Report on the Continuing Education of Health Professionals and Graduate Medical Education in Venezuela.

Overview & Synopsis

An analysis of health care in Venezuela indicates that if the health of the Venezuelan population is to be maintained and improved then there must be undertaken a major effort to develop continuing educational programs for physicians. Venezuelan undergraduate medical education is largely didactic, with little exposure to patient care; specialization is not rigorously monitored, and continuing education is sporadic and voluntary. It is recommended that an advisory committee appoint an administrative staff to: 1) oversee the construction of comprehensive residency programs; and 2) develop a continuing education program for physicians. This latter program would consist of the following: a dial access library, a cassette tape exchange, visiting professorships, inservice courses, radio conferences, films, upgrading of hospital libraries, tape/slide programs, consultation, and therapeutic criteria reviews. These continuing education efforts should be learner oriented, brief, and pertinent. Continuing education for allied health care personnel should parallel that for physicians. (PB)