Spotlight on MedForums
As an Emergency Physician, John Dayton, MD knows what it’s like to prepare for recertification exams, to be pressed for Continuing Medical Education (CME) and Maintenance of Certification (MOC) credits, and to spend hours of precious time in a maze of patient-focused resources when trying to accomplish these goals. In response to the need for a better method, he co-created an organization called MedForums.
MedForums is “The Largest and Only Peer-Reviewed Network of Medical Education Resources,” per their website. They make it possible to navigate provider-focused educational resources in times of need, while honoring physicians’ needs to make the process as efficient and effective as possible.
It’s no secret that physicians are not excited about the current MOC process for reasons varying from up-front cost to the downright confusing process. One respondent to a survey conducted in Physicians Practice wrote:
“Not only are most of the requirements for MOC inconvenient, they are often so complicated that physicians have a hard time knowing what they actually need to complete. Some boards have five to six different tasks that are required, [including] an exam at a testing center [or] mandatory attendance at an association conference. The physicians lose their income on those travel days.”
Every physician has felt this difficult context for learning, and there is a clear need for change. MedForums began with one emergency physician’s lackluster workshop experience and resulted in an incredible community for care. To explore the journey, StartUp Health writes:
“Dr. John Dayton first had the idea for MedForums after he attended an Oral Boards preparation course. The course was adequate, but John didn’t feel like the course provided enough insight and preparation and ended up taking an additional course. After taking both courses, he had spent two weeks away from his home and practice and spent thousands of dollars.
He soon realized that there was a desperate need to be able to crowdsource your medical colleagues on a broader scale to find the best medical education. He was certain that every physician would want a one-stop-shop to find, discuss, and track medical education resources. So, Dr. Dayton got to work testing the idea during a national emergency medicine conference. He conducted surveys with over 500 emergency physicians, inquiring about their challenges related to sourcing medical education. He found that the majority of his colleagues would widely benefit from his idea and would rate and read reviews for medical education products.
Together with his wife, serial entrepreneur, and angel investor Angela Dayton, they founded MedForums, the largest peer-reviewed network of medical education resources.”
As medical education changes, technology expands, and social media continues to dominate communications, #FOAMed (Free Open-Access Medical Education) has emerged as a leader in the movement. In this market, there is a clear place for organizations like MedForums, created by and for physicians. To learn more about what they do, check out their website here.
