure you take part in the allotted amount of sanctioned CME hours. You’ll keep your specialty board certification credentials and your state medical license.
Every state has specific CME requirements. For example, the Georgia Medical Board will require different continuing education hours than other states, such as California or Texas.
Find the requirements on your state’s medical board website.
Some surgical and medical board certifications will incorporate specialty-specific CME guidelines.
Do you have a specialty accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education?
The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education will require you to get Maintenance of Certification points. This could include scored assessment exams, courses, or procedure logs.
After you get your initial board certification, you’ll need to complete Maintenance of Certification (MOC) at specific intervals.
MOC is a more complicated process compared to CME. You’ll need to pass an exam every 10 years and demonstrate your medical knowledge in a specific specialty.
Procedural permission and hospital privileges can hinge on keeping your board certification current.
Enjoy Learning
A lot of healthcare professionals are curious and want to learn more. Staying up to date on medical advancements is enjoyed by most doctors.
Yet, doctors don’t have a lot of free time to read about different areas of interest.
If you can’t get an official sanctioned time for your learning, check out your options. You could complete digital audio courses or online courses.
Stay Relevant
The healthcare industry can be a competitive environment. Clinical institutions and practices must provide top care and stay within their budget.
Set an example for your staff by pursuing continuing education opportunities. A knowledgeable and motivated team who are knowledgeable and up-to-date will stand out.
Provide Better Care
Taking courses in your specialty or outside of your area will better equip you to care for your patients. If you provide ultrasounds, seek further certification. Have a look here and learn about educational opportunities.
A lot of healthcare professionals today practice in multidisciplinary work environments. To provide safe and quality care, you’ll need to collaborate with different professionals.
Continued education will help your team strive for excellence. You will see improved productivity and appreciative patients.
Run an Organized Practice
If you run a private practice, you can take some business courses online as part of your continuing education. For established and new physicians, taking these courses are invaluable for their business.
If you’re operating under the fee for services model, you are running a business. You’ll need to learn how to manage your income and expenses. Some people don’t seek a formal business education.
Yet, if you plan to open your practice, taking some courses in accounting and finance will help you.
You can also look into taking courses on client care. Learn more about how to best support patients. This way, you will have happy clients who will spread the word about your practice.
Now You Know About the Benefits of Continuous Learning
We hope this guide on the importance of continuous learning in the workplace was helpful.
As a physician, you should stay up-to-date in your specialty. Make sure you get the credits needed for your field, so you don’t lose your license.
Want some more tips? Check out our resources on education, career, and more.