Patient empowerment--a trend that matters.

Increased patient empowerment will generate an extensive shift in fundamental roles and procedures in healthcare, including the roles of HIM professionals. Here's a look at factors influencing patient empowerment and a forecast of how patient and provider communications are likely to be affected in the future.

Surgical continuing medical education: format and impact.

A survey of 140 continuing medical education (CME) offerings in surgery for 1975-1976 was undertaken. In no instance was there evidence of evaluation of learning or behavior changes after the experience on the part of the sponsors. Estimated cost from the data obrained, 83 courses, was approximated at two million dollars.