Learn About Health IT; Earn Free CME

Want to learn more about office health information technology at your own pace and in your own space and earn CME along the way?

The Academy's Center for Health Information Technology, or CHiT, invites members to take advantage of a new series of online tutorials designed to give FPs and their staff members the information they need to know about health IT in an easy-to-use video format.

The first module in the series, "Health Information Technology for the Family Physician Office: Hardware and Network Basics," is now available. It focuses on acquiring hardware and preparing for the installation of an electronic health record system. Three more modules are scheduled to launch during the next few months and will cover office redesign and workflow, EHR selection, and EHR implementation.

CHiT Assistant Director Steven Waldren, M.D., said the program format was designed with busy family physicians in mind. "I know that plowing through a lot of written material on health IT can be boring. That's why CHiT decided to develop something a little more engaging and interactive for the learner, whether it's the physician or office staff, and at the same time, meet some requirements for CME," he said.

There's also no waiting for a long download; at the CHiT CME Web page, users just select the module to access the online flash video. (The latest version of Flash Player must be installed to play the video. Users can download the latest version from a link on the CHiT CME site.) After viewing the video, users answer the post-test questions. The program has been approved for AAFP Prescribed credit.

Waldren said the new video CME modules supplement a wide range of health IT resources already available in a written format from CHiT.